Batik is a technique to create patterns on fabrics. People use a "bent copper nibbled pen" (canting in Malay language) dipped in melted wax to paint patterns on the fabric. It is later dyed - typically, indigo, and then dipped into hot water or scraped to remove the wax. This process can be repeated for multicolored patterns.
The batik is widespread in the region, but those of Java are famous for their quality and aesthetics. Kawung, ceplok, and sawat are sophisticated products, previously only available for royalty and the elite aristocracy.
Since the early 20th century, in Indonesia printing blocks have also been used to create wax patterns.
