Hardcore realistic Tattoos

[monte]

I remember seeing a discussion about how to implement this, but I can't for the life of me find the thread. Perhaps it never existed, maybe I've gone insane. However, what I need to do is create a tattoo, simple and black.

What is the best way to go about this?

Paint? Actor sweats then you're screwed...

What else? It's going to be on the actors hand, if that helps.

[Alexa]

Henna?

[BLUESPIDER]

monte, the best thing to do is to paint them on. The CG/Motiontrack/composite is just too much work. There's special inks out there that's water proof. It's tough to remove, even with Didi seven. I can't remember what its called but do a google search. Doing it digitally just looks fake if you don't know what you're doing.

[Goblin]

We tried Henna once, but found it was far too light to really read on tape. Could have been mixed wrong, or maybe just the actor's skin. Dunno.

We used eye liner pencil with great success for a different project. It held up well, even after being hit with quit a bit of fake blood.

[TC]

How about a real tattoo? :D

Henna won't ever look like real tattoo ink. The eyeliner is probably a good idea. Go down to a local tattoo shop and ask them. I know that when you get a real tattoo they do the non-permanent ink-transfer for a rough idea, then actually fill it in with the gun. Perhaps they could do that for your shoot.

[dakotapod]

If the shoot is a little long you could try temporary tattoos. Pretty cheap in quantities and can be re-applied as needed. Can be custom from supplied artwork too if your story calls for it. Do a quick goggle for temporary tattoos and you will find a ton of companies that can whip them up for pennies each.

[monte]

I'm shooting on tuesday :o

Might just go with the eyeliner idea, or go to a tattoo shop, but I don't want people to give me a wierd look when i ask for a tat of a swastika for one of my chars

[kai]

but I don't want people to give me a wierd look when i ask for a tat of a swastika for one of my chars

Ha... as long as you don't go in with a shaved head and combat boots while slinging a burning cross, i'm sure they'll understand once you explain it's for a movie...

Besides, it was a Buddhist symbol for peace before the Nazi's used it. It's still used around the world today... I saw some at the airport in Kathmandu on the side of some busses once. Flipped me out till it was explained to me. ;)

[Rich Lee]

"you know how many guys come in here...looking to get a swastika or upside down cross on their chest, saying its for a film...get the f*#ck out of my store"

[dakotapod]

it was a Buddhist symbol for peace before the Nazi's used it.

Wow. I never knew that! Unfortunate that it was destroyed... F**king Nazis >:(

[JonnyMac]

I read somewhere that the Ralph Fiennes's tattoos in "Red Dragon" were applied with standard ballpoint pens -- they come in lots of colors and on film look like a tattoo. *Just use a medium point so you don't hurt your actor's skin.

[TC]

The swastika was also used by the Native Americans. However I believe in both instances the legs were turned in the oposite direction.

[David Jimerson]

The swastika has been used in many cultures. Visit Iceland and you'll find it on many buildings. In Nordic tradition, it's a symbol for Thor's hammer. Some North American tribes used it as a symbol for the sun. The Aryans of India used it as a symbol for life.

The Nazis took it, turned it around, and gave it a 45-degree tilt becuase it was meant to suggest a wheel in motion.

[braw]

I would create a template with a printout on paper and cover with laminating plastic. Use Reel Creation Body Paint or Skin Illustrator. They are water resistant and resist sweat. From Personal experience, they last a long time. You remove it with Isopropyl Alcohol or Isopropyl Myristate.

http://www.reelcreations.com/store/store/listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=32

http://www.skinillustrator.com/catalogue.htm

[antomic]

I read somewhere that the Ralph Fiennes's tattoos in "Red Dragon" were applied with standard ballpoint pens
I did the artwork for the Red Dragon movie poster, and the tattoo seemed to be printed on a clear film and stuck to the actors body. In the high resolution scan you could see the skin bunching up in a wrinkled sort of way, same as if latex were dried stretched out and then relaxed back.

[j]

Ive used sharpies for tatoos on 2 features. Washes off. Get a real tattoo artist to apply them. Takes time, give them a couple of hours.

See:
http://www.greydogmovie.com/
for example pics.

-j

[monte]

Wow J, that looks superb, were the tatoo artists willing to do it on their own time for free or for pay?

[visulfx]

design it in photoshop or what ever your choice maybe. They make inkjet tattoo paper for printers. It works great. I have used it in a few commericals.

[Staino]

Forge a hot piece of metal, heat it up to 400 degrees and press really hard where applicable. They will be forever daunted with a memory of working on a film with you.