TATTOOS
tattoos
If one or more of the characters in your show has tattoos, we can create the look that you are going for and reproduce it exactly as many times as necessary. Your actor will have the same, consistent look throughout the run.
The tattoos are durable, able to stand up to water or sweating. And the look is extremely realistic, even up close.
The Old Tattoo Process
Years ago, the tattoo process for film and television was completely different. We started with a stencil of the tattoo that had to be painted on by hand.
This was fine for smaller tattoos that didn’t have a lot of friction, sweat or water applied to them. Larger tattoos, or tattoos that had to stand up under harsh conditions were a different story.
Actors with extensive tattoo work needed to spend long periods of time in the chair to have their tattoos done before even going through hair and makeup.
The Tattoo Evolution
Today’s tattoos are a completely different beast. We design them digitally and print them on adhesive paper for easy transfer to the actor, saving a significant amount of time and production dollars.
The designs are always exactly the same, down to the level of aging or distress specifically approved by production. The look is consistent day after day after day.
The tattoos are durable, too. They can stay in excellent condition for several days, giving the actor a break from daily application.
The Creative Process at Stevie FX
The creative process is part of a larger creative process at StevieFX, generally consisting of:
See Tattoos to find out about the Creative Process for Tattoos.
Like most creative processes, this is not always linear. Some productions jump in at different phases of the process and there may be multiple iterations of any steps, if needed.
Tattoos are a bit different.
The Creative Process for Tattoos
Although creative processes may change based on the needs of production, the tattoo process is relatively straight-forward:
- Concept Art. We literally start at the (digital) drawing board. After learning about how you perceive the character and what he or she should look like, we choose the right artist for the job. Our team members have different strengths and styles, and when we match the right artist to the project, everything else is much easier. If you are looking for a feminine design, for example, we would choose a female artist who specializes in more elegant styles.
Once we have a design that you like, we can change elements, thickness of lines, colors, opacity, etc. Working digitally lets us make changes in layers, so that you can compare different looks side by side to make sure that you get the exact look that you want. - Body Wrap. Once we have an approved concept, we’re ready to make it a reality. If we just need a small arm tattoo, we can take simple measurements. If we need something more complex, we need to be much more precise.
In this case, we bring performers in and wrap the areas of their bodies where the tattoos will be applied with a thin plastic that takes lasting impressions. - Measure and create. Once we have the exact proportions of a performer’s body, we can measure and modify the approved design to fit his or her body precisely.
- Print to adhesive. Once we’ve finished tweaking the art and you’re happy with the result, we convert it to tattoo format and print it directly on adhesive paper. This adhesive is now ready to transfer to the performer.
Need custom tattoos for your production? StevieFX can create the unique look you’ve been searching for.