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Yotattoo

The techniques of tattooing

Centuries and centuries ago, innovative men of those times realized that if there were any breaks in our skin, they could be made into permanent marks by introducing pigment in those areas. Over the centuries, this has been raised to the level of a fine art in terms of depth, line control and shading. This discovery spread to different cultures that practiced tattooing, each with different methods for pushing pigments into the dermis layer of our skin.

Derived from the Tahitian word “tattau,” the word tattoo means to “mark” or brand someone. It was first mentioned in 1769 by explorer James Cook’s after his expedition to the South Pacific.

Western tattoo: Here, a tattoo machine is used. This machine, originally patented in England in the late 1800s, has barely changed much since its early days. The tattooist moves a solid needle through a motor up and down in a metal tube dipped into a cup of ink while a foot pedal controls the machine’s on and off positions. Outlining the pattern calls for just one needle, while groups of needles are arranged into even numbered flat configurations for shading.

Japanese tattooing: This is a hand based style of tattooing which works with elaborate bamboo handles. These handles have bunches of needles and works as a hand powered tattoo machine. Here, the artist stretches the skin with one hand and dips the brush into black ink with his spread fingers.

Samoan tattooing: Yet another Pacific culture, the Samoans use wooden hand tools for tattooing. A group of assistants help to keep the skin taut as the tattooist uses two tools—a bone-tipped rake and a striking stick. The former is dipped in ink, and struck with the other stick to puncture the skin. This helps get some fantastic geometric shapes. While the artist does the tattooing, drumming and chanting continue.

Ancient Thai Tattooing: This ancient tattoo tool works just like the Western machine. The tattoo tradition here is tied to Buddhism and designs are religious symbols. It is made with a long brass tube, and a sliding pointed rod running down the centre. The artist dips it in ink, keeping a steady hand against the client’s skin while the other pierces the skin like the needle of a sewing machine.

Modern tattooing: The autographic printer was patented by Thomas Edison in 1876. In 1891, Samuel O’Reilly modified this machine and what resulted was the modern tattoo machine, as we know it today. This is a steel instrument with needles to pierce the skin at the rate of 50-3,000 times a minute. It uses an up-down direction to pierce the epidermis and inject ink particles between 0.6 and 2.2 mm, into the dermis.

Today, the tattoo machine is an electric, vertical, vibrating instrument which injects ink into the dermis at a depth of 1/64 to 1/16 of an inch. Outlining of the pattern is done with one needle while the details are filled in with the help of five to seven needles in a needle bar.

Tattooing clearly has come a long way, and has perfected itself over the ages. Today, it is a respected form of art and wins our admiration for even the smallest piece design we see on cheeks, thighs, arms and navels.

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