Contemporary Tattoo Inks

Tattoo inks are dyes or pigments deposited into the skin to give the color of the tattoo by the use of a vehicle or carrier.  This signifies that the tattoo ink as made up of two constituents; that is, the pigment which acts as the base and the thinner acting as the tattoo ink carrier.  The given color of tattoo ink can either be purchased premade (pre-dispersed) or the tattooist can mix two or more colors to obtain one. 

Tattoo ink color

Mixing of colors to get another requires good knowledge of division of colors as primary and secondary colors.

In the world of colored lights, there are three colored lights: red, green and blue.  In order to mix them and see the effect a white screen is opted to obtain:

       

The outcome - yellow, cyan and magenta - of mixing any two primary colored lights is called secondary color.

This is method simulated by computer screen.  It is called color mixing by addition.

When it comes to pigments, the method is different.  This is partial elaboration and the the actual determinants as elucidated as points to towards below. 

A pigment or paint of yellow when mixed with a pigment of cyan in same proportion, green is obtained.  Yellow pigment when illuminated by white light, will absorb all colors other than its constituents, that is, yellow, red and green.  Cyan pigment will absorb all when illuminate by white light and reflect cyan, blue and green.  The two pigments when mixed in same proportion will absorb all lights and reflect the common constituent, that is, green.

This method of mixing pigments where the common constituent color is reflected is called color mixing by subtraction.  This procedure is employed by the color printers.  By mixing pigments in different proportion is thus possible to obtain variant colors up to grey.  It is this that a separate black dye or cartridge accompanies the other three.

Color mixing to come up with desirable colors of tattoo inks is not easy.  The above is just but an approximation.  Tattoo ink mixtures a tattooist can make depends on the parameters like:

       pigment constituents of tattoo ink

       solvents (vehicles) into which tattoo ink thinned

       mixture methods employed

       surfaces qualities on which the mixing is done

       the experience of the tattooist to come up with the appropriate blend of the tattoo ink

Due to the above a tattooist would ensure sufficient tattoo inks in stock to maintain his or her customers by not relying on approximation.  It is cardinal that if a job is worth doing then it is worth doing it well.

When a tattoo ink set is obtained it can be as low as 12 tattoo ink of different colors simple work; for intense and intricate tattooing this number can reach 54 units.

Base tattoo ink, colors and composition

Color	Base tattoo ink
Black	Iron, Nickel, Carbon
Brown	Iron, Azo-chemicals
Red	Mercury, Cadmium , Iron oxide, Ferricyanide
Orange	Cadmium, Azo-chemicals
Yellow	Lead, Cadmium, Zinc, Ferricyanide, Azo-chemicals
Green	Lead, Chromium oxide, Aluminium, Azo-chemicals, Copper, Ferricyanide
Blue	Cobalt, Copper, Ferricyanide
Violet	Aluminium, Azo-chemicals
White	Lead, Zinc oxide, Titanium, Barium

Tattoo ink Carriers or vehicles

Tattoo ink carriers are liquids intended to thin, carry and distribute pigment bases into the dermis uniformly.  These carriers are also supposed to act as disinfectant and increase absorption of tattoo ink into the skin.  Some of tattoo ink carriers include ethanol, water, glycerine, propylene glycol and methanol.

Tattoo ink and health issues

Photo-toxicity is the intoxication of the body due to exposure to light.  Some of the tattoo inks have been reported to cause this.  Allergic reactions and development of cancer due to heavy metals use can occur.

It is important that before you get a tattoo, assess your health before embarking on the type of tattoo ink to use and its composition whether the tattoo ink is safe in your skin.