color shading

[chrizzle]

Sometimes I see tattoos of let's say a pin-up for example.And where one would normally use a grey wash to shade the skin of the pin-up, it looks as though the artist used a color shade. I guess my question would be, is it usually a dilluted red or brown? What other options of colors and washes work well? Just wanted to know what you guys thought and whether you had any experience with these type of tats. Thanks

[seanherman]

color is where its at.
keep it simple.

[jeffpaetzold]

I allways use straight undiluted color and just hang out my mag twice as far and brush the color in. I work starting with a dark to medium brown then fade it with lighter shades until I get to the skin tone desired If you just use brown it might end up looking like body hair.

[jeffpaetzold]

I allways use straight undiluted color and just hang out my mag twice as far and brush the color in. I work starting with a dark to medium brown then fade it with lighter shades until I get to the skin tone desired If you just use brown it might end up looking like body hair.

[Bryan66]

What you are talking about, If you are talking about grey wash, is nothing more then the irritation of the skin. Once it heals, the red brownish tint will be gone. Grey wash, I almost always work from light to dark. Very, very seldom...dark to light....I guess if that particular piece calls for a red tint or red brownish tint, it can be added, but I am almost sure you are just looking at a freshly done tat that is just shaded. Water and drops of straight black Kuro Sumi makes it beautiful.

**Bryan**

[Rockstar Tattoo]

Originally Posted by Bryan66

What you are talking about, If you are talking about grey wash, is nothing more then the irritation of the skin. Once it heals, the red brownish tint will be gone. Grey wash, I almost always work from light to dark. Very, very seldom...dark to light....I guess if that particular piece calls for a red tint or red brownish tint, it can be added, but I am almost sure you are just looking at a freshly done tat that is just shaded. Water and drops of straight black Kuro Sumi makes it beautiful.

**Bryan**

I believe the question referred to color pin ups, and the color used to replace grey shade, not a B/G tattoo. Usually, a purple or lavendar works well.

[chrizzle]

rockstar nailed it. I was trying to refer to the color shading. Not the redness that comes in with the black and grey. Although I wish the black and grey stayed that darker reddish tint.

[jeffpaetzold]

most of my clients wish it stayed that way too

[Bryan66]

Ok....Color....my bad.

Flesh tones can be bought, but mixing some purple with yellow and then find the tint you want with light red. You will have to play with it to find the ratio aspect of each color until you find the tone you like...I am sure there are more formulas, but that is one that was shown to me years ago.

**Bryan**

[Harris Tattoo]

You can also use medium brown and a light pink to get some nice tones to! A little purple thrown in there can also make some nice tones!!! You can lighten those tones with white or a light skin tone if ya got one!! Sometimes yellow ochre can help lighten the tone and give it a different look also!!!!