Beginner guide · 6 min
How qalamkar block printing works
Editorial team · updated 2026-09-29
Carved blocks
Designs are carved into pear-wood blocks, one block per colour. The printer presses each block by hand, lining it up by eye.
Signs of hand printing
Small overlaps and gaps where blocks meet, slight changes in colour strength, and repeats that shift a little are all normal. Perfect, identical repeats suggest screen or digital printing.
Care
Wash gently in cold water, dry in shade, and expect some colour change over time.
Related photographs
Representative photographs, not of any specific catalogued object. Sources on the credits page.