"Merging craft with Technology to reveal the unseen precision of Ajrakh."

Ajrakh, India’s ancient hand-block printing craft, lies at the heart of this project. Ajrakh is more than just a technique; it embodies centuries of intuitive knowledge and precision. While technology is often seen as a threat to traditional crafts, Block to Byte challenges this perspective. By harnessing technology, the project aims to create awareness about Ajrakh’s intricate processes and make the essence of this extraordinary craft accessible to people far beyond its geographic origins. Through four immersive experiences, participants gain a hands-on understanding of the skills, patience, and intuition that define Ajrakh.

This colour-matching experience captures the embodied knowledge of Ajrakh, where artisans use intuition, skill, and visual precision to recreate exact dye shades.

By adjusting red, green, and blue dials, participants mirror the artisan’s process of perceiving and refining colours, highlighting the nuanced role of vision in maintaining design harmony.

This experience offers a glimpse into the artistry and sensory mastery that define Ajrakh, allowing participants to appreciate the legacy of this timeless craft.

This interactive experience replicates the intricate challenge faced by Ajrakh artisans—achieving consistent dye shades when colours run out mid-process.

Artisans rely on intuitive colour blending and visual precision to match shades seamlessly, requiring technical mastery and trained perception. Participants engage in this process using three physical dials representing red, green, and blue intensities, aiming to match a target colour displayed on the screen.

The digital simulation provides real-time feedback, closely mirroring the tactile adjustments artisans make when mixing dyes. This experience offers insight into the embodied knowledge, patience, and skill involved in Ajrakh’s dye preparation.

COLOUR-MATCHING (PROCESS)

Participant Introduction

Explanation of Ajrakh Colours and Dye Process

Introduction to Main RGB Colours in the Setup: Blue, Red & Green

Combination of Sliders/Dials: Each Corresponds to One Colour of RGB

GREEN

RED

BLUE

Challenge Colour: Muted Brown

Participant Adjusts Sliders/Dials (Set Indigo, Madder Red, Turmeric Yellow Proportions)

System Checks Colour Match (Similarity to Muted Brown)

SUCCESS (Matched Correctly)

RETRY

(Adjust Colours Again)

COLOUR-MATCHING (TECH)

Move the Dial Setup to TouchDesigner

Have a Reference Colour (Right) and a Changing Colour (Left)

Code the Dials to Output Data between 0 to 1024 Units on Rotation

Install a Serial DAT Setup in TouchDesigner to Feed the Arduino Data into TouchDesigner

Combine the Visuals with Incoming Data by Installing Required Nodes in TouchDesigner

Create Visuals on TouchDesigner

Setting Up 3 Dials with Arduino Leonardo

Make Changes, if Needed, to Make It Work

Get Wood Box Laser-Cut to Enclose the Circuit

Visuals that Interact with Dials

Might Not Work, Check Out YouTube Tutorials on the Software

Can Try and Ask ChatGPT for Help with Nodes Installation

In block printing, the amount of pressure applied determines the clarity and sharpness of the print. Applying too much pressure can cause smudging, which results in the entire fabric getting wasted; while too little results in faded motifs.

This experience uses a block embedded with sensors to replicate this tactile skill. Participants press the block, and the visuals on the screen respond dynamically and directly to the slightest change in pressure applied on the block.

This feedback enables users to understand how artisans regulate pressure with precision, offering an immersive insight into the physical nuances of the craft.

PRESSURE-SENSING (PROCESS)

Participant Introduction

Explanation of Significance of Pressure in Ajrakh

Introduction to Pressure-Sensing Block

Participant Applies Pressure on Block

Visuals Interact with Pressure Application

PRESSURE-SENSING (TECH)

Create Interactive Visuals on TouchDesigner with Particle System

Visuals that can Interact with Pressure Sensor

Install Pressure Sensor with Arduino Setup

Code the Sensor to Output Data Units between 0 to 1024 on Pressing

Move the Setup to TouchDesigner

Install a Serial DAT Setup in TouchDesigner to Feed the Arduino Data into TouchDesigner

Might Not Work, Check Out YouTube Tutorials on the Software

Combine the Visuals with Incoming Data by Installing Required Nodes in TouchDesigner

Can Try and Ask ChatGPT for Help with Nodes Installation

Make Changes, if Needed, to Make It Work

Enclose the Circuit in a 3D-Printed Block

The embodied knowledge in this experience lies in the nuanced understanding of pressure regulation that artisans develop through years of practice. Block printing requires an almost instinctive balance—too much pressure results in smudging and waste, while too little yields incomplete motifs.

This experience, using a sensor-embedded block, replicates this tactile challenge by translating subtle pressure variations into dynamic visual feedback. Participants can immediately see the consequences of their actions on the screen, fostering an appreciation for the artisans' skill in achieving just the right balance.

It highlights the physical intuition and dexterity required in block printing, offering participants a deeper connection to the craft by engaging their own sensory awareness and coordination. This interactive process bridges the gap between observer and practitioner, making the complexities of the craft tangible and relatable.

This step reveals the embodied knowledge in block printing, where artisans master block alignment, pressure control, and dye distribution through years of practice.

Participants experience the delicate balance required to avoid smudging or fading, realising the impact of even slight misalignments. This highlights the spatial awareness and skill that artisans develop, showcasing the human expertise behind every intricate design.

This experience focuses on the actual process of block printing, a step requiring artisans to align multiple blocks precisely to create intricate patterns.

Participants engage in this task using wooden blocks and paint to print a motif, ensuring that the outline and infill blocks are perfectly aligned.

The challenge extends beyond alignment to include achieving the correct amount of paint on the block, as too much paint can cause smudging while too little results in faded impressions. These factors mirror the complexities artisans face when crafting intricate designs.

Setting-Up Raspberry Pi

BLOCK-PRINTING (PROCESS)

Participant Introduction

Explanation of Block-Printing Process & Ajrakh Layering

Introduction to the Blocks:

Outline & Infills

Participants Choose Block for Outline Motif

(Print Outline on Paper)

Align Blocks on the Paper

(Outline & Infill)

Paper is Placed in Camera Setup for Scanning

Camera Scans the Pattern Checks Alignment Accuracy

System Scores the Alignment Based on Block Accuracy & Placement

Feedback Provided to Participants

(With Score Details)

BLOCK-PRINTING (TECH)

Set-Up Date

Reduce Pixels on Screen to Make it Faster

Code for Image Comparison

Google+ChatGPT

Write a Function to Click Picture for Comparison (Done by the Participant)

Add LCD Screen and Write a Function to Display Result

Write a Function to Click Reference Picture (Block Printed Paper)

Paper is Placed in Camera Setup for Scanning

Code the System to Detect Differences in Both Pictures and Check Alignment Accuracy with Respect to Reference Picture

Display Score as Percentage and Result on the LCD Screen as Pass/Fail

Get Box Laser-Cut to Enclose the Circuit

Participants Place Fabric Printed with Photochromic Ink in UV-Bucket Setup

Participant Introduction

Introduction to UV-Bucket Experience & its Significance

Participants Wait for Fabric to Absorb UV Light

Colour of Fabric Changes

Explanation of Ajrakh Dye Process

UV-BUCKET TRANSFORMATION

This transformation showcases artisans’ timing, material knowledge, and expertise, highlighting their ability to intuitively predict how motifs will interact on the final dyed fabric.

Since colours and patterns aren’t fully realised at the block-printing stage, artisans rely on a trained eye and years of experience to anticipate alignment and harmony, ensuring a cohesive final composition.

This final step—immersing the printed fabric into a dye bath—plays a pivotal role in revealing the true complexity and harmony of the design.

In traditional block printing, the initial print is visible, but its full vibrancy and coherence only emerge once the fabric undergoes the proper dye treatment.

By incorporating a UV bucket setup, this experience simulates that crucial moment when dispersed motifs and subtle colour variations suddenly coalesce into a cohesive, meaningful whole.

Instruction Manual

PROCESS: COLOUR-MATCHING

PROCESS: PRESSURE-SENSING

PROCESS: BLOCK-PRINTING

PROCESS: UV-BUCKET TRANSFORMATION

MR. KHATRI IQBAL

Mr. Iqbal Khatri is a master artisan deeply rooted in Ajrakh block-printing. He graciously welcomed me into his workspace, patiently explaining each intricate step of the craft. Known for preserving tradition while innovating, he blends multiple crafts and uses sustainable, handmade dyes from natural minerals and plants.

Embracing modern times, Iqbal ji and his family explore new designs and connect with global audiences through online marketplaces. A custodian of a generational legacy, his passion and adaptability make him a true ambassador of Ajrakh printing.

MR. KHATRI RAFIQ

Mr. Khatri Rafiq is the elder son of master artisan Khatri Iqbal and a proud torchbearer of the Ajrakh legacy. Raised in the craft, he blends traditional expertise with a modern vision to reach new audiences.

Rafiq uses social media to showcase Ajrakh’s beauty, cultural significance, and sustainability, engaging a global and tech-savvy community. By embracing digital platforms, he ensures Ajrakh's relevance and accessibility while honouring tradition and expanding its influence.

"Merging craft with Technology to reveal the unseen precision of Ajrakh."

COLOUR-MATCHING (PROCESS)

COLOUR-MATCHING (TECH)

One of a kind designs

One of a kind designs

One of a kind designs

Instruction Manual

PROCESS: COLOUR-MATCHING

PROCESS: PRESSURE-SENSING

PROCESS: BLOCK-PRINTING

PROCESS: UV-BUCKET TRANSFORMATION

MR. KHATRI IQBAL

MR. KHATRI RAFIQ