struggling with b&g shading

[pookie]

Hey there guys,
only done 3 or 4 shaded pieces so still tryin to get the hang of it.
My main question is i struggled with dipping my tip into water so decided to put into individual caps (medium), i only started with 2 though.1st-1 drop black ink,
2nd-4 drops of ink.
The rest i filled with purified water, the ink i use is eternal triple black.

I did this piece the other day
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j69/cornell1982/mattsarmprogress.jpg
and i couldnt believe how dark the lightest mix i had came out,i had to water it down a little at that.Is it normal for it to be that dark?
Parts of the tattoo are still healing but need re doing as i was running my machine to hard before.

[pudscud]

i think that's gonna look pretty good when it heals.

[pookie]

it just seems really dark to me so if it heals real light god knows how id go on if i wanted 3 shades in a dark piece,it'd all be 1 big mess lol

[krazy_tattooist]

looks good to me, b&g always looks alot darker than it heals out to be. though it should look more redish than black... thats a good way to tell how it will heal up

[psychosailor]

Pookie,
Not that Im an expert yet at black and grey... but i am getting better...

I dont know if I would try using triple black for grey shading purposes.. think about the name... triple black.. its got way more pigment than normal.. because its used when you want the blackest black.. for tribal and what not.. or solid black areas... maybe consider talens or Pelikan.. most of the really good B&G guys seem to.. I did a Shane Oneil seminar and he even said Kuro Sumi was too dark.. even when watered down to achieve the proper range of shades for B & G...

also have you thought about long taper needles or even better 000 bugpins... they are the bomb for building up she shades slowly... Im half way through a b&g jesus piece im doing.. should be able to finish it up in a week or two... but im very happy so far with the bugpins on this tattoo.. ill post a pic when im done..

[hotdiggitydawg]

^^^ Agree totally
I use eternal triple black for solid black only, i wouldn't use it for b&g, no way.
I'm finding kuro dark also i've not tried talens for any big grey work but might give it shot on my next piece... holding out for pelican though... also hearing good stuff on that silverback grey wash.

[psychosailor]

yeah i keep hearing really good stuff about silverback..

[DemonDan]

yea, silverback is good shit.. once I started using it, I wouldnt go back to mixing my own personally, but everybody does it their own ways, I have seen really bad ass work just from kuro and witch hazel/ and or distilled water..

[SPANISH SCOUSER]

http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l248/spanishscouser/?action=view&current=rosa.jpg http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l248/spanishscouser/?action=view&current=Picture002.jpg it was done with silverback you can see the change once it heals.At first it is dificult to know how the shades are going to be once it heals but after you do a few B and G you will have no problem. This is my firs try in doing a portrait on b & g http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l248/spanishscouser/?action=view&current=mari.jpg

[pookie]

cheers dudes,
I think i agree it could be down to the ink im using,never gave it a 2nd thought lol so pelikan or talens would be a good brand to try?
I havent tried any bugpins yet, just standard needles....5 double stacked mags,7 spread mags and 14 rounds.
I actually got on best with the rounds for it healing good.

Cheers again guys

[hotdiggitydawg]

http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l248/spanishscouser/?action=view&current=rosa.jpg http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l248/spanishscouser/?action=view&current=Picture002.jpg it was done with silverback you can see the change once it heals.At first it is dificult to know how the shades are going to be once it heals but after you do a few B and G you will have no problem. This is my firs try in doing a portrait on b & g http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l248/spanishscouser/?action=view&current=mari.jpg

Nice mate, for your 1st first portrait it's f*ckin sweet, well done... Whered you get your silverbacks from mate... I tried their site but doesn't look like they sell out the U.S.

[pookie]

where can i get some of these bugpin needles from? and do you use the same technique as other needles with them?

[DemonDan]

Nice mate, for your 1st first portrait it's f*ckin sweet, well done... Whered you get your silverbacks from mate... I tried their site but doesn't look like they sell out the U.S.


Hey Dan, there is only a couple of places to get it that I know of, straight from silverback, and unimax carries the 1oz set..

[SPANISH SCOUSER]

Nice mate, for your 1st first portrait it's f*ckin sweet, well done... Whered you get your silverbacks from mate... I tried their site but doesn't look like they sell out the U.S.

sorry mate i was ofline,Demon is right got them fron unimax

[SPANISH SCOUSER]

where can i get some of these bugpin needles from? and do you use the same technique as other needles with them?

i did try to look for bugpin but only find them loose not on the bar and i have not got the equipament to make them so i use the standar needles but i heard that you have to know how to use them cos they can do some damage on the skin

[FORGIVEN]

I just sent Rockabilly home with a bottle of the secret recipe grey wash ...heheheh...

[pookie]

yeah someone told me they should only be used for shading and not colour as there very fine needles.
I had the same problem finding some on the bar, think i'll leave them for now.

[psychosailor]

HMMMM..... care to enlighten us foregiven..

[FORGIVEN]

HMMMMM.....heheh..check your P.M.s

[hotdiggitydawg]

Hey Dan, there is only a couple of places to get it that I know of, straight from silverback, and unimax carries the 1oz set..
There you are Dan, howz trix?
Cheers i'll see what the crack is with unimax... Cheers bud

[FORGIVEN]

CALL AND ASK NEEDLEJACKS TATTOO SUPPLY !!
THEN IF THEY CANT HELP ...
TRY KINGPIN ...
FOR both silverback & bugpins ....

[evil-tattoo]

you can get silverback greywash set from starr tattoo supplies in the uk

[SPANISH SCOUSER]

I just sent Rockabilly home with a bottle of the secret recipe grey wash ...heheheh...

forgiven i remember that in 1 of your post you said that you use silverback for yo b&g,is your secret recipe beter than the silverback? and if so how much of a secret is it?

[psychosailor]

so is Needlejack making bugpins now.. if so that rocks.. get mine from Cam right now... where most guys are that I know of.. would like to see some more suppliers carry them..

thanks for the PM also forgiven.. but im a little confused! :)

[SPANISH SCOUSER]

so is Needlejack making bugpins now.. if so that rocks.. get mine from Cam right now... where most guys are that I know of.. would like to see some more suppliers carry them..

thanks for the PM also forgiven.. but im a little confused! :)

hi psycho do bugpins make much of a diference on the shading and are they hard to use?