http://knink.com/content/tattoos/index.htmTattoo Articlesen-gbxC 7.1.37557http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattooist-interviews.htmTue, 25 Sep 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattooist-interviews.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattooist-interviews.htmHere's a selection of articles written by professional tattooists about their work and industry. The idea is to let you know more about the art, the work and get some useful advice and insights from the pros - use the links on the right to see a full list of the artists who've written articles on knink.</p><p>If you'd like to add an interview or article about your experience as a tattooist, please get in touch,</p><p>hope you enjoy them,</p><p>knink</p><p><br></p><p><b>Featured Articles :</b></p><p>http://knink.com/content/tattoos/uv-tattoos.htmTue, 25 Sep 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/uv-tattoos.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/uv-tattoos.htmUV tattoos or 'blacklight tattoos' are tattoos made with a special ink that is only visible under a blacklight. They are particularly popular in the rave scene. The tattoos can be completely invisible in normal light, although scarring from the tattoo machine in the application process may remain, and therefore still show. A UV tattoo becomes visible under blacklight, when it glows in colors ranging from white to purple, depending on the ink chosen. Colored ink is also available, where the ink is visible in normal light (as with a regular tattoo) but the ink will glow vividly under UV light. However, some UV inks are not as bright under normal light as normal tattoo ink and are considered not as vibrant. Arguments against UV tattoos...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/henna-tattoos.htmSat, 25 Aug 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/henna-tattoos.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/henna-tattoos.htmHenna or Hina is a flowering plant, the sole species in the genus Lawsonia in the family Lythraceae. It has been used in body art, as well as textile dying and other arts for thousands of years, and is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australasia in semi-arid zones. Henna is a tall shrub or small tree, 2–6 m high. Preparation and application of paste Henna body art is made by applying henna paste to the skin: the lawsone in the paste migrates into the outermost layer of the skin and makes a red-brown stain. Whole, unbroken henna leaves will not stain the skin. Henna will not stain skin until the lawsone molecules are made available (released) from the henna leaf. Fresh henna leaves...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/coverup-tattoos.htmThu, 25 Oct 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/coverup-tattoos.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/coverup-tattoos.htmCover up tattoos are designed to mask old tattoos by applying a new image over the old one. Most tattoo artists have performed, or been asked to perform a cover up tattoo on one or more of their customers, but it's not always as simple as just inking out the new design. The success of a cover-up tattoo depends largely on the type of image it's meant to replace and the skill of the artist. A light coloured tattoo is going to be easier to cover than a very dark one, and some tattoo artists will suggest that dark tattoos be treated with laser fading procedures before the cover up is applied. Colouring Often, thick bands of black are used for the coverup tattoo, but this isn't always the best option, as colour variations can sometimes be...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/laser-tattoo-removal.htmThu, 25 Oct 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/laser-tattoo-removal.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/laser-tattoo-removal.htmTattoo removal is most commonly performed using lasers that react with the ink in the tattoo, and break it down. The broken-down ink is then absorbed by the body, mimicking the natural fading that time or sun exposure would create. This technique often requires many repeated visits to remove even a small tattoo, and may result in permanent scarring. The newer Q-switched lasers are said by the National Institute of Health to result in scarring only rarely, however, and are usually used only after a topical anesthetic has been applied. The NIH recognizes five types of tattoo; amateur, professional, cosmetic, medical, and traumatic (or natural). Areas with thin skin will be more likely to scar than thicker-skinned areas. There are several...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-dermabrasion.htmSat, 25 Aug 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-dermabrasion.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-dermabrasion.htmDermabrasion is a cosmetic medical procedure in which the surface of the epidermis of the skin (the stratum corneum) is removed by abrasion (sanding). Dermabrasion for tattoo removal is less-used today, as other methods are considered safer, and less likely to leave scars. Dermabrasion is also used to remove sun-damaged skin and to remove or lessen scars and dark spots on the skin. The procedure is very painful and usually requires a general anaesthetic or twilight anaesthesia, in which the patient is still partly conscious. Afterward, the skin is very red and raw-looking, and it takes several months for the skin to regrow and heal. Dermabrasion is useful for scar removal when the scar is raised above the surrounding skin, but is less...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/cryosurgery.htmSun, 25 Nov 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/cryosurgery.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/cryosurgery.htmCryosurgery (also known as cryotherapy) is the application of extreme cold to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. This method of tattoo removal surgery uses the application of liquid nitrogen to the area in question to freeze it. Then, this freezing causes a peeling action which in turn makes it possible for the top layer of skin to peel easily and deeper than usual. The name 'cryosurgery' suggests a rather invasive procedure. This is something that turns many people away from it as a potential means of removing unwanted ink, however, combining it with certain other methods of tattoo removal can make it a likely candidate for a clean removal, but this is over a period of time. Cryosurgery tattoo removal is not as pricey as laser...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-removal.htmSat, 25 Aug 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-removal.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-removal.htmOverview While tattoos are considered permanent, it is possible to remove them. Complete removal, however, may not be possible (although many doctors and laser practitioners make the claim that upwards of 95% removal is possible with the newest lasers, especially with black and darker colored inks), and the expense and pain of removing them typically will be greater than the expense and pain of applying them. Some jurisdictions will pay for the voluntary removal of gang tattoos. Gangs will often involuntarily remove gang tattoos, from a person who leaves the gang. Pre-laser tattoo removal methods include dermabrasion, salabrasion (scrubbing the skin with salt), cryosurgery, and excision (surgical removal) which is sometimes still used...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-designs.htmSat, 25 Aug 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-designs.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-designs.htmThere are many types of tattoo designs, which can be sorted into major categories such as black and grey tattoos, biomechanical tattoos, new school tattoos, Japanese, tribal, Celtic, and many others. Within these categories, the subject matter often follows various subjects, eg. Koi with Japanese tattooing, or cards, flames, dice, and swallows in New School Tattooing. Any image can be tattooed in the 'Japanese', 'New School' 'Tribal' or any of the other overall styles, however, so images which have been previously linked to a specific style are increasingly appearing in a wide range of styles. For example, you can fuse two or more styles eg 'New School Japanese' to create a new school koi or 'Tribal biomech' to recreate both tribal and...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-studios.htmSun, 25 Nov 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-studios.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-studios.htmAs the place where most people will go to get their tattoos done, to ask questions, and find designs, tattoo studios range in quality and character, and finding one that's right for you is important. It may be that there aren't any studios locally, or you feel you're limited to the artists who live and work near you, but there are a few things you can definately tell about a tattoo studio just by keeping your eyes open and looking for a few basic things. Studio hygiene is an important factor, and the procedures for avoiding infection are well known among professional tattooists. Simple techniques such as the use of autoclaves and other sterilisation techniques, the use of single-use needles, a basic understanding of blood-borne...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-studio-hygiene.htmSat, 25 Aug 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-studio-hygiene.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-studio-hygiene.htmHygiene The properly equipped tattoo studio will use biohazard containers for objects that have come into contact with blood or bodily fluids, sharps containers for old needles, and an autoclave for sterilizing tools. Certain jurisdictions also require studios by law to have a sink in the work area supplied with both hot and cold water. Proper hygiene requires a body modification artist to wash his or her hands before starting to prepare a client for the stencil, between clients, and at any other time where cross contamination can occur. The use of single use disposable gloves is also mandatory. In some states and countries it is illegal to tattoo a minor even with parental consent, and it is usually not allowed to tattoo impaired...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-infections.htmTue, 25 Sep 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-infections.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-infections.htmSince tattoo instruments come in contact with blood and bodily fluids, diseases may be transmitted if the instruments are used on more than one person without being sterilized. However, infection from tattooing in clean and modern tattoo studios employing single-use needles is rare, as tattoo studio hygiene is a top priority amongst professional studios. In amateur tattoos, such as those applied in prisons, however, there is an elevated risk of infection. To address this problem, a program was introduced in Canada as of the summer of 2005 that provides legal tattooing in prisons, both to reduce health risks and to provide inmates with a marketable skill. Inmates were to be trained to staff and operate the tattoo parlors once six of them...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-scabs.htmSun, 25 Nov 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-scabs.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-scabs.htmDuring healing, some tattoos will form a protective layer of skin which will then peel away, and others will form a scab - it's completely normal, and depends on your type of skin, the way the tattoo artist's worked the skin, and your aftercare regime. Don't Pick At It During the healing process, your new tatto may become very itchy, and scratchng the area will be very tempting, but this can damage the tattoo as it may draw the fresh ink out of your skin. Slapping the itching area will cause a sting and the itch goes away. In some cases the scab that forms can become thicker and thicker as the days go by, and you may want to pick some of it off to see what's happening underneath, but this again will cause problems, so just leave it alone...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/new-tattoos-sun-exposure.htmThu, 25 Oct 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/new-tattoos-sun-exposure.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/new-tattoos-sun-exposure.htmThe sun gives off U.V (ultraviolet) radiation, and it's this uv which causes us to get a tan in the summer months when the uv is stronger. People all over the world flock to the open spaces when it gets warm and love to lie about enjoying the weather, but for a new tattoo, U.V is one of the biggest problems. Have you ever noticed how anything you leave in the sun for a while starts to fade? Well the same's true for a tattoo, and if it's a new tattoo, this effect is magnified greatly. After getting you new tattoo, your skin has been damaged, and it'll take up to three months for a new layer of protective skin to cover the area fully. After the first 2 weeks this process has already started, and it's often suggested that you wait at...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/new-tattoos-and-water.htmTue, 25 Sep 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/new-tattoos-and-water.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/new-tattoos-and-water.htmIt's always best to avoid soaking new tattoos in water - at least for the first two weeks, as the skin has been damaged and is much more likely to get infected or irritated by particles, either chemical or biological, in the water. Having a shower isn't generally considered harmful to a new tattoo, as long as you don't scrub the tattoo whilst in the shower. Be sure to clean it very carefully at first so you don't damage your skin. When it comes to swimming, chlorine can cause problems in the beginning so, even after the first two weeks, limit your exposure to chlorine-treated swimming pools. Some people suggest that it's best to wait for a long as three months before you can really stop worrying about getting your tattoo soaked. This is...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-care.htmSun, 25 Nov 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-care.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-care.htmTattoo Aftercare Tattoo artists, and people with tattoos, vary widely in their preferred methods of caring for new tattoos. Some artists recommend keeping a new tattoo wrapped for the first twenty-four hours, while others suggest removing temporary bandaging after two hours or less. Many tattooists advise against allowing too much contact with hot tub or pool water, or soaking in a tub for the first two weeks. This is to prevent the tattoo ink from washing out or fading due to water and avoid infection from exposure to bacteria and chlorine. General consensus for care advises against removing the scab that forms on a new tattoo, and avoiding sun exposure for extended periods; both of these can contribute to fading of the image....http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-equipment.htmSat, 25 Aug 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-equipment.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-equipment.htmTattoo equipment ranges from products for sanitation and hygiene like autoclaves, to the actual tools used for tattooing such as the tattoo machines themselves, and tattoo needles. There are also many products for aftercare and healing available on the market.http://knink.com/content/tattoos/kanji.htmThu, 25 Oct 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/kanji.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/kanji.htmThe Japanese characters, known as Kanji, are derived from The Chinese Character system, and have become a very popular design for tattoos across the world. Here are some common Kanji Charactershttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/chinese-characters.htmThu, 25 Oct 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/chinese-characters.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/chinese-characters.htmChinese characters have long been used in traditional Chinese tattooing, but their use in Western tattooing has become much more widespread.<BR>A Chinese character, Han character or Hanzi (simplified Chinese: 汉字; traditional Chinese: 漢字; pinyin: Hànzì) is a logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi), Japanese characters (kanji), rarely Korean (hanja), and formerly Vietnamese (hán tự).</P> <P>The number of Chinese characters contained in the Kangxi dictionary is approximately 47,035, although a large number of these are rarely used variants accumulated throughout history. Studies carried out in China have shown that full literacy requires a knowledge of between three and four thousand characters.</P> <P>In the...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-pigments-and-dyes.htmTue, 25 Sep 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-pigments-and-dyes.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-pigments-and-dyes.htmTattoo Dyes and pigments Early tattoo inks were obtained directly from nature and were extremely limited in pigment variety. 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. A wide range of dyes and pigments can be used in tattoos, from inorganic materials like titanium dioxide and iron oxides to carbon black, azo dyes, and acridine, quinoline, phthalocyanine and naphthol derivates, dyes made from ash, and other mixtures. The current trend for tattoo pigment favors Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS plastic) as seen by the widespread popularity of Intenze, Millennium and other ABS pigmented...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/indian-ink.htmSat, 25 Aug 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/indian-ink.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/indian-ink.htmAlso known as India ink, and Chinese ink, Indian Ink is a simple black ink once widely used for writing and printing, and now more commonly used for drawing, especially when inking comics and comic strips. Indian ink can be used for home-made tattoos (sometimes called "stick and poke" or "prison" tattoos), by repeatedly stabbing the skin with a sharp sewing needle wrapped in ink-soaked thread. Indian ink usually is not suitable for fountain pens, as it will readily clog the pen. History The ink used in early India since at least the 4th century BC was called masi, which was an admixture of several chemical components. Indian documents written in Kharosthi with ink have been unearthed in Chinese Turkestan. The practice of writing with ink...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-ink.htmSun, 25 Nov 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-ink.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-ink.htmTattoo inks Modern tattooing inks, (as opposed to traditional tattoo pigments and dyes) are carbon based pigments that have uses outside of commercial tattoo applications. Although the United States Food and Drug Administration technically requires premarket approval of pigments it has not actually approved the use of any ink or pigments for tattooing (because of a lack of resources for such relatively minor responsibilities). Having said this, there are many reputable, established, and safe tattoo ink brands and manufacturers whose products are used widely and safely around the world. As of 2004 the FDA does perform studies to determine if the contents are possibly dangerous, and follow up with legal action if they find them to have...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/autoclaves.htmThu, 25 Oct 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/autoclaves.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/autoclaves.htmWhen properly used, autoclaves are an important part of any tattoo shop's overall sanitation program to keep both customers and artists safe from potential infections. An autoclave is a pressurized device designed to heat aqueous solutions above their boiling point to achieve sterilization. It was invented by Charles Chamberland in 1879. The term autoclave is also used to describe an industrial machine in which elevated temperature and pressure are used in processing materials. Under ordinary circumstances (at standard pressure), liquid water cannot be heated above approximately 100 °C (99.99 °C at 101.325 kPa, 99.62 °C at 100 kPa) in an open vessel except for special situations. Further heating results in boiling, but does not raise the...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-needles.htmTue, 25 Sep 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-needles.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/tattoo-needles.htmThere are two sets of tattoo needles - those used for lining, and those used for shading. Some tattooists will use the different types of needles with machines specifically designed for them, eg, lining and shading machines, however many tattooists will use both lining and shading needles with the same tattoo machine. The needles are mounted (soldered in place) on a bar which is attached to the tattoo machine, and the number of needles can vary. The needles are attached to the the tattoo machine's needle arm which is what makes the movement happen, and the needles are surrounded by a sanitary tube which can be taken off so that it can be sterilised in an autoclave. The sanitary tubes are designed especially for the combination of...http://knink.com/content/tattoos/scarification.htmThu, 25 Oct 2012 14:04:47 GMThttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/scarification.htmTomhttp://knink.com/content/tattoos/scarification.htmIn the process of body scarification, scars are formed by cutting or branding the skin. Scarification is sometimes called cicatrization (from the French equivalent). History Scarification has been used for many reasons in many different cultures: Scarification has been used as a rite of passage in adolescence, or to denote the emotional state of the wearer of the scars, such as times of sorrow or well-being. This is common among Australian Aboriginal and Sepik River tribes in New Guinea, amongst others. Scarification, by deliberately burning skin, is called branding and has historically been used to mark slaves and criminals, usually with the brand being visible and often letter-coded to reflect the crime. The Māori of New Zealand...