MANAGING DESIGN

TATTOO MACHINE

TRADITIONAL TATTOO

Some tribal cultures traditionally created tattoo by cutting designs into the skin and rubbing the resulting wound with ink, ashes or other agents. Some cultures continue this practice, which may be an adjunct to scarification.  Some cultures create tattooed marks by hand-tapping the ink into the skin using sharpened sticks or animal bones (made like needles) with clay formed disks or, in modern times, needles. 

Image 1: The process of tapping ink into skin using traditional tattoo machine. Image taken from https://ibanology.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/tattoo-of-an-iban-from-borneo/

Image 2: Shaping tattoo into the skin. Image taken from https://ibanology.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/tattoo-of-an-iban-from-borneo/

MODERN TATTOO

The most common method of tattooing in modern times is the electric tattoo machine. which inserts ink into the skin via a single needle or a group of needles that are soldered onto a bar, which is attached to an oscillating unit. The unit rapidly and repeatedly drives the needles in and out of the skin, usually 80 to 150 times a second. This modern procedure is ordinarily sanitary. The needles are single-use needles that come packaged individually. The tattoo artist must wash his or her hands and must also wash the area that will be tattooed. Gloves must be worn at all times and the wound must be wiped frequently with a wet disposable towel of some kind. The equipment must be sterilized in a certified autoclave before and after every use.

Image 3: Example of electric tattoo machine. Image taken from http://tattoomagz.com/wp-content/uploads/the-best-tattoo-machines-tattoo-machines-for-the-modern-generation-65416.jpg

Image 4: Tattoo process using modern tattoo machine. Image taken from http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTY1WDg0OQ==/z/jdkAAOSweW5VNMSo/$_32.JPG?set_id=880000500F

TATTOO INK

Early tattoo inks were obtained directly from nature and were extremely limited in pigment variety. In ancient Hawaii, for example, Kukui nut ash was blended with coconut oil to produce an ebony ink.Today, an almost unlimited number of colors and shades of tattoo ink are mass-produced and sold to parlors worldwide. Tattoo artists commonly mix these inks to create their own unique pigments.

Image 5: Example of tattoo ink. Image taken from http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0698/4225/files/StableColorInkSingles.jpg?592

Image 6: Glow in Dark tattoo ink. Image taken from https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/ec/97/e2/ec97e2b5a6b49473411667ee4b0eaa63.jpg