Inko Resist is used in the hand dyeing of fabric in a manner similar to the way other resists and waxes are used. Inko Resist is made from the root of the casaba plant and is actually very similar to the casaba resist sometimes still used in Indonesia for Batik. Inko Resist will, depending upon the thickness of its application, prevent or inhibit the dyeing of fabric in the areas onto which it is applied. Like wax, it is applied to the fabric to prevent areas of the fabric from dyeing or in the case of previously dyed areas, from being overdyed.

It can be used instead of wax to simulate the Batik process and in the tie-dye process to achieve "negative" effects, (areas or designs without color).

The major difference between using Inko Resist and the wax is that Inko Resist is water soluble and therefore can not be submerged in a dye bath but rather the dye must be applied with a brush or squeeze bottle. On the other hand Inko Resist just washes out with soap and water unlike wax which is difficult to remove.

The Inko Resist can be applied with a brush, squeeze bottles, block printing and any similar method. It can be silk screened using a 6xx or 8xx mesh silk/polyester. Application by silk screen and block printing is usually limited to one layer because the resist wrinkles the fabric as it dries and both of these methods require smooth surfaces. Alternate layers of resist and dye can be applied but each layer should dry before the next is applied. Inko Resist can be thinned with plain water but a thin application does not resist the dye as well as the thick application.

A variety of interesting effects can result from the use of Inko Resist.

• Soft edges and mottled effects result from the thing or non-uniform applications, which allow limited amounts of dye to penetrate through to the fabric.
• Fine hairline patterns in the Batik are produced by applying the resist and when it is dry, stretching the fabric a small area at a time to form cracks in the resist. Subsequent applications of dye will penetrate the cracks to produce fine lines.
• Repeating designs are produced by silk screening or block printing on the Inko Resist.

At the end of the process, the Inko Resist is removed with water, hot water doing the job faster than cold water. A little mild liquid soap also helps.