this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2024
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Tattoos

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interested in getting a tattoo of a fractal. How difficult would this be to do? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml to c/tattoos@lemmy.ml
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Should I find a specific artist to do this and what type of work would they need to specialize in? (what words do I need to use to find this person)

I'd want it to be relatively large but I am not yet sure where I'd want it.

Here's a few fractals I am interested in to give you an idea

  • Mandelbrot set

  • Sierpinski carpet

  • fractal tree

  • Sierpinski triangle

  • Ikeda map attractor

Some if these are obviously harder than others but I am primarily asking about the sections of the mandelbrot set

Feel free to send me fractals you like as well, especially if they are scientifically or historically significant in some way you like

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[โ€“] h3mlocke@lemm.ee 13 points 1 month ago

Technically impossible. ๐Ÿ˜Ž

[โ€“] Dippy@beehaw.org 12 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Getting a true fractal tattoo would take forever

[โ€“] pushka@beehaw.org 1 points 1 month ago

I'll need to order 12 million litres of ink...

[โ€“] vulgarcynic@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There's a few ways to find the right artist.

1 - Word of mouth. do you have any friends with tattoos? Who'd they go to? I found my favorite artist this way.

2 - Social Media. Most artists maintain Instagram pages showcasing their work. Do a web search for shops in your area and then look at the artists previous work. This will help you start to find someone who fits the style your looking for.

3 - Go to some local shops and talk to the people there. More often than not you can find an artist that specializes in the type of work your looking for pretty easily this way. A good shop will either have someone who can do what you're looking for or give you some recommendations for others in the area that do.

These aren't hard, fast rules as different artists / shops have different cultures, but generally speaking they should be cool with helping you out. If you get a bad vibe or the people your talking to seem shitty or judgemental, move on. Most folks in the body mod community are pretty easy going. Don't put up with bullshit. That's not the norm. Don't be afraid to walk away and go somewhere else.

Good luck!

[โ€“] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Thank you! I do know people with tattoos but none have work I could compare to these so I was uncertain if they could help but I think I will try. Been wanting a fractal for a few years now but haven't had the funds

Glad to know these aren't too difficult. Idk how tattoos work so I worried

[โ€“] vulgarcynic@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There's been some pretty amazing strides in how the artwork is transfered to your skin in the last few decades. Definitely better methods than when I was just starting out in the 90's.

Most of my work is traditional but a modern leaning artist should be able to knock those out for ya!

Also, as the other commenter below stated, diligent application of lotion after bathing and sunscreen whenever there's a chance of UV exposure will help immensely in maintaining a good looking tattoo after it's healed.

On the subject of healing, I believe most artists use Second Skin after they finish the work. It makes healing so much easier than it used to be. Ask about that as well before you start getting the ink done and grab some if it's not part of your chosen artists process. I still heal with traditional methods but can't recommend that enough for people new to getting work done.

[โ€“] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

Thanks for the healing advice. Im sure my girlfriend will make sure I care for my tattoo properly lol, she has a couple herself. I have personally seen her use second skin

[โ€“] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Are you okay with some of the fine details getting blurred or faded in the long term? Depending on where the tattoo is it can fade before too many years, and it will inevitably have some fading no matter how well you take care of it. The biggest things that will fade a tattoo after it heals are UV exposure and friction.

[โ€“] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

Yeah thats fine and I expect it. The tattoo is more about its meaning to me than it is about how it looks

[โ€“] drwho@beehaw.org 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm going to leave the jokes about doing a fractal tattoo the same way a fractal is plotted (iteration by iteration) aside.

What you're going to want to do is find a tattoo artist that does a lot of very fine detail work, ideally using shading and membrane needles. Shading is probably the best way to depict a fractal image on skin, because, by definition, doing it point by point just isn't going to cut it. Ultimately it's an approximation on a rather low res medium (skin).

You're going to want to pick a fractal that will print well onto tattoo transfer paper. I don't know if freehanding it is going to be a good idea, or even feasible. My guess is that Sierpinski fractals would be your best bet.

If you're set on a Mandelbrot, maybe look for an artist that does a lot of oceanic depictions. It seems like if you're familiar with tattooing tentacles a lot, tattooing those parts of a Mandelbrot might not be too different.

What I would do is have the tattoo "signed" with the equation and parameters used to generate the fractal in question. But that's just me, do what you like.

[โ€“] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

I like that idea