Opaque white

Tris · 11 Aug 2019

Hi guys,

I start using intenze opaque white for highlights on my practice pieces, seems to work great on fake skin, is the opaque white suitable for highlights? Or would a plain white work just as good?
Also will the opaque white be suitable to mix with black to make a grey?

Thanks

MalligaMallan · 11 Aug 2019

Hi Tristan, I have no clue where you are in your learning process, but it's important to know that white works very differently in fake skin and human skin. Not that it's not useful practicing with in on fake skin, on the contrary. But it doesn't stay as white on human skin when healed.

I can't speak for the intense opaque white, I've only used regular white (Radiant white, which is considered a good white) but as beige skin will grow over it when tattoo is healing, that sort of speaks for itself. It will never stay particularly white.

Tris · 11 Aug 2019

Hiya,

Yes ive been practicing for a while and i feel i am ready to do a little tester piece on my self, ive already got tattoos with white in it and it has faded into a pale white which makes the black pop. I was just curious as to if anyone uses opaque white in highlights on real skin or if not what kind of white is good?

troub1edsou1z · 12 Aug 2019

i've never used intenze whites but i don't see why it couldn't be used for adding highlights. My only concern would be the thickness. Just out of personal preference, I like my pigments more on the fluid side....

Dazza · 12 Aug 2019

I think opaque white is what you want really ,to make it stand out ,if you thin it it would become more translucent and I’m sure it’s fine for mixing with colours

Dzikichrzan · 20 Aug 2019

Hey I’m using snow opaque white and tbh I will try something different now, is quite thick. Any thoughts on dynamic white guys?

fylfot · 20 Aug 2019

yep dynamic white is good. But i've heard alu prima or something like that is the best.

Mr_Carr81 · 20 Aug 2019

I use fusion white. Don't like eternal white wasnt too keen on dynamic white. Best one for me is fusion but like anything it's what works for you

Dzikichrzan · 20 Aug 2019

Thank you sir. Just recently I’ve been doing a touch ups on my first colour tattoo where I used beige next to this white and tbh it was no difference between them lol

it healed yellowish soo fast...

MalligaMallan · 20 Aug 2019

Honestly - did anyone use any white that healed other than nicotineish? I've tried bloodline and radiant white. Healed nicotineish. Could be my technique of course.

TexasPT · 26 Aug 2019

it's not the ink guys, it's the top layer of the skin that controls how your white looks. The skin is like a transparent film over the tattoo. the ink is BELOW the part of the skin that changes color in the sun. So if I pound white into you and then you go get a tan, the tan is OVER the white. This is why when you take darker skins and put in greens and purples you get muddy looking color...but if you take reds and yellows they work amazing. it's the skin that is changing color, not the ink. We all want it to be BRIGHT white, like when it's new...but new tattoos don't sit like healed tattoos...in any color. Skin covers it and heals and then we look at those inks behind the skin, not freshly on top.

Dazza · 26 Aug 2019

I’ve been recommended Dermaglo white ,good English ink

MalligaMallan · 26 Aug 2019

TexasPT said:
it's not the ink guys, it's the top layer of the skin that controls how your white looks. The skin is like a transparent film over the tattoo. the ink is BELOW the part of the skin that changes color in the sun. So if I pound white into you and then you go get a tan, the tan is OVER the white. This is why when you take darker skins and put in greens and purples you get muddy looking color...but if you take reds and yellows they work amazing. it's the skin that is changing color, not the ink. We all want it to be BRIGHT white, like when it's new...but new tattoos don't sit like healed tattoos...in any color. Skin covers it and heals and then we look at those inks behind the skin, not freshly on top.

Yeah of course Mark. But will a white with more pigment in it give appearance of being a little whiter/ brighter than other whites? And what about going over the area multiple times? I was told a while ago that you have to fill it 17 (!!!!) times to give the impression of being somewhere close to white. It was a serious, pro artist who claimed this. Sounds completely crazy.

I do understand the skin always will be a factor, goes without saying really, but is there any way to make white give a bright impression - doesn't have to be white white - on a fairly light skin?

TexasPT · 26 Aug 2019

put it next to a dark color

MalligaMallan · 26 Aug 2019

TexasPT said:
put it next to a dark color

Mmm yeah......?

troub1edsou1z · 26 Aug 2019

Like Mark said putting white or any lighter color next to black or darker colors is what makes the lighter colors appear to "pop" or look more vivid. Putting white next to a lighter color, most times you wont notice much difference at all

Tris · 15 Sep 2019

Thanks to everyone for your comments, all are very helpful, since i first posted this thread, i have finished outlining my first tattoo on real skin, (on a good mate of mine) and it turned out amazing, have had good feedback on social media, in next 2 weeks i will be shading and adding the white highlights using opaque white, will post a pic after its finish.

Tris · 15 Sep 2019

Dazza said:
I think opaque white is what you want really ,to make it stand out ,if you thin it it would become more translucent and I’m sure it’s fine for mixing with colours

Thanks dazza

Geobella4 · 15 Sep 2019

Dzikichrzan said:
Hey I’m using snow opaque white and tbh I will try something different now, is quite thick. Any thoughts on dynamic white guys?

My tattooist used dynamic white as highlights on my snake..(don’t know if it’ll stay ..as it’s healing at the mo).

Opaque white

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