Batik business is a form of creative industry. To build a creative industry, a continuous innovation is needed that can produce creative ideas and innovations. A creative effort is needed starting from the design of motifs that can characterize the uniqueness of the batik produced, a production process that can speed up batik production, tools that can be used to accelerate the design of motifs whose end results can produce products that are unique and able to compete with other products [1].

A more in-depth finding regarding the problems of written batik in Semarang (results of a survey and research conducted by Tjahjaningsih et al. [2] in science and technology for the community in the batik cluster is that most batik makers make batik motifs regardless of the existing market needs. This is because most Semarangan handwritten batik craftsmen are in a new phase of growing for about three to four years. This makes the experience and skills of batik craftsmen not reliable. The location of Semarang handwritten batik craftsmen spread across several areas of Semarang makes the lack of communication, concern and togetherness among batik craftsmen to be one of the problems [3]. Although facilitation in the form of coaching, mentoring, training has been carried out to clusterization carried out by the government, this cannot run optimally due to lack of assistance and mapping/classification of potential craftsmen [3].

There are two things related to the identification of batik, namely with regard to the process and batik motifs (batik ornaments). Batik is known for its color barrier by using wax to the process of dyeing fabrics using synthetic colors and natural colors [4-6]. As for the motif itself, it is found in existing batik ornaments such as the machete motif, the kawung motif which has meaning or naturalist motifs taken from nature such as butterfly motifs, tamarind trees and so on [7].

Batik Semarang is one of the coastal batik that developed rapidly in 1870. Semarang batik motifs that developed at that time with the main characteristic were free-style motifs with bright and bold colors. Semarang batik motifs which developed in the Dutch colonial period with very rapid development by looking at the batik motifs that have meaning with red (from noni roots) and blue Indigo [8]. One of the efforts to develop creative and innovative works is related to the design of Semarang batik motifs that can be accepted by the market without leaving the unique characteristics of Semarang as one of the coastal batik [9].

By using algorithms and mathematical calculations, batik motifs can be made easily via a computer. As a result, batik motifs can be made relatively quickly and easily reproduced [10]. Besides being able to be applied to a piece of cloth, this batik motif can also be applied to wood and acrylic media. Fractal Batik is batik whose design touches (patterns and decorations) are made using mathematical formulas that are done using computer technology (Figure 1).

The use of computer-assisted designs using fractal concept software can combine drawing techniques with effects or with electronic brushes it can speed up the creation of motifs which are then reproduced for further processing in batik. The design of batik motifs and their characteristics is currently growing very rapidly. Adnyana [11], Hermawan [12] and Noviana [13] explain that the use of information technology to speed up the process and help identify the pattern of motifs produced in each stroke of batik motifs produced by craftsmen in the area with computer algorithms. One of the weaknesses of craftsmen is to develop motif designs that can characterize the craftsman's style. It is hoped that the computer-aided design of batik motifs in the form of fractal batik training can explore and explore motifs according to the style of Semarang batik craftsmen.

The purpose of making batik motif designs using fractal batik software at UKM batik Semarang Indonesia is an effort to explore and explore batik motifs which are expected to enrich the batik ornaments of each craftsman according to the characteristics of each craftsman and utilize computers to design in speeding up the process of drawing motifs. Furthermore, it can explore the potential of the craftsmen in developing computer-assisted batik motifs so that they can enrich the repertoire of motifs from Semarang batik, Indonesia.

Figure 1: Fractal Batik Motif Design

Source: Karya Kriya Batik 

Most of the craftsmen who still exist are above average productive age, the ability to explore designs with a computer is a problem in itself. From the various motifs produced, they still tend to be monotonous, there has not been much effort to innovate and be creative in developing patterns and designs of batik motifs that can become the hallmark of the city or become the hallmark of craftsmen. The method of implementing the program is divided into several activities as follows:

• Making tutorials on how to operate the fractal batik application program and directions and explanations from the instructor

• The instructor demonstrates how to design batik motifs with an existing library

• The craftsman prepares the motifs that are his trademark to be developed via a computer using fractal batik software

• Direct practice and make some ready-to-print batik motifs for the final picture of the design

The implementation of making batik motifs using fractal batik software begins by providing an understanding of new ways of designing batik motifs, which are usually by first drawing on tracing paper (tracing paper is translucent paper that is usually used by designers to design designs or drawings). With this tracing paper, designers can more easily complete the drawings they make and to use this tracing paper is also very easy compared to other papers because this paper is designed with a structure like a clear glass that can be seen through from the surface to the back of the tracing paper). Before blating on the fabric, using computer aids to speed up the design of the ornaments on batik. Preparation for using the software by providing examples of how to use the menus in the fractal batik software.

The provision of material in the form of this training contains the concept of fractal batik and motifs that can be developed by first determining the motifs to be developed which are stored in the library. After being given a general explanation and providing guidance on how to use the fractal batik software, the next stage provides examples of various batik motifs that can be produced from fractal batik software in a fast time so that craftsmen can have an initial picture of how batik motif designs are produced from fractal batik software.

The fractal batik software used comes from JBATIK with specifications for the use of software to design 2-dimensional motifs of motifs already available in the jBatik starter kit which is intended for beginners/basic levels. The material used for training and assistance in making batik motifs using fractals from software issued by Jbatik Bandung (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Fractal Batik Motif 

(Source: Jbatik library)

Minimum Specifications

• Windows operating system, Windows 7 edition or later

• Intel Core i3 Processor Series 3rd Gen

• 4GB of RAM

• 215MB of free hard disk or more.

• 1280×800 display (1366×768 or more recommended)

• OpenGL 2.0-capable system (JBatik Pro)

• Internet is required to enter the JBatik Serial Number

The implementation of this fractal batik software is that the craftsmen directly practice and print the designs that can be used as a reference in developing other motifs.

By exploring various batik motifs according to the style of each craftsman. For further mastery of this software so that every user can use it based on the existing parameters, it must be continued to advanced/Pro training.

Making batik motif designs using Batik Fractal software is very useful for craftsmen to be able to explore Semarangan batik motifs based on objects provided in the fractal batik library. The resulting motifs can be very many and made in a very short time so that many batik motifs can be produced according to the style of each craftsman. The use of fractal batik software is useful for speeding up the processing time in drawing motifs and can explore various diverse motifs in a very easy way to do without having to master the computer field. For better mastery it is suggested to be developed to an advanced level in Fractal Batik PRO level.

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank the Research Centre (LPPM) of Stikubank University Semarang, Indonesia for its support. We would also like to thank our lecturers from the Faculty of Economics and Business, Stikubank University, Semarang, Indonesia, for their useful discussions and contributions.

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