Be alert, be effective. The idea is to penetrate the cloth, evenly and clear through, wherever you want not to see the next color. Look at the back of the fabric to check penetration. Experience teaches the proper working temperature for each style of application. You can pencil a design on your fabric or work free-hand.
Brushes cover wider areas, good for thick lines and for filling in shapes.
Sable, camel and ox bristles are best for waxing. You can cut the bristles for special effects. Don t tear the cloth. Most batik workers find tjantings and brushes and stencils are the most satisfactory tools for general purposes. Any good cold-water fabric dye can be used for batik.