Makeup Techniques

and

Makeup Artists Work

Tattoo Transfers

Tinsley Tattoos

Tattoo Transfers were founded by hollywood make-up and special effects artist Christien Tinsley , Tinsley Transfers started making temporary tattoos out of necessity during the making of the film Pearl Harbor. While working on approximately 40 extras that required multiple wound and burn effects daily, Christien realised that using tattoo transfers were a quick and timesaving tool to create such effects.

Christian Tinsley for the movie Pearl Harbour used Bullet Holes, Cuts & Scrapes, Vintage, Pin Up and Prison tattoos as transfers.The were easy to apply tattoo transfer with an emphasis on continuity and reality of the effects. Being a very gifted make-up artist, Christien made sure the tattoos looked as realistic as possible. The tattoos look like they have been worn for a few years already. This is something I need to consider when making tattos as i want to experiment with ways in which i can make the tattoo look aged and faded.

Established in 1999 Tinsley Transfers Inc. has solely provided Hollywood’s biggest film and television productions with custom temporary tattoo transfers such as:

Prison Break - Wentworth Miller

Alpha Dog - Justin Timberlake

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Gary Oldman

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Justin Timberlake in a gang film Alpha Dog has his transfer tattoos all over his body. The colour of the tattoos look faded in colour and look under the skin rather than painted on top of the skin. They appear a greeny blue which is how tattoos look once faded. Tattoos can fade due to exposure to the sun, the ink and the way the tattoo has been done.

When making my tattoos i will use the same colour rather than black which will help make my tattoos look more realistic.

Wentworth Miller from Prison break has full body tattoo's. These have always stood out to me as amazing because of the detail and full body tattoo coverage and also how realistic the tattoos look. That tattoos are realistic because of the colour and shading, something which could not be recreated using paint because of the colours being too intense. The fine lines and how the tattoo flows onto the skin is what also makes this tattoo look so realistic.

This youtube video shows how the tattoo transfers are added onto Wentworth Millers body to create his character for Prison Break. The tattoo transfers take 3-5 hours to be fully applied. Although this is a long time, its the continuity and the quickest way to apply a reaistic tattoo. When experimenting using different methods of tattooing using makeup for performance, i wish to try using tattoo transfers of my own to see how they are applied and compare them to other techniques I shall use to recreate tattoos.

Firstly i want to research into how they are made, and the products i need to make these transfers.

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I wanted to research into how i make and apply tattoo transfers so i have a better understanding when making and applying my own.

This tutorial shows the products used, but firstly having to flip over the design otherwise the tattoo will be transfered backwards. In this tutorial, pros aide is used as an adhesive to apply the tattoo transfer onto the skin. This product is used to apply flat pieces and other prosthetic pieces. It is a popular product used within the makeup industry.

This video showed me a clear indication of how to apply the transfer tattoos onto the body. I wanted to further research into other ways they could be applied.

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I used tattoo transfers when i was younger. I had to peel away the plastic sheet, place the paper onto my skin with the picture facing my skin, i then used water and a towel to press the paper onto my skin, transfering the tattoo. This is the same technique used when applying film transfer tattoos and is demonstrated by the youtube videos above.

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Again, pros aide is used to transfer these tattoos onto the skin. However in the image above it explains how the transfer can become dirty quickly. This is due to the pros aide being sticky, however using translucent powder would help to stop the transfer from sticking to fabrics and dirt.

When making a transfer, Id firstly have to design a tattoo. Then buying the right paper is important as there is two types.

Lazer Jet transfer used only with a Lazer Jet printer

and

Ink Jet transfer used only for a ink jet printer

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These images above show the steps taken when applying the transfer onto the body. I will take into consideration the placement, size and design to make sure it fits appropriatly onto the area of the skin.

Healthy and Safety -

Ill make sure my model is not allergic to pros aide or any other products and materials i used on the skin. If my model starts feeling discomfort or shows signs of redness, removing the tattoo straight away is important.

Inkjet printers
Most people have an inkjet desktop printer; they are small and inexpensive to buy. They are refilled using coloured and black and white cartridges; some come with separate colour cartridges. The ink is injected onto the surface of the paper in tiny dots which makes up the image. This printer does not use white ink and so it cannot print onto a dark surface. To create white it uses the colour of the paper. The ink in an inkjet printer is not waterproof; you can protect any printing by spraying it with an acrylic spray. You can also buy UV sprays which will protect any printing from the sun's rays.

Laser printers

These are not as common as inkjet printers and they are more likely to be found in an office. They are much more expensive than inkjet printers but they can be more cost effective because they print out faster so more documents can be printed off at any one time. They come with expensive powder filled cartridges, to fill up a laser printer with ink can sometimes cost more than the printer itself. The print quality is good but for photographs and inkjet printer can often be better. The inks in a laser printer are waterproof. They do have their moments and can sometimes be temperamental when using different media. More often than not you will have to change the printer settings for each type of media you use. Every make of model is different and often the settings which have to be changed are different. We have had many makes of Laser printer here in the office and we always test our papers on them. We are not experts in which laser printer to buy but we now use an OKI laser printer which is great. We have had an Epson Aculaser and an HP laser printer. Our Epson printer worked fine but when something when wrong and we had to make a claim we were told that most parts inside the machine were a consumable which was not covered. Our guarantee only covered the casing and the engine. You have to bare this in mind when buying one; don't buy the extra protection as it is not worth it. There are many consumables which make up the printer and it is not only the ink you have to replace but other expensive parts regularly. We use our printers until they start to die and them we buy a new one, this is the cheapest option. If you work in an office or do a great deal of printing them I would buy one. If you are a home user and just print off occasionally I would buy an inkjet printer.

Review from http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk/static.aspx?page=printers

As the printer which I have access to is a Lazer Jet printer, I shall buy the Lazer Jet transfer paper. It is important to buy the right paper.

Laser Tattoo Paper

Price From: £2.25 per sheet.

Instructions to apply the Laser Jet Tattoos

Adhesives may cause skin sensitivity so we recommend you perform a patch test: Cut a small section from the corner of both sheets and follow the instructions to create the tattoo. Do not print on the patch test, leaving the tattoo paper blank will allow you to watch for signs of skin sensitivity. Select an inconspicuous area of skin and apply the tattoo paper. Check the tattoo periodically over a period of 12 hours and if redness or irritation occurs, use soap and warm water to gently remove the tattoo paper from the skin. If your skin shows signs of sensitivity during the patch test, we do not recommend that you use this product.

To create your tattoos, first, reverse your image / text on your computer then print the tattoo onto the printable sheet. Peel back a corner of the adhesive sheet and line the adhesive up with the printed side of the tattoo paper. Carefully stick the corner of the adhesive sheet onto the tattoo paper then run a ruler down the adhesive sheet, peeling the backing paper away as you work to prevent any air bubbles from forming between the adhesive sheet and the tattoo paper.

Cut the individual tattoos out using scissors or a craft knife, keeping as close to the edge of the tattoo as you can. To apply the tattoo, peel the glossy backing away from the adhesive side of the tattoo and apply the tattoo to clean, dry skin. Press the tattoo down well. Wet some tissues or a sponge and press it onto the surface of the tattoo. After 10 seconds or so, the top layer will become saturated with water and will slide off the tattoo, leaving the tattoo in place on your skin.

http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk/.-Laser-Tattoo-Paper_CPL214I.htm

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Stencils

Another way of tattooing is tattoo stencils. Cutting out section of a photo or image then airbrushing silicone based products can be another way to create a realistic tattoo.

I will try out this technique as it seems to be time efficient and an easy way to transfer an image onto the body rather than hand drawing. It is also a way to make sure continuity is shown throughout a film or tv program.

This technique is effective, however i feel this technique would not create a realistic tattoo as the colour is too intense and looks more like a stencil rather than a tattoo.

Why airbrushing?

When you spray using an airbrush it atomises the product making the particles of make-up tiny. This is why airbrush make-up is used in HD TV and film. The particles in the make-up become much smaller than when it is conventionally applied and therefore less visible. HD TV picks up absolutely every imperfection! There are also hygiene benefits to spraying. When we use a conventional brush or our fingers there is potential to spread bacteria and germs across the face. By spraying Airbase make-up onto the face we can avoid this.http://www.airbasemakeup.com/about/about-airbase-and-airbrushing

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Temporary Tattoo Makeup Products

Professional makeup products to create tattoos have a high pigment content, come in the colours used in real tattoos, are designed to last and withstand various conditions, like heat, sweat and water. Tattoo makeup come as solid dry colours (activated by alcohol), liquid colours (ready to use) and as tattoo pens.

Dry makeup: Can be bought as individual colours and in palettes. The colours are activated by IPA (isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol), which also helps the tattoo to last. Products include: Skin Illustrator Horishi palette, Temptu Tattoo palette, Skin Illustrator Classic Tattoo pots, and Reel Creations Color Pots.

Liquid makeup: Ready to use, the liquid products can be use in an airbrush or by hand using a brush or sponge. Liquid tattoo colours include: Temptu Dura Liquid Tattoo, Skin Illustrator Tattoo Classics and Reel Creations Body Art.

Tattoo pens: Pens are great for creating freehand tattoos, for colouring in a stencil or outlining. The pens made by KD151 come with different sized/shaped nibs, allowing for both fine work and filling in. Other tattoo pens include: Reel Creations tattoo pens.

http://hair-and-makeup-artist.com/creating-temporary-tattoos/

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SKIN ILLUSTRATOR, the best in Temporary Tattoo colors on the market today. Created by professionals in the film and television industry, Skin Illustrator began with a system of fleshtone colors and has since added effects and fantasy colors that run the gamut of need within a wide range of makeup fields and situations -- i.e. Film, Television, Theatre, and Runway.

Skin illustrator is used for making temporary tattoos for film and tv. However free hand drawing and painting on tattoos would not suit continuity due to the tattoo not always looking the same. It also takes up time compared to the tattoo transfers. They can be effective and look realistic however the can also look like body art. I will try using different techniques using the illustrator pallet to make my tattoo experimentations look realistic for a gang film or tv program.

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This video shows a combination of techniques to creating a body art tattoo. They use illustrator pallet, adding colour using small and flat brushes. And also tattoo pens creating defined lines.

This is a free hand design, making it a one off piece which can be created similar again but never exactly the same.

Charlotte

Hawkins