Inkless Tattoo?

Has anyone heard of an "inkless" tattoo? Supposedly done with a tattoo gun without any ink, leaving a "scar" like pattern that lasts several weeks?

Also known as body etching. Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller got one. http://www.pennandteller.com/sincity/penniphile/tattoo.html They can last as little as a few weeks, but there are some things you can do during the healing process to create a more permanent scar.

Wow, I cant image enduring the pain just to heal the skin out... but hey, it takes all kinds!

Sounds pretty fucking stupid to me. Tattooing is an art form. Scratching yourself without the ink defeats the whole purpose. You don't paint without paint on your brush, or take a picture without film in the camera. If you are too scared to have your tattoo be permanent, then don't do it. DO IT, or just don't. Committ or walk away. Now, If you do have balls, and just don't want the ink, then brand it on. Why go through hours of needling just to get a mark that will go away. Make a brand in the shape you want, heat that fucker up and press it against your skin, and burn it in permanently. Me, I'll stick with a good old fashoned, artistic, and self exspressive tattoo in blazing color, or all black. Iv'e got both, and I love them.

I am wondering about the use of transfer paper with a skin etching. Is transfer paper bio-absorbable or would the transfer paper leave marks?