TOUCH UPS ON NEW WORK...

Hey Taz and Guys, well, it's been a few months for sure since I got my first tat, and I really love it. It looks great obviously, which is nice. But now that everything has settled down into everyday life, there are a few areas of black outline that I'd like to have "Crisped Up" a little... ie, it looks great, but a few of the black lines softened a bit after the color was placed in. Particularly some of the lines in my leaves. It's not a huge deal, it's just that after the application of the color, now you can see a couple of tinies that need work. There's probably not more than a quarter-hour of work there total. My question is, is it insulting for me to go in and request a little final clean up, (seriously dudes, this couldn't amount to an hour, but it would really perk up the details), and should I have to pay for it? Would a tip work like $50 or something? Just curious, cause I feel like its just a normal part of the process. Feedback? Ink Slingers weigh in... I'll go with your advice.

While different artist/studio's have different policies, I'd think the artist that did your work, (which, again is beautiful,) would 'touch- up' without any hassle and/or fee but I'm sure the $50 tip would be appreciated. But, as to the color beind done over the smaller lines in the leaves, could be he deliberately did them that way to 'soften ' their effect (I have seen 'em done that way). Naturally, the way you approach the artist can have some effect but I'm certain you know what I mean there and this is meant for others who might read this. Don't go in bitchin' or loud, it's rarely necessary and almost always insults /irratates the artist and gets things off to a shitty start. You don't have to kiss his ass either, of course but just treat us the way you want to be treated, no better, no worse.Most good tattoo artist care about the final work so we want it to look it's best, alot of us get most of our business that way and want you happy with the finished 'product' Call or stop by and talk to the artist, I honestly don't think it would be any problem. Oh, and if you picked at it, even accidently, 'fess up to it, don't try to blame us for 'missing a spot', any experienced artist can tell if it was picked at/scratched and don't like to be blamed for what we KNOW was your 'mistake' not ours, FYI...Doc

I have the same issue.. I have lighter spots in some of my lines due to a skin condition that I have that only flares up on my stomach sometimes.. (damn it for flaring up at that particular time too!) but what it basically amounts to is about 5 - 10 minutes worth of work. I don't know if you're going to get another tattoo, but what my artist and I basically decided , since it's not very noticable to anyone but me, or someone who's looking at it closely, was to wait until I get my next piece of art to go in and touch it up. It actually looks like I picked at it, but I swear I didn't, I kept my picking to my fingernails... http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/deathlily/?action=view¤t=DSC00466.jpg&refPage=20&imgAnch=imgAnch25 It's not as close as I'd like it to be.. but that's about a month after I got it.. I can see where it needs to be worked on, but I'm not sure if you guys can.. I thought I'd post that as another option for you..

Unless the tattoo really has some wear on it, I would say "big deal". Tattoos are a living part of our body, and so they arent going to look like they were laser etched but for so long. So just keep your tattoo, and be proud of it. Im sure your buggin over tiny imperfections (if indeed it was done by a really good artist) Then in the future (5-10 years), you can have the whole thing re-outlined and reworked. Tattoos look really good like this.

You know, an artist told me the same thing, when mine was MIA.. He was like, "Well, nobody else can notice it.." The thing is, so what? I notice it, and that's what's important. If I wanted everybody to see it, I wouldn't have put it on my ribcage, I would've chosen somewhere more noticable. So yeah, that's what's most important.. I see all the little lighter spots, and I don't like them..

You know, an artist told me the same thing, when mine was MIA.. He was like, "Well, nobody else can notice it.." The thing is, so what? I notice it, and that's what's important. If I wanted everybody to see it, I wouldn't have put it on my ribcage, I would've chosen somewhere more noticable. So yeah, that's what's most important.. I see all the little lighter spots, and I don't like them..

Good advice guys. I think what I'll do is go in and set up an appt. to add on to the tattoo design a little. I've been thinking of seeing if I can take it a little lower with some finger waves or something. At that point, maybe I'll just have em hit a few little outlines, and call it a day.

2 cents..... tattooing is about the customer...they have to wear the tattoo for the rest of their life. Who are you, or any other artist, to tell them that they just need to deal with the parts that they don't like. Daddy Rose...hey buddy! how have you been? You should deff talk to your artist. I know that my mom had a similar issue, and they were able to fix it up real nice :)

Well after getting over half of my body tattooed...this is the conclusion I have came to. Besides...ALL tattoos are going to need touching up at some point or another. If its a minor imperfection....just wait until you can get the whole thing reworked. Even the best (and TRUST ME) have lines soften up on them. Its not gonna look like its a sticker. People have high standards....but when reading his posts, Daddy Rose said it was his "first tattoo". Well...go and get an entire bodysuit and count the 1 million imperfections you dont like. Then realize its art at the end of the day, and if it was a real good drawing/design, and a well applied tattoo.....then you have nothing to worry about, and your piece is more alive than a sticker is. On the other hand.....if you had a problem healing, or have had a cut, or something to cause you to actually LOOSE ink....then thats understandable. But because a line softened up????? I mean....how soft? Do you want the whole thing re-outlined? Its really hard to just re-outline a portion of a tattoo and not make it look intentional or standout.