NCERT Textbook: Seals to Prints | Arts for Class 6 (Kriti - 1) PDF Download

 Page 1


CHAPTER 5
Seals to Prints
In this chapter, you will learn about 
the design, purpose and artistic 
qualities of seals. Taking inspiration 
from the examples of seals through 
history, you will design your own 
seals and experiment them with a 
variety	 of	 materials	 for	 crafting.	 In	
this process, you will also be testing 
your seals on both paper and fabric. 
You will also be able to connect this 
process with the textile tradition of 
ajrakh block printing. Using your 
own	seals	like	blocks,	you	can	even	
make interesting patterns to create 
your own prints on paper , fabric and 
other surfaces.
1 Visual Arts.indd   29 7/15/2024   11:24:19 AM
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Page 2


CHAPTER 5
Seals to Prints
In this chapter, you will learn about 
the design, purpose and artistic 
qualities of seals. Taking inspiration 
from the examples of seals through 
history, you will design your own 
seals and experiment them with a 
variety	 of	 materials	 for	 crafting.	 In	
this process, you will also be testing 
your seals on both paper and fabric. 
You will also be able to connect this 
process with the textile tradition of 
ajrakh block printing. Using your 
own	seals	like	blocks,	you	can	even	
make interesting patterns to create 
your own prints on paper , fabric and 
other surfaces.
1 Visual Arts.indd   29 7/15/2024   11:24:19 AM
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Kriti–I | Grade 6 30
Activity 1: Let’s Look 
at Seals
Have	 you	 ever	 seen	 your	 teacher ,	
school principal or anyone in your 
school using seals and rubber stamps? 
Take the help of your teacher to 
??nd 	any	paper	or	document	with	a	
seal. Discuss these questions:
1. What is the image or text on 
the seal?
2. What	does	the	seal	convey?
3. What are seals used for?
	 Seals	 can	 have	 a	 picture	 symbol	
or	 text.	 They	 gives	 us	 clues	 about	
the	 lives,	 routines,	 social	 positions	
and	beliefs	of	individuals,	societies,	
kingdoms, institutions and 
organisations.
Look	 at	 the	 seals	 and	 observe	
the images and symbols you see. 
Compare them and discuss what 
the	symbols	could	be	conveying.	
Notice	 that	 all	 these	 seals	 have	
a picture symbol along with some 
written	text	in	di??erent 	scripts.
Seals from various periods of history
1 Visual Arts.indd   30 7/15/2024   11:24:21 AM
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Page 3


CHAPTER 5
Seals to Prints
In this chapter, you will learn about 
the design, purpose and artistic 
qualities of seals. Taking inspiration 
from the examples of seals through 
history, you will design your own 
seals and experiment them with a 
variety	 of	 materials	 for	 crafting.	 In	
this process, you will also be testing 
your seals on both paper and fabric. 
You will also be able to connect this 
process with the textile tradition of 
ajrakh block printing. Using your 
own	seals	like	blocks,	you	can	even	
make interesting patterns to create 
your own prints on paper , fabric and 
other surfaces.
1 Visual Arts.indd   29 7/15/2024   11:24:19 AM
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Kriti–I | Grade 6 30
Activity 1: Let’s Look 
at Seals
Have	 you	 ever	 seen	 your	 teacher ,	
school principal or anyone in your 
school using seals and rubber stamps? 
Take the help of your teacher to 
??nd 	any	paper	or	document	with	a	
seal. Discuss these questions:
1. What is the image or text on 
the seal?
2. What	does	the	seal	convey?
3. What are seals used for?
	 Seals	 can	 have	 a	 picture	 symbol	
or	 text.	 They	 gives	 us	 clues	 about	
the	 lives,	 routines,	 social	 positions	
and	beliefs	of	individuals,	societies,	
kingdoms, institutions and 
organisations.
Look	 at	 the	 seals	 and	 observe	
the images and symbols you see. 
Compare them and discuss what 
the	symbols	could	be	conveying.	
Notice	 that	 all	 these	 seals	 have	
a picture symbol along with some 
written	text	in	di??erent 	scripts.
Seals from various periods of history
1 Visual Arts.indd   30 7/15/2024   11:24:21 AM
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Visual Arts 31
Activity 2: Field Trip
Visit	 the	 local	 post	 o??ce 	 and	 meet	
the post-master, or any other postal 
o??cial 	who	can	show	you	the	seals	
and stamps that are used in the 
postal	 services.	 Find	 out	 and	 make	
notes of the following:
1. The material used in the stamp 
seal.
2. The	 postal	 service	 logo	 or	
symbol.
3. Other information that is 
provided	in	the	seal.	
Continue: Have	 a	 conversation	
with the older members in your 
family, and ask them for documents 
or	 postage	 envelopes	 which	 have	
seals	stamped	on	them.	Observe	the	
details of the seal, and make notes 
or sketches of the symbols and texts 
that	you	??nd.
Experiment: Take any coin. Place a 
paper	over	it	and	using	a	pencil,	create	
markings	of	lines	over	the	surface	till	
the	image	of	the	coin	is	visible.
Activity 3: Make your 
own Seal
Now that you are familiar with the 
features and purposes of a seal, 
would you like to try making your 
own seal?
You	will	??rst 	have	to	start	with	its	
design. Take a paper and pencil, and 
jot down some ideas and preparatory 
sketches. 
Step 1?—?Test with found objects
•	 Prepare some clay or dough.
•	 Gather some small objects like 
buttons, bottle caps, sticks, 
leaves,	coins,	etc.	
•	 Make	your	clay	surface	??at 	and	
damp.
•	 Press	 the	 objects	 you	 have	
collected on the clay and see 
the impressions they make.
•	 Analyse which objects create 
clearer impressions and why.
1 Visual Arts.indd   31 7/15/2024   11:24:24 AM
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Page 4


CHAPTER 5
Seals to Prints
In this chapter, you will learn about 
the design, purpose and artistic 
qualities of seals. Taking inspiration 
from the examples of seals through 
history, you will design your own 
seals and experiment them with a 
variety	 of	 materials	 for	 crafting.	 In	
this process, you will also be testing 
your seals on both paper and fabric. 
You will also be able to connect this 
process with the textile tradition of 
ajrakh block printing. Using your 
own	seals	like	blocks,	you	can	even	
make interesting patterns to create 
your own prints on paper , fabric and 
other surfaces.
1 Visual Arts.indd   29 7/15/2024   11:24:19 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Kriti–I | Grade 6 30
Activity 1: Let’s Look 
at Seals
Have	 you	 ever	 seen	 your	 teacher ,	
school principal or anyone in your 
school using seals and rubber stamps? 
Take the help of your teacher to 
??nd 	any	paper	or	document	with	a	
seal. Discuss these questions:
1. What is the image or text on 
the seal?
2. What	does	the	seal	convey?
3. What are seals used for?
	 Seals	 can	 have	 a	 picture	 symbol	
or	 text.	 They	 gives	 us	 clues	 about	
the	 lives,	 routines,	 social	 positions	
and	beliefs	of	individuals,	societies,	
kingdoms, institutions and 
organisations.
Look	 at	 the	 seals	 and	 observe	
the images and symbols you see. 
Compare them and discuss what 
the	symbols	could	be	conveying.	
Notice	 that	 all	 these	 seals	 have	
a picture symbol along with some 
written	text	in	di??erent 	scripts.
Seals from various periods of history
1 Visual Arts.indd   30 7/15/2024   11:24:21 AM
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Visual Arts 31
Activity 2: Field Trip
Visit	 the	 local	 post	 o??ce 	 and	 meet	
the post-master, or any other postal 
o??cial 	who	can	show	you	the	seals	
and stamps that are used in the 
postal	 services.	 Find	 out	 and	 make	
notes of the following:
1. The material used in the stamp 
seal.
2. The	 postal	 service	 logo	 or	
symbol.
3. Other information that is 
provided	in	the	seal.	
Continue: Have	 a	 conversation	
with the older members in your 
family, and ask them for documents 
or	 postage	 envelopes	 which	 have	
seals	stamped	on	them.	Observe	the	
details of the seal, and make notes 
or sketches of the symbols and texts 
that	you	??nd.
Experiment: Take any coin. Place a 
paper	over	it	and	using	a	pencil,	create	
markings	of	lines	over	the	surface	till	
the	image	of	the	coin	is	visible.
Activity 3: Make your 
own Seal
Now that you are familiar with the 
features and purposes of a seal, 
would you like to try making your 
own seal?
You	will	??rst 	have	to	start	with	its	
design. Take a paper and pencil, and 
jot down some ideas and preparatory 
sketches. 
Step 1?—?Test with found objects
•	 Prepare some clay or dough.
•	 Gather some small objects like 
buttons, bottle caps, sticks, 
leaves,	coins,	etc.	
•	 Make	your	clay	surface	??at 	and	
damp.
•	 Press	 the	 objects	 you	 have	
collected on the clay and see 
the impressions they make.
•	 Analyse which objects create 
clearer impressions and why.
1 Visual Arts.indd   31 7/15/2024   11:24:24 AM
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Kriti–I | Grade 6 32
Step 2?—?Design your seal
•	 Create your personal symbol. 
This can be a simple picture that 
represents	 you?—??a	 face,	 leaf,	
??ower, 	 fruit,	 object,	 animal,	
letter,	icon,	etc.	It	should	convey	
some recognisable qualities 
you	already	have	or	values	that	
are important to you.
•	 Keep your design simple.
Step 3?—?Make your seal
•	 Recollect	 the	 seals	 you	 have	
seen and the materials that are 
used for creating them.
•	 Think	 of	 alternatives	 that	 are	
easily	 available	 in	 school.	 For	
example, pieces of cardboard, 
clay , jute rope, sponge, rubber , etc.
•	 Flatten the surface of the 
material you will work with. 
Remember that a seal’s 
impression will be clear if all 
portions	of	its	design	are	even.	
•	 Select tools that you can use 
safely	 for	 cutting,	 carving	 and	
shaping your design.
•	 If	 you	 ??nd 	 that	 your	 design	 is	
di??cult 	 to	 carve,	 simplify	 it	
and complete your design.
Students’ experiment with making seals and printing them
An example of original logo
1 Visual Arts.indd   32 7/15/2024   11:24:25 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 5


CHAPTER 5
Seals to Prints
In this chapter, you will learn about 
the design, purpose and artistic 
qualities of seals. Taking inspiration 
from the examples of seals through 
history, you will design your own 
seals and experiment them with a 
variety	 of	 materials	 for	 crafting.	 In	
this process, you will also be testing 
your seals on both paper and fabric. 
You will also be able to connect this 
process with the textile tradition of 
ajrakh block printing. Using your 
own	seals	like	blocks,	you	can	even	
make interesting patterns to create 
your own prints on paper , fabric and 
other surfaces.
1 Visual Arts.indd   29 7/15/2024   11:24:19 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Kriti–I | Grade 6 30
Activity 1: Let’s Look 
at Seals
Have	 you	 ever	 seen	 your	 teacher ,	
school principal or anyone in your 
school using seals and rubber stamps? 
Take the help of your teacher to 
??nd 	any	paper	or	document	with	a	
seal. Discuss these questions:
1. What is the image or text on 
the seal?
2. What	does	the	seal	convey?
3. What are seals used for?
	 Seals	 can	 have	 a	 picture	 symbol	
or	 text.	 They	 gives	 us	 clues	 about	
the	 lives,	 routines,	 social	 positions	
and	beliefs	of	individuals,	societies,	
kingdoms, institutions and 
organisations.
Look	 at	 the	 seals	 and	 observe	
the images and symbols you see. 
Compare them and discuss what 
the	symbols	could	be	conveying.	
Notice	 that	 all	 these	 seals	 have	
a picture symbol along with some 
written	text	in	di??erent 	scripts.
Seals from various periods of history
1 Visual Arts.indd   30 7/15/2024   11:24:21 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Visual Arts 31
Activity 2: Field Trip
Visit	 the	 local	 post	 o??ce 	 and	 meet	
the post-master, or any other postal 
o??cial 	who	can	show	you	the	seals	
and stamps that are used in the 
postal	 services.	 Find	 out	 and	 make	
notes of the following:
1. The material used in the stamp 
seal.
2. The	 postal	 service	 logo	 or	
symbol.
3. Other information that is 
provided	in	the	seal.	
Continue: Have	 a	 conversation	
with the older members in your 
family, and ask them for documents 
or	 postage	 envelopes	 which	 have	
seals	stamped	on	them.	Observe	the	
details of the seal, and make notes 
or sketches of the symbols and texts 
that	you	??nd.
Experiment: Take any coin. Place a 
paper	over	it	and	using	a	pencil,	create	
markings	of	lines	over	the	surface	till	
the	image	of	the	coin	is	visible.
Activity 3: Make your 
own Seal
Now that you are familiar with the 
features and purposes of a seal, 
would you like to try making your 
own seal?
You	will	??rst 	have	to	start	with	its	
design. Take a paper and pencil, and 
jot down some ideas and preparatory 
sketches. 
Step 1?—?Test with found objects
•	 Prepare some clay or dough.
•	 Gather some small objects like 
buttons, bottle caps, sticks, 
leaves,	coins,	etc.	
•	 Make	your	clay	surface	??at 	and	
damp.
•	 Press	 the	 objects	 you	 have	
collected on the clay and see 
the impressions they make.
•	 Analyse which objects create 
clearer impressions and why.
1 Visual Arts.indd   31 7/15/2024   11:24:24 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Kriti–I | Grade 6 32
Step 2?—?Design your seal
•	 Create your personal symbol. 
This can be a simple picture that 
represents	 you?—??a	 face,	 leaf,	
??ower, 	 fruit,	 object,	 animal,	
letter,	icon,	etc.	It	should	convey	
some recognisable qualities 
you	already	have	or	values	that	
are important to you.
•	 Keep your design simple.
Step 3?—?Make your seal
•	 Recollect	 the	 seals	 you	 have	
seen and the materials that are 
used for creating them.
•	 Think	 of	 alternatives	 that	 are	
easily	 available	 in	 school.	 For	
example, pieces of cardboard, 
clay , jute rope, sponge, rubber , etc.
•	 Flatten the surface of the 
material you will work with. 
Remember that a seal’s 
impression will be clear if all 
portions	of	its	design	are	even.	
•	 Select tools that you can use 
safely	 for	 cutting,	 carving	 and	
shaping your design.
•	 If	 you	 ??nd 	 that	 your	 design	 is	
di??cult 	 to	 carve,	 simplify	 it	
and complete your design.
Students’ experiment with making seals and printing them
An example of original logo
1 Visual Arts.indd   32 7/15/2024   11:24:25 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Visual Arts 33
Step 4?—?Test your seal
•	 Choose the material and surface 
for stamping your seal. If your 
seal	 is	 rounded	 and	 not	 ??at, 	
you can press it on a wet clay 
or	dough	as	you	did	in	the	??rst 	
test with objects.
•	 If	your	seal	is	??at, 	try	applying	
paint or ink, and stamping it on 
any paper. 
•	 Based on the result, you can make 
changes	 and	 improvements	 to	
you	seal	design	till	you	achieve	
the	desired	e??ect.
Activity 4: Printing 
Now,	you	have	a	seal	which	can	be	
used repeatedly! A rubber stamp 
pad has ink soaked in it. When we 
press the rubber seal into the stamp 
pad, it gets coated with ink which 
gets	printed	on	paper	by pressing.
The same process can be seen 
across	 many	 di??erent 	 traditional	
processes of printing. Let’s look at 
the process of hand block printing, 
because it is quite similar to the 
rubber stamps you are familiar 
with,	and	the	seals	you	have	made.
This	 is	 a	 carved	 wooden	 block.	
Notice the portions where the 
pattern is raised. This block has been 
carefully	 carved	 by	 an	 artist	 who	
specialises	in	wood	carving.	Do	you	
have	 carpenters	 and	 wood	 carvers	
in your surroundings? 
Meet them and show this picture, 
ask	them	how	such	a	piece	is	carved.	
Inquire about the tools used and 
how much time it would take to 
handcarve	 this.	 This	 wooden	 block	
is used for printing on textiles. 
These textiles are called hand block 
printed textiles. 
Look at the picture of a handblock 
printer and carefully place the 
inked block on cloth. The same 
block is used repeatedly to create a 
continuous pattern. He is making a 
special textile called Ajrakh, which 
is practiced in Kutchh, Gujarat. 
Do you think you can create a 
pattern	with	your	seal?	You	can	even	
create another seal that is suitable 
for a continuous pattern. Make a 
few designs and try them.
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