Tattoo Techniques
There are three main tattoo techniques practiced today; western, (electric tattoo gun) Japanese, (stick with needles attached) and Polynesian, (rake and tapper) although the western tattooing techniques are by far the safest, most practical, and least painful. The idea for the electric tattoo machine, as it is called in the U.S, (tattoo gun in Europe) was first conceived by Thomas Edison in 1876. The original invention was of an autographic printer, modified into a tattoo machine and patented by Samuel O'Reilly of New York in 1891. Find Thousands of Awesome Tattoo Designs Here This early version used the rotary technology ways of tattooing, where the spinning motor would bump the needle assembly and a spring would pull it back. This evolved into a single coil machine near the turn of the century, finally becoming the duel coil machine of today. A simple explanation of how these alternating current tattooing machines works is the action between a magnet, metal bar, and a spring. The current flowing through the coils creates a magnetic pull, drawing the metallic bar that holds the needle/needles towards it, extending them to the set depth. When the current alternates between the coils, the magnetic force stops and the spring pulls the bar back, repeating the motion between 80 and 150 times a second. The needles are soldered to the needle bars, their varied numbers determining the thickness of the lines, and a small reservoir holds the ink. This rapid and controlled action allows the artist to move across the skin accurately and smoothly without pulling or tearing.
Japanese Tattoo Techniques
The traditional Japanese tattoo design techniques are called tebori, and means to carve by hand, and although irezumi and horimono can also mean to tattoo they are more commonly considered a style. A thin stick with a needle attached to the end, (usually bamboo) is dipped in ink and then used to place the ink just under the skin. The artist then places one hand, open and flat, on the area that is going to be tattooed, stretching the skin with the forefinger and thumb, and positions the instrument at the apex of the finger and thumb, raising the end of the stick with the other hand and pushing it forward, puncturing the skin. These tattoo techniques are slow and more painful than the electric tattoo machines, and the only sound that can be heard is the needle puncturing the skin in this slow quiet process-that sound is called shakki. The number of needles attached to each stick varies between three and twenty seven depending on the desired effect. The skill level required is of the utmost importance in these tattoo techniques because the artist (horishi) is in total control of the depth of the ink placement, unlike the electric machine that is fast controlled punctures. The artists often have to apprentice under a master for many years in order to learn not just the tattoo techniques, but also making their own equipment, mixing the ink, as well as a complete understanding of depth of ink placement and shading. These tattoos take much longer to create, and again, are much more painful, and qualified artists are harder to find outside of Japan or larger cities.
Polynesian Tattoo Techniques
The third and final of the common tattoo techniques is the Polynesian, and is called by many names, usually after an individual island, and the word tattoo comes from the Samoan or Tahitian tatu, meaning to strike or mark the skin. The tools used are a small rake for holding the needles, and a wooden stick to strike the rake, forcing the ink into the skin. The needles are made from bird bones, turtle shell, or a variety of other hard materials that can be sharpened into a point. Unlike the Japanese tattoo techniques, this method takes two people to ink, the artist, and an assistant to stretch the skin. The rake is dipped into the ink and after the desired placement, is tapped with the stick, puncturing the skin and leaving a mark. This style of tattoo varies astatically from the Japanese and Western in that it is designed to create patterns and designs rather than pictures, and is primarily done in black ink. These tattoo techniques also require years of apprenticeship and are also more painful then electric machines, but some say less than the Japanese- the big and bold designs also take a lot of time to create. Thanks for visiting feminine tattoo designs at Angel Heart Tattoo and I hope you learned a little about the different tattoo techniques. If your ready to start creating your tattoo visit "How to Find Tattoo Dsigns."
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