The present invention relates to a system and method for practicing tattoo making, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method that simulates the needle-based tattooing machine for practicing the craft of tattooing.
A tattoo is a graphical impression that is made by injecting pigments into the dermis layer of the skin. The art of making a tattoo is generally known as tattooing, and a person who makes the tattoo is called a tattoo artist. The most common way of tattooing is using a handheld machine known as a tattooing machine. The handheld machine includes one or multiple reciprocating needles that penetrate the dermis layer of the skin for rapidly injecting the pigments forming the desired pattern. Only skilled hands can operate the tattooing machine efficiently to get the desired pattern. For example, if the penetration is too deep in the skin, the design may not be easily visible through the surface or may look blurred. On the other hand, if the injection is too superficial, the ink may migrate to produce a blurred image or be gradually removed to produce a faded image as the dermis is recycled.
Like any other graphic designing, a tattoo artist also learns their craft via an apprenticeship under a skilled and experienced mentor. The learner generally practices tattooing on a skin model. Typically, the skin models are synthetic sheets made of materials, such as rubber that can be penetrated by a needle replicating a natural skin. However, the available skin models for practicing tattooing are far from the actual skin. The results of practicing on a skin model do not replicate even close on natural skin. The learners are unable to judge how the design will appear on the natural skin. Thus, a need is appreciated for a practicing model for tattoo artists. A need is appreciated for a practicing model that simulates the tattooing on natural skin. A need is appreciated for a practicing model that allows tattooing artists to enhance and sharpen their skills.
The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to a system and method for practicing tattooing.
It is another object of the present invention that the system simulates tattooing on natural skin.
It is still another object of the present invention that the system and method are economical in their application.
It is a further object of the present invention that the system and method do not generate waste.
It is still a further object of the present invention that the system and method allow practicing shading and blending techniques in tattooing.
It is yet another object of the present invention that the system simulates the effects of needle penetrations into the skin at a high speed.
It is an additional object of the present invention that the system and method allow Judging an apprentice's readiness without the mess and cost of supplies.
In one aspect, disclosed is a system and method that simulates a needle-based tattooing machine tattooing on a skin. The system includes an electronic device and a stylus. The electronic device includes a processor, a memory, and a display. The display has a touchscreen and preferably can also differentiate between different levels of pressure/force applied to its surface. The stylus includes an electrode at one end, wherein the stylus can be a pressure-sensitive stylus.
In one aspect, the computer-readable storage medium includes a set of instructions which when executed by the processor provides an interface, wherein the interface is presented on the display of the electronic device. The interface includes a canvas window and a set of options including the available grade and size of needles, voltage setting, damage toggle, force sensitivity, and other functions available in a tattooing machine. The different features of the disclosed system, such as the needles and voltage selection simulate the functionality of a needle-based tattooing machine. The canvas window can receive input from the stylus, and in response displays a pattern on an area getting in contact with the stylus. The pattern can be similar to a pattern drawn by the needles of the tattooing machine on the skin. The number of needle marks in the pattern can vary based on the selection of needle, voltage setting, and hand speed. In one case, the number of needle marks may vary from 33 to 200 times per second. The stylus can be moved on the touchscreen, like a tattoo machine on the skin, to draw a continuous pattern, where the marks per unit area depend on the speed of the hand.
The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.
Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, the reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as apparatus and methods of use thereof. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.
The following detailed description is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific details may be set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject innovation. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and apparatus are shown in block diagram form to facilitate describing the subject innovation.
Disclosed is a system and method for practicing tattooing. The disclosed system simulates the tattooing on the skin using a needle-based tattooing machine, such that an artist can learn the craft using the disclosed system. The disclosed system embodies most of the features of tattoo crafting so that a tattoo drawn on the system could be replicated on the skin using the tattooing machine. The tattoo machine can be a portable handheld tattooing machine that has multiple reciprocating needles that inject the ink up to the dermis layer of the skin. Perhaps the reciprocating needles simultaneously make several punctures in the dermis layer of skin and the ink held by needles is drawn down into the punctures resulting in a pattern, referred to herein as needle marks. The tattooing machine generally has different grades and types of the needle which can be used for different purposes. For example, liner needles can be used for outlining, while magnum needles can be used for shading and coloring. Multiple needles can be used that simultaneously works to speed up the process. For outlining in a tattoo, generally, 3 to 9 round needles can be used. While for shading and coloring, 9 to 25 needles can be used. The needle marks made per unit area by a tattooing machine can depend upon the type and number of needles used for making the pattern, hand speed, and the voltage setting on the tattooing machine. The disclosed system and method simulates the tattooing machine for making needle marks on an interface provided by the system. The voltage setting affects the frequency of the needles, the frequency provided herein in the cycles per second (CPS).
Referring to
The disclosed system can also include a stylus. A touchscreen can generally be operated by a finger or stylus. The stylus is of an elongated pen-like configuration that can be held in a hand, like a pen while writing. At least one tip of the stylus can have an electrode that can touch the touchscreen for providing input. It is preferable, that the stylus is a pressure-sensitive stylus that can differentiate between different levels of forces. Moreover, the stylus could determine the direction of its movement and its angle relative to the touchscreen surface. It is to be understood that a commercial stylus can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, Pencil from Apple is a commercial stylus that can be used with iPad Pro tablet computers. The Pencil by Apple can measure the pressure differences, altitude, and azimuth. The altitude and azimuth properties can be used to detect the direction of movement of the stylus.
In one embodiment, the computer-readable storage medium 130 can include a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor 110 causes the processor to perform one or more steps of the disclosed process. The computer-readable storage medium 130 can include an interface module 140. The interface module can be provided as application software that can be installed on the electronic device. The application software can be developed for Android, iOS, windows, and any other known operating platform for mobile devices or desktop computers. The application software can be made available through a distribution service provider, for example, Google Play operated and developed by Google and the app store by Apple. In addition to the application software, a website-based interface can also be provided through the world-wide-web.
Broadly, the interface module can include a canvas layer 150 and a control layer 160. The canvas layer on execution by the processor can present at least one canvas window on the display of the touchscreen display of the disclosed system. The canvas layer can receive a touch input from the stylus on the canvas window and in response, the canvas layer can create or manipulate a pattern on an area of the canvas window in contact with the stylus. In one case, strokes are made by the stylus by dragging it on the touchscreen to form a continuous pattern similar to a tattooing machine forming a continuous pattern on the skin. The canvas layer can receive one or more variables from the touch screen and the stylus, for example, the variables can include force exerted by the stylus on the display, and altitude and azimuth of the stylus respective to the touchscreen surface. An embodiment of the canvas window is shown in
The control layer on execution by the processor can provide a menu that presents on the display.
The stylus can be used to make strokes on the canvas window. Unlike, the brushes on the drawing apps, the stroke of the stylus results in needle marks pattern presented on the canvas window. The needle marks, including the spacings, corresponds to a pattern drawn by the reciprocating needles of the tattooing machine in the skin.
The type of needle for drawing the tattoo on the disclosed system can be selected from the menu. The options available on the menu are replicated from the types of commercial needles for tattooing. For example, liner needles 220 can be used for outlining, while the Magnum needles 240 can be used for shading and coloring. Each liner needles 220 and Magnum needles 240 can have a set of needle options, which is typically the grade and size of the needles.
The voltage setting 230 can be used to specify the voltage. Herein, the voltage setting simulates the voltage setting on a tattooing machine that controls the amount of electricity supplied to the needles. The higher is the voltage, the more is the frequency of the reciprocating needles, and the more punctures the needles make. Changing the voltage setting on the disclosed system also affects the drawn pattern similar to the effect of changing the voltage on a tattooing machine on the skin. Perhaps, the system may allow a user to specify the make or specification of a tattooing machine, and based on the tattooing machine, the available options in the menu can correspond to the specifications of the tattooing machine. For example, needle options and voltage options available on the menu may correspond to the specification of the tattooing machine.
The menu also having a feature for damage control shown by the element 240 “damage toggle” in
The menu can also include a color palette that may allow the selection of a color for the pattern. The available colors in the palette may correspond to the commercial pigments available for tattooing. The color palette allows a user to mix colors, creating new colors, like the real pigments. The color palette provides an ability to pick ink colors and dip between them to mix new. For example, the red color can be dipped in the yellow 4 or 5 times to get varying degrees of orange. To clear the selected color, a rinse option can also be provided on the color palette. The color selector has a black and gray version as well as a full-color version.
The menu as shown in
Like tattooing on the skin, the selection of voltage, needle type, pressure, and hand speed, in the disclosed system, can affect the ink application. Artists can experiment with fast shading and slow saturation techniques. There is also corner shading that simulates using the corner of a magnum needle to taper a stroke in tight areas. Higher hand speed means more spacing between subsequent needle marks and lesser hand speed results in more needle penetration per unit area. The user can learn different aspects of tattooing including the hand speed, inclination of the machine, and like using the disclosed system. The disclosed system is perfect for the practice of blending, shading, and saturating techniques as well as developing an awareness of hand speed without injuring the skin tissue. A user can choose from different needle configurations including liners, rounds, magnums, and soft-edge magnums. Layout colors from the Eternal Ink lineup and dip between them to create new colors. Corner shade with various sized magnum needles.
In one embodiment, the disclosed system can allow a user to import a photo to use as a stencil guide. The stencil can be imported as a layer in the multilayer canvas window. The stencil layer can be stacked below the active tattoo layer and the transparency of the active layer can be increased. An option in the form of a slider can be provided to adjust the transparency of the active layer. Moreover, the stencil layer can be toggled on and off. Preferably, the photograph or stencil can be a line drawing on white background. Projects can be saved, and the artwork can be shared.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.
This application claims priority to a U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/078,100, filed on Sep. 13, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63078100 | Sep 2020 | US |