The Study Classification of Monoprint Techniques with Dye Printmaking Techniques

Abstract

This article focuses on proof printing techniques, emphasizing the arrangement of rhythm and shapes created from general printing plates. Proof printing serves as a fundamental method in printmaking, where artists use conventional plates to experiment with various compositions, assessing how shapes, patterns, and rhythm harmonize on a surface to achieve aesthetic appeal. This article is part of a learning activity aimed at studying and developing skills and techniques in dye-printmaking (Eco Print) that express beauty through analytical principles. The results of this activity were presented to demonstrate the aesthetic potential of art. Additionally, it involved collaboration with international artists as one objective of the research titled “A Study of Creative Printmaking Processes on Indigenous Fabric to Develop Natural Dye Products Using Recycled Fabric Dye”. The objectives of this article are: To study the origins of the technique and its relation to monoprint art; To examine forms and classify dye-printmaking techniques through learning activities; To compare print results and summarize the findings as proof prints.

This research, which is exploratory and creative, reveals that artists or experts commonly use natural mordants—substances aiding in color fixation—such as alum, lime, ash powder, vinegar, and iron rust. These household materials are applied in heat-transfer printing processes to create aesthetically pleasing patterns on fabrics, paper, or leather. The principle involves transferring colors from materials by using mordant-soaked fabric as the base and dye-soaked fabric to form patterns, aided by heat as the transferring mechanism. This process is commonly referred to as "Dye Printing" or "Eco Print".

The study combines findings from activities and related theories or literature. Tools used in the research include household chemical formulations for creation. Two key formulas are as follows: Formula 1: Ash-Based Mordant; 300 ml of 5% distilled vinegar, 25 g of alum powder, 20 g of ash powder, 0.3 g of concentrated rust powder/rust water, 200 ml of water, 100 ml of fabric dye, and Formula 2: Lime-Based Mordant; 300 ml of 5% distilled vinegar, 20 g of alum powder, 20 g of lime powder, 0.2 g of concentrated rust powder/rust water, 200 ml of water, and 100 ml of fabric dye. The results of the process show the emergence of visual elements, such as color, shape, and texture, which are determined by the arrangement of printing plates and materials like leaves, flowers, or other objects such as fabric or mesh. These materials serve as printing plates to create unique prints on a fabric surface. The study identifies four distinct characteristics of this technique: Arranging rhythm and shapes from general printing plates; Overlapping shapes with additional materials; Incorporating tie-dye techniques for added color; and Using colors to create backgrounds for the artwork. The results are classified as “Monoprints”, a type of printmaking that involves a single impression. This technique aligns with the essential criteria of printmaking—using a printing plate and a receiving surface. Once the work is printed, it cannot be replicated in the same manner, making it a one-of-a-kind process. This method is referred to as the "Dye Printmaking Technique".