Rock Painting Symbols and Textile Design: Cultural Inheritance and Artistic Innovation

Mingyu Li

Article
2026 / Volume 9 / Pages 717-732
Received 30 October 2025; Accepted 9 January 2026; Published 26 March 2026
https://doi.org/10.31881/TLR.2026.717

Abstract
The translation of complex graphical sources into manufacturable textile patterns is a central challenge in textile design and technology. This study presents a quantitative methodology for analyzing this process, focusing on the adaptation of cultural motifs for modern wool fiber products. Specifically, it investigates the transformation of zoomorphic petroglyphs from China’s Helan Mountains into contemporary woven textile patterns. A novel analytical framework based on computer-aided design (CAD) principles is proposed, utilizing three key metrics to evaluate the design transformation: a Geometric Abstraction Index (GAI) for shape simplification, a Symmetry Operation Analysis (SOA) for patterning logic, and Color Palette Deviation (CPD) based on colorimetry. The analysis, applied to 100 commercial textile products, indicates that manufacturability and market aesthetics drive designs towards significant geometric simplification (systemic GAI of 0.196) and the use of tessellation in pattern layouts (65% of samples). The color analysis further reveals a strategic shift from the source’s monochrome palette to schemes optimized for modern dyeing and consumer appeal. This research provides a replicable framework for design analysis in the textile industry, linking cultural inspiration to tangible fabric production parameters and offering valuable data for quality and design process control.

Keywords
textile design, patterning, wool fibers, geometric modeling, colorimetry