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Heavy Fluid

macrumors 6502
Jun 18, 2008
473
8
I don't understand?

My reasoning behind the design is that the cross represents Christ who died for us etc... The scriptures have been really relevant to me through my life (look them up). And the reason for the hebrew is because 1. english text doesnt look as nice and 2. hebrew is a language of the jews, I have jewish heritage and Christ was a jew so its cool.

Im a bit bummed that you guys say it wont look good on my arm. If I used a smaller font do ya think it would be any better? Or if I gymmed more and got huge biceps? :p Any suggested minimum dimensions for legibility?

It's not that it won't look good, but font has to be a certain size or it just looks illegible. If you want to be able to read that, it will need to be pretty huge. I would head into a reputable tattoo shop and speak with an artist to see what their take on it is. I get the feeling that you will be hearing the same thing you are reading on here. I would highly recommend following the advice of those that are more experienced with tattoos, especially the artist. They know what looks good, and what doesn't. They don't want to give you a crappy tattoo, trust me.

My wife has the word Strength across her inner wrist (in honor of her grandmother that passed away). The tattoo almost takes up the entire inner part of her wrist, and that is just one word. If it were smaller, it would be illegible and look like a black blob. You need the size to make it readable and the design you picked will need to be pretty big in order to make it look right.
 

Surely

Guest
Oct 27, 2007
15,042
17
Los Angeles, CA
Paper and skin don't treat ink the same. Ink can easily spread once it's injected into skin. The design the you want has too much small detail. It may look alright when it's initially inked, but over time the ink will spread just enough to really F up the detail. It will turn into a black smudge. Sorry. :eek:



i got the cat last year and Fatima's hand yesterday... :D:D

You have a tattoo? Where?:D
 

foufana

macrumors newbie
Oct 2, 2010
3
0
Hey "surely" well the cat is on my back and fatima's hand is in the middle right under by cleavage...
 

Kenzembo1

macrumors 6502
Dec 22, 2008
361
0
Youngstown, OH
Advice welcomed!

I'm looking to get my first tattoo and have a pretty good idea what I want to get but I don't know where. I want to get my mother's initials "C.A.O." or just "C.O." ...not sure if I want to get all three letters or just the two. It means a lot to me because my sister has the initials for her name as well, so the tattoo would represent the two most important women in my life (whom I love unconditionally).

Also, it's breast cancer awareness month and my mom died of breast cancer 6 years ago- my original idea was to get her (and my sister's) initials on my left breast over my heart. I'm having second thoughts though, because I don't want it to look like a prison tattoo...also, I have a pretty hairy chest lol. What do you guys think?

Furthermore, I understand that people with tattoos strive for a certain degree of symmetry. How might this affect the location of my tattoo? I should also mention that I'm thinking about getting a second tattoo on my right inner arm/bicep down the road in the not so distant future.
 

Heavy Fluid

macrumors 6502
Jun 18, 2008
473
8
I'm looking to get my first tattoo and have a pretty good idea what I want to get but I don't know where. I want to get my mother's initials "C.A.O." or just "C.O." ...not sure if I want to get all three letters or just the two. It means a lot to me because my sister has the initials for her name as well, so the tattoo would represent the two most important women in my life (whom I love unconditionally).

Also, it's breast cancer awareness month and my mom died of breast cancer 6 years ago- my original idea was to get her (and my sister's) initials on my left breast over my heart. I'm having second thoughts though, because I don't want it to look like a prison tattoo...also, I have a pretty hairy chest lol. What do you guys think?

Furthermore, I understand that people with tattoos strive for a certain degree of symmetry. How might this affect the location of my tattoo? I should also mention that I'm thinking about getting a second tattoo on my right inner arm/bicep down the road in the not so distant future.

I would find a reputable artist/shop and the artist can help you with the placement of the tattoo. As for what to get exactly, that will be up to you. They should be able to give you a few suggestions and draw something up for you. Ask your friends, coworkers, family, etc. anyone who has a tattoo...where they went. Ask to see portfolios or search for their work online. Do your homework in other words. It's pretty permanent once they start so you want to be absolutely sure that they are good.

As for symmetry, I don't know about that. When my left arm is done, I will have half a sleeve on that arm, and just one on my right arm, inner bicep. That tattoo is in honor of my mom who passed away a few years ago. I don't know that I want any other tattoos on that arm. It means a lot to me so I will probably just leave it as is.
 

b00st3d

macrumors member
Aug 16, 2008
96
0
New Orleans
crappy blackberry pic:

73ad8e01.jpg
 

partyBoy

macrumors 68000
Nov 8, 2009
1,558
0
Dilligaf
tribal skull
joker
tribal arm band (all the way around):D
 

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derek.fulmer

macrumors member
Jun 17, 2010
69
0
Chicago
One more session and my half sleeve will be done. Very happy with how it's coming out.

These are pictures from Saturday's session. 5 and a half hours of pure bliss.

DSC_1389.jpg


DSC_1387.jpg


DSC_1385.jpg
 

fr4c

macrumors 65816
Jul 27, 2007
1,261
131
Hamster wheel
about to go under for my first tattoo in about 45 minutes, took me 1 year to finally decide on a design as well as the artist.

nerves are getting to me right now :eek:
 

Surely

Guest
Oct 27, 2007
15,042
17
Los Angeles, CA
about to go under for my first tattoo in about 45 minutes, took me 1 year to finally decide on a design as well as the artist.

nerves are getting to me right now :eek:

Good luck...... for me, it hurts right at the beginning, and for the last 5 minutes. In between isn't so bad.

Looks like you did the right thing and sat on a design for a long time.

I hope you'll show off your piece when it's finished....


/Did you use all three computers to design it?:rolleyes:;)
 

Heavy Fluid

macrumors 6502
Jun 18, 2008
473
8


That is just awesome. The amount of work on the inside of your arm.....I know what you went through. The colors on the lighthouse and the shading is really good. Congrats on your piece of artwork.
 

derek.fulmer

macrumors member
Jun 17, 2010
69
0
Chicago
thanks all!

I indeed found a good artist. Luckily, he was a mutual friend of some of my close friends and has since become a friend of mien as well.
 

fr4c

macrumors 65816
Jul 27, 2007
1,261
131
Hamster wheel
Good luck...... for me, it hurts right at the beginning, and for the last 5 minutes. In between isn't so bad.

Looks like you did the right thing and sat on a design for a long time.

I hope you'll show off your piece when it's finished....


/Did you use all three computers to design it?:rolleyes:;)

Of course I used all 3 ;)

But you're right, wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The first 10 minutes did hurt, I'm not going to lie, as I knew before going in that the outline was going to be the worst. After a while I just got used to it, and took a quick 5 minute break before I just went right into shading. All in all, was there for about 3 hours from beginning to end. I'll be going back in a few weeks to add more extensions, and probably have it wrap around my entire bicep. Pretty happy with how it turned out so far.

photogm.jpg
 

Surely

Guest
Oct 27, 2007
15,042
17
Los Angeles, CA
Wow fr4c, awesome first tattoo! Really nice detail. If you live in LA (not sure where you live), I'd love to know who the artist is....

Feel free to explain the design (if you'd like to).
 
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