Some help needed for a tattoo virgin...

Okay I'll admit that I am a tattoo virgin!

For whatever reasons I've recently decided to get a tattoo on my arm (if you were to look at my profile and speculate that I'm turning 30 next year and maybe, just maybe, I was entering into some sort of early mid-life crisis... well I couldn't comment)!

Anyway I've had a professional translator do some words for me in Japanese (kanji and hiragana) and I was wondering what I need to take to the tattooist?

I should be getting a graphic of my translation tomorrow so I need to know if I can just print this out and take it with me? Or do I need to resize it myself to what will fit on my arm and print that out? Also which will be more useful - a print out with solid black lettering or a print out done with the text as a stencil (white with a black border)?

Take a nice quality print of your design...the artist will have a light table and resize it on a transfer so that it fits your arm...thats all you need....and make sure your blood sugar is at a decent rate...cuts down on bleeding and pain

Thanks!

And bleeding and pain you say ... maybe this isn't such a good idea!

aww its not that bad...depending on where you're getting it done. the underside of your arm will probably hurt more than say the top side of your forearm (so i have heard from my friends since i have none on my arms).

be sure to pick a style that you really like...it is going to be sticking w/ you so ur going to want to like it!

Be aware of the varying areas of your body have different degrees of pain....Even seasoned tattoo guys will admit that some areas hurt like a mother fucker. As I have a sleeve nearing completion I can attest to it.....Most of the common areas like the outside of the arm don't at all....


[Edited on Aug 30, 2005 by CircusFreak]

Yeah - my shock at the blood and the pain was kinda sarcastic!

I'm hoping it will fit vertically down the outside of my upper right arm (I guess I'l find out when I get my translation).

That's good avice! Cheers!

yeh like
coldenginelogic said they got a light table to resize it and make a transfer
and dont wory about the pain it will be worth it in the end and jap writing is quick to do so it wont be so bad
actually the worst is the itching a few days later

Get a second opinion on the translation, or make a vow never to show a Japanese person your tattoo...


... just in case.

Yeah I've actually paid a professional translator to do the text for me (I figured if I'm willing to pay to mark myself for life then I'm also willing to pay that little bit extra and know it's right!) and I will be getting a second opinion before a needle comes anywhere near me! It was quite reassuring because even though I only wanted a two word phrase translated the guy actually asked me to clarify the context in which I meant them.

I actually had a lot of fun reading about the various misinterpreted kanji tattoos that people have had done! I would never be stupid enought to a) just pick a symbol out of a book and presume that the translation given is right or b) use an online translator and piece together words in a language whose comlexities I far from understand!

I've only got a small tatt, but I tell you, the pain afterwards when rubbing in the lotion.... god damn. Badass sunburn.

Addictive little buggers though. If I had more money....

the pain and ouch factor really aren't that bad - if it was, do you really think so many people would have a tattoo (and this is coming from someone who sat for 3 hours). Just follow your artist's instructions on after care and please please please go somewhere reputable. Ask the artist to do a few sketches of the translation you had done, and make sure you look at the stencil once he's applied it - if it's not how you want it - speak up - it's permanent, you know?

All you really need is the drawing - the tattoo artist can either direct copy it if it's the same size as you want it, or work on re-doing it should you need it a different size (unless they've got a copier to blow it up) - but the direct translation should be fine. I'm sure you'll find someone talented enough to copy the characters you want on to a stencil.

I had a day off work yesterday and found a place that could fit me in! So I now have my first tattoo - yay me!

There was marginal pain that seemed worse the higher up my arm he got but it was nothing I couldn't handle and there wasn't really any great amount of bleeding either!

So thanks for the advice guys and thanks for making me feel confident enough to walk into the tattoo place to begin with! I'll try and get some photos taken in the next day or so!

make sure you keep it moist (vitamin e cream or similar and keep it wrapped with plastic wrap for a couple of days if you can, helps to heal a bit nicer.

remember that if you scratch it while it heals you can end up with spaces that need re inking afterwards!

I was told to apply "Bepanthen Ointment" (which is actually a cream for nappy rash!) three or four times a day which I have been doing and it hasn't started to scab yet. I also bought some E45 cream which I read is good for when the skin starts flaking.

I was thinking for when I'm in the office it might be advisable to apply the ointment in the morning and then put on the plastic wrap to help keep it moist during the day - is that advisable?

Tattoo artists know what they're doing way more than you will. Just bring what you got and they'll take care of the rest.