IDW #57: Bio-Mechanical Tattoo Gun

**yoitisi** · January 13th, 2008, 10:34 AM

Topic: Bio-Mechanical Tattoo Gun

Background: Took this one out the topic suggestion thread. Originally suggested by Michamachtlos and bumped by Lege1. It's another small ID item that requires some research and thinking. There are a couple of important things here:

First, the bio-mechanical part. Make sure this is visible in your final rendering. It is okay to use an organism to inject the ink for example, but when you do, make sure it is incorporated in your design. Make a visible link in form or style that connects the organic part with the mechanical part.

Second, the tattoo itself. There are many ways to make a tattoo (needle, bamboo pen, I even allow scarification if you really want to). It might be good though to think of the future of tattoos as well. For example, digital tattoos, tattoos that change with mood, genetic tattoos, whatever.

In this topic, the initial idea should count as much as the final rendering. This does not mean that the final rendering of your idea doesn't have to be top notch.

Brief:
1. Design and draw a Bio-Mechanical Tattoo Gun.
2. Make sure there is a visible link between the bionical part and the technical part.
3. Think about alternetive ways of making a tattoo!
4. That's it... now draw!

Deadline: Saturday January 19 2008 (I close it the same time as the last one)

**yoitisi** · January 13th, 2008, 10:41 AM

I'm not sure if I closed all the loopholes in this topic, so if there are questions or remarks please say so.

On a different note, I would like the quality of this activity to get better with every round so if there are any suggestion to achieve this, say so (but do it in the discussion thread please

). Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the way things are going right now, but not every round seems to have the same level of quality. Also, we're not yet up to par with COW or CHOW, while I see no reason not to go for something close to that. On the other hand, I don't want to play the bully by denying everything that doesn't look perfect or something. Should we have more tutorials, links to sites with good examples or anything else you want to see?

**ScaryPotato** · January 13th, 2008, 11:41 AM

You're right yoitisi, my mistake...I moved it into the discussion thread now

I'm planning on attempting this week's topic with something containing live squids. We'll see what happens with it!

**yoitisi** · January 13th, 2008, 12:21 PM

ScaryPotato: Thanks for the input

Before this goes any further though, post suggestions and stuff in the discussion thread please. I guess I shouldn't have posted it in here to start with, but that way more people see it.

**Trashy** · January 13th, 2008, 02:08 PM

I remember seeing this topic suggested. It's a pretty interesting one, I'll see if I can get something done here for this. count me in for now.

About making suggestions for IDW, I'll post something in that thread

Update- Wip's and sketches

final

The Mind Image Tattoo gun currently is a item that can only be found in the black market. A lot of controversial aspects surround this tattoo gun, likely because it is the first created bio mechanical tattoo gun created. This tattoo gun uses a rare parasite specimen that is capable of latching onto a head of a other species to establish a up link and connect with other minds to feed on mental imagery. Usually these parasites are not harmful however. This tattoo gun is infused with this parasite. The purpose of this crazy idea is this, by connecting to the tattoo gun and then the brain of a human the parasite will project any imagery that person thinks. Say for instance you thought of this crazy tattoo design you want on your arm. Just imagine the design and where it is located and the parasite will feed on that image then then through a little wiring and state of the art technology that image will be shot over to the tattoo gun. From there the mechanically controlled tattoo gun will create the image perfectly onto the arm or any other part of the body.

The parasite itself leaves hardly any imprint to the head however the idea of having any parasite connect to ones head spooks many understandably. Chances of it reaching the mainstream market are still slim. It could highly impact many tattoo artist's in a negative way as well.

**Saturns Gate** · January 13th, 2008, 04:35 PM

Well, have not got that much time to finish this between uni work and Last Man Standing, so far only managed a quick scribble. Will be much more focussed on the actual design of the gun interwoven with his muscle structure and maybe change the hunch back to sorta hold a giant ink sack. He doesont have sturdy fingers like us humans, so cant really hold a tattoo gun all that well, thats why he made the implant...yes, he is that devoted to his work!

**Legato** · January 14th, 2008, 04:03 AM

im probably gonna be taking a side path again this next week, which means i might have time to poop something quick out, but probably not :/

**darkly** · January 14th, 2008, 05:29 PM

Well I believe this is my first time posting in IDW. I remember seeing "no wips allowed" in the submission guidelines, but does that just mean for your finished entry, or are we not allowed to show our progress, or get feedback on sketches? Well I may get reprimanded for this, but heres my initial sketch.

c&c welcome.

**yoitisi** · January 14th, 2008, 05:42 PM

Natedogler: Actually, I would encourage everyone to post WIPs and other inspirational stuff in here. The rule applies to your final submission for the poll. Anyway, welcome to IDW

**ZebraHDH** · January 14th, 2008, 11:51 PM

I'm gonna see if i can try to get at least a wip or something in for this... im trying to get more active, so i can start drawing more. Neat topic.

**Trashy** · January 15th, 2008, 12:15 AM

Hey natedogler, I like where your going with that idea! I like to see where you take that sketch.

dug up some refs on tattoo guns and tattoo artwork.

http://www.superiortattoo.com/catego...categoryID=228
Hehehe...gotta love ebay- tattoo guns on Ebay

Lots of tattoo artwork
http://www.nickbaxter.com/tattoos/

**ZebraHDH** · January 15th, 2008, 02:22 AM

I had some fun, got to work on this. I'm sure I could finish it off alot more, but I am still getting used to using painterX.
link was deleted

Basic premise: A tattoo gun that is mechanically fused to a living octopus. The gun needs to be plugged into a power source, and the machine filters pigments out of the various body fluids of the pus. When the fluids are mixed with the ink, drawn through the mask on its face, the colors become bold and permanent. The tattooing needle has a small suction tube that is used to nourish the animal the tattooee's blood, while it's brain fluids keep the internal motors and gears lubricated. The tentacles are wrapped around and tucked into the main housing, as they serve as a fine non-slip grip. The average life-span of the animal-machine hybrid is around 6 months, and once fused, the machine can never be separated from the octopus.

**jread** · January 15th, 2008, 05:21 AM

LOL, the first thing that springs to mind is a woodpecker and an ink-well in a twisted episode of the Flinstones! Yabadabadoo!

If I get the time I may make this my first IDW, cool topic

**darkly** · January 15th, 2008, 06:59 PM

Thanks Yoitisi. I hear you about the quality of the rounds! Hopefully this is somewhat up to par.

The T 100, the tattoo artist's little buddy. This amazing tool was created for the soul purpose to help the tattoo artist in their productivity. Due to more people desiring body art and more willing to conform to what everybody else is doing; the T 100 has become an important piece in the tattoo artist's arsenal. It can do nearly everything a human tattoo artist can, such as tracing lines and coloring within them.

**Lege1** · January 15th, 2008, 09:27 PM

Awesome topic! Thanks Yoitisi!! =) I am working on a wip now.

**Legato** · January 16th, 2008, 01:10 AM

nate, might i suggest toning that background down a bit?

**C0mBineD** · January 16th, 2008, 10:34 AM

here is my WIP

first contest on here ever

hope this is ok

**Lege1** · January 17th, 2008, 01:48 AM

Well so far here is a little something. I am running out of time quickly with this one. Going to still try to throw it together nicely. Time will tell...........

**yoitisi** · January 17th, 2008, 09:33 AM

Trashy: I like it already

The 'ink' coming out of it is really cool, reminds me of some 60's posters and drawings.

ZebraHDH: I'm afraid yours needs some more work before I take it to poll. The inital start is good, but lose those messy lines please. Also, there's some weird cross hatching and texturing going on that makes it look unfinished.

Natedogler: Looking good

I agree with Legato, try to tone down the background a bit as it really distracts from the Tattoo gun itself.

C0mBineD: Yours needs some more love before I take it to poll. Tighten the composition a bit, as you've got oceans of space all around your gun that doesn't really add anything to the overall piece. The shapes of the gun itself needs some more integration with each other, as well as some more detailing. Good start though, I like the idea of the brain in the fluid.

Lege1: Not much to critique yet, just finish it. Looks damn scarry for a Tattoo gun actually

**nirudafat** · January 17th, 2008, 02:23 PM

whoo nice...actually the ma first shot at these thingys that happen here...thought of trying for the environment of the week but ma pirate cove was messed up....this looks more like ma hting....

i know this mind sound stupid but is it ok to take a photo of ma sketches or finished work since i dont have a scanner or a drawing tablet..?

**C0mBineD** · January 17th, 2008, 03:15 PM

this might not be my final.. but if I cant seem to improve any further then it will be

**ZebraHDH** · January 17th, 2008, 08:09 PM

yoitisi-Thanks, I know its messy looking atm, and thanks for the advice. Don't worry about me making it to the poll. Right now I am just trying to get back into the swing of drawing regularly. The other half of it, is using painterx instead of photoshop. I would have had a much cleaner painting if I used ps, but what can ya do, I still dont knpow where anything is.

Thanks for the topic and activity. I hope one day soon i will be able to get some better quality submitted.

**PutridusCor** · January 17th, 2008, 08:44 PM

Remember! you don't hold up a tattoo gun like a fire gun o_O
if you draw with a tattoo gun, you hold it almost like a pen, I think

Here my first sketches:

I'll try to render the last one

**yoitisi** · January 18th, 2008, 09:27 AM

Nirudafat: I've got no real objection against a photo, just make sure you get a good picture of it. Otherwise you might not have a chance in the poll just because it was a badly taken picture.

C0mBineD: It is already an improvement, but overall it still lacks shape. Try to find reference for the glass part by looking at pictures of bottles for example and implement what you see. The texture is nice but simply doesn't help to punch out the shape.

PutridusCor: Hope you find the time to finish one of them

**darkly** · January 18th, 2008, 03:40 PM

Well due to popular demand I tweaked the background a bit on my piece. One thing the kind of sucks though is that whenever I upload an image from Photoshop it always loses some color from the original file. Any help?

**PutridusCor** · January 18th, 2008, 04:34 PM

It's done, I did my best
There is still time to correct and change some things.
Final:

**Lege1** · January 19th, 2008, 05:03 AM

Yoitisi: I am trying to finish up things last minute here. I've had to cater to school and have been swamped in Algebra, doin 10 minute equations that end up equalling zero, gotta love it. Anyway, what time are you closing this thread today? I've been up all night studying and I am going to get a few hours of sleep and get up and work on my Bio Tat baby. I am trying to figure out if I do or don't have time to finish this one.

PutridusCor: Dope concept and illustration! There's something about this that reminds me of Mother Brain from the classic Nintendo hit "Metroid."

**yoitisi** · January 19th, 2008, 05:44 AM

Lege1: I'll close this thread 24-26 hours from the moment I post this

(that is, if the implementation of CA 4.0 works out all right)

**:::rain:::** · January 19th, 2008, 07:28 AM

Unfortunately had no time to participate in this, decided to try my hand at CHOW this week. Great stuff though guys. I'll be back to vote for the finals!!

**nirudafat** · January 19th, 2008, 08:23 AM

this is ma biomech tattoo gun....im new to this...do i post ma final work and someone decides if it goes to the final or do i have to post it in some other thread.....
and is the clarity of the drawing adequate for teh final...the drawing is quite small compared to what the other guys post....its abt 1/2 A4 size pic....