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Ephemeral is developing tattoo ink designed to disappear after a year

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Re: Ephemeral is developing tattoo ink designed to disappear after a year

#71

Post by wpietri »

solipsism wrote: post #25

Oh good, even more barbed wire biceps, carp sleeves, black fore-arm stars, "tribal" patterns on white dudes, spiderwebs, hummingbirds, infinity symbols, and other ways for people to show how eager they are to express their "individuality"! Edit: Down-vote me if I offend your tattooed rebellious self-image, it's fine, but there's a real point to be made. This technology will lead to a lot more tattoos, and a lot more…

I have no tattoos, and doubt I will, so this isn't about my self image. I downvoted you for being a dick.

And also for not really thinking this through. When a medium doesn't allow for iteration, people tend to a) make obvious choices, b) make conservative choices, and c) end up with regrets. As our ability to iterate in software has improved, we've ended up with more interesting work.

My bet is that we will see more total tattooings but fewer tattoo-years of flesh, so I think there will be a net decrease in seeing boring and/or shitty tattoos. I think the ones that people renew and/or make permanent will actually be better because they'll be more likely to get their dumb and/or exploratory tattoos done with temporary ink that they'll eventually let fade.

Re: Ephemeral is developing tattoo ink designed to disappear after a year

#72

Post by tracker1 »

gjolund wrote: post #53
CitizenKane wrote: post #4

I'm torn. On one hand, this invention will keep a lot of people from making the very common mistake of getting ink they don't like and can't remove. On the other hand, a beautiful part of this art form is that it is basically permanent. To my mind, a tattoo loses a lot of its value of it's only temporary.

I agree, all of my tattoo's were carefully planned, expensive, and constant reminders of some very good memories. If it is temporary how is it any different than a hair cut?

There are a lot of people that will change their haircut, color and style a few times a year... why not tattoos as well.. though I'm not sure how much I'd be into that, but can see a market.

Re: Ephemeral is developing tattoo ink designed to disappear after a year

#73

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

jessriedel wrote: post #5
daveguy wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Safety is definitely the number 1 concern. I'm not sure how long trials will need to run before they can confirm there is no increased cancer risk. Also a concern. If it's gone in a year, what does it look like in 6 months? Are you going to look like you have a nasty blob-bruise for 6 months as the definition fades and the ink migrates?

There is absolutely no way that they can take enough statistics to prove that there's no increased cancer risk. i don't think we even know whether regular tattoos increase cancer risks.

How common is cancer in Australia?

In 2016, it is estimated that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with cancer by their 85th birthday will be 1 in 2 (1 in 2 males and 1 in 3 females).[1]

According to at least one source[2] 14.5% of Australians have a tattoo.

I'm going to go with tattoo ink not being a major cause of cancer. If it were you would expect to see more skin cancers local to the tattoo, or some other particular type of cancer more common among those with tattoos.

I think we've got bigger problems than any potential cancer risk form tattoos. Bigger problems like alcohol, cigarettes, benzene in petrol, vehicle exhaust, combustion of coal for electricity, consumption of processed meats - these are all known carcinogens[3].

1. https://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/what-cancer/c...

2. http://www.disappearink.com.au/post/tattoo-statistics-austra...

3. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/g...

Re: Ephemeral is developing tattoo ink designed to disappear after a year

#75

Post by lfender6445 »

PeCaN wrote: post #62
ChristianBundy wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also, testing on pigs? Like, live pigs? I'd pay money to see that. :) Disgusting and shameful behavior, I can't believe that attitudes like this still exist.

Can't blame someone for finding pigs getting tattoos quite amusing. :-) You know full well that it's not a big deal and you're just making edgy comments for the sake of edgy comments. For fuck sake dude, it's a pig. If you actually care about living things, do something about the slave labor used to source raw materials for the computer you wrote that on. I'm going to guess your conviction is about living creatures i…

watching the video the pigs seem pretty comfy for the most part. i would have thought they'd be squealing and writhing

Re: Ephemeral is developing tattoo ink designed to disappear after a year

#76

Post by CydeWeys »

PeCaN wrote: post #62
ChristianBundy wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also, testing on pigs? Like, live pigs? I'd pay money to see that. :) Disgusting and shameful behavior, I can't believe that attitudes like this still exist.

Can't blame someone for finding pigs getting tattoos quite amusing. :-) You know full well that it's not a big deal and you're just making edgy comments for the sake of edgy comments. For fuck sake dude, it's a pig. If you actually care about living things, do something about the slave labor used to source raw materials for the computer you wrote that on. I'm going to guess your conviction is about living creatures i…

Hell, out in the real world, animals get eaten alive all the time. Getting a tattoo isn't even close to the worst thing that can happen.

Re: Ephemeral is developing tattoo ink designed to disappear after a year

#77

Post by danieltillett »

jbpetersen wrote: post #23
CitizenKane wrote: post #4

I'm torn. On one hand, this invention will keep a lot of people from making the very common mistake of getting ink they don't like and can't remove. On the other hand, a beautiful part of this art form is that it is basically permanent. To my mind, a tattoo loses a lot of its value of it's only temporary.

As an outsider, my expectations are that a lot of current tattoo culture will migrate to other/newer forms of body modification.

Yep they will become a marker of your generation. I am hoping that by the time my kids grow up that tattoos will be seen by them as those blobby blue things that old people have on them.

Re: Ephemeral is developing tattoo ink designed to disappear after a year

#78

Post by CydeWeys »

lj3 wrote: post #67
chipotle2 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup. The prevalence of scars is also fairly unknown because, well, the tattoos are covering them up.

Wouldn't the scars show up after laser removal, effectively making laser removal moot?

Scars are skin color though, not pigment color. Also they're not nearly as fine as the original tattoo was. What had bene an easily discernible intricate design in a high contrast color will end up as an indiscernible mush of near-skin-tone scar tissue, like a low degree burn that's healed.

Re: Ephemeral is developing tattoo ink designed to disappear after a year

#80

Post by davidmr »

CitizenKane wrote: post #4

I'm torn. On one hand, this invention will keep a lot of people from making the very common mistake of getting ink they don't like and can't remove. On the other hand, a beautiful part of this art form is that it is basically permanent. To my mind, a tattoo loses a lot of its value of it's only temporary.

I realize that every person is different, but I can't imagine going through the pain and expense of getting tattooed and only having it for a year. The permanence is what gives me enough perspective during the sessions to know that, yes it's hurting a lot and costing a fortune, but at least I get to keep it forever.
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