Any substance used to block out or mask a surface in order to prevent an action, as of a dye or chemical, on that surface. In etching, a resist is used to mask the areas of the plate that are not to be “bitten” by the acid. In ceramics, a resist is applied to portions of a vessel to prevent those portions from taking on a glaze. Resists are also used in fabric-dying techniques, such as batik and shibori.