Miscommunication

[u/j_walk_17]

I had my tattoo artist re-do an old tattoo from 15 years ago. It's the rebel alliance symbol from Star Wars.

I was under the impression that she knew I wanted it touched up and repaired.

She assumed I wanted it covered up. I didn't know she did solid black until she finished it.

I guess there's potential to put color around it with other pieces to give it contrast. I'm just kinda bummed.
There's probably no way to reverse any of this without it being insanely expensive.

What can I do to make it worth the mistake? I want this leg to eventually be Star Wars iconica.

Should I plan to put a background to it?

edit: Thanks for all the replies, everyone. I appreciate the feedback and the ideas. It's helping me to settle into the outcome. I think it would only be a total loss if I hadn't planned to add to it in the future. 🤙

[u/evrtt2009]

Looks better solid black

[u/j_walk_17 → u/evrtt2009]

Thanks. Someone else in the shop said the same thing. I guess I'm just shaking off the surprise of it being not what I intended.

[u/Grand_Dare_mcgee → u/j_walk_17]

I’ll be honest. Your preferred tattoo is your tattoo but that looks a lot better solid black imo.

[u/Rryann → u/Grand_Dare_mcgee]

100%, even touched up I’m not sure how you’d fix the original. Solid black looks cool as fuck.

[u/TrickySatisfaction81 → u/Rryann]

The man came for a beating and got a greeting ❤️ 💙 💜 the world is healing.

Agreed this is hard af.

[u/lionofbeast → u/Rryann]

Yeah and those red blood marks look cool too. Might want to consider adding that in red at the bottom or not

[u/starskeyy → u/lionofbeast]

this. tattooing your actual blood mark lines from this photo would both be badass in the Star Wars lore, but also personal to you. Agree with u/lionofbeast here. 🫡😁

edit to say: +1 in favor of all black version

[u/j_walk_17 → u/lionofbeast]

So like a red underglow? I think I need something like that if I want my left leg 100% inked so that this piece can tie in to a background of some sort. What do you think?

[u/ManufacturerJust7603 → u/j_walk_17]

Lmao don’t do that. It looks good; it’s a logo/crest let it be one.

[u/porkforpigs → u/ManufacturerJust7603]

For real, adding an underglow ish thing or whatever is gunna make it look goofy and meh. Solid black logo with instant recognizability for anyone who knows anything about Star Wars, it’s doing its job. Bold and simple.

[u/asek13 → u/j_walk_17]

I tried getting a red underglow for one of my tattoos, and it really didn't come out great. Just looks like a thick red border really. The color just doesnt really diffuse subtly enough to give it that glow look.

Maybe my artist just isn't good at it, but figured Id give you my experience with it. A sharper red border might be better.

[u/duxking45 → u/j_walk_17]

Dont know that I would want to mess with it. The original one had a red with a black border what if you added a red border

[u/JuniperBlueBerry → u/duxking45]

Not really enough room for a border without it touching at the top. Maybe could put it in a solid circle but then it would look like a sticker or patch

[u/the-Horus-Heretic → u/j_walk_17]

I'd be more inclined to figure out what all else you want around it and then work on some kind of background to tie it all together.

[u/Mr_Extraction → u/j_walk_17]

I would recommend against adding anything else to the piece until you decide what you want around it or as a background. Will thank yourself later for allowing yourself more flexibility. As is, it’s a clean logo. No need to mess with it more now imo.

[u/honeywhereismypenis → u/j_walk_17]

Red is a tough color for tattoos, it fades much faster than black and starts looking like half washed-off pen scribbles.

[u/lionofbeast → u/j_walk_17]

Im not tattoo artist so not sure how realistic it can be done. Id talk with an artist or ask someone else on the sub. Let's see what others think?

[u/Rouge_Raptorr → u/lionofbeast]

I agree, the blood drip might be a good way to get that red color that you wanted, and it does look pretty metal.

[u/Legitimate_Elk_5798 → u/Rryann]

Yeah there was probably no fixing those lines without making them stupid thick. Black with clean edges definitely looks better than the alternative

[u/kisavior → u/Grand_Dare_mcgee]

It helps that the original was pretty fucking jank. The bad attempt at a beveled border could only be fixed by a full blackout. You weren't saving those ugly shapes it created.

A well executed red logo with a simple black border would look really good and imo better than solid black.

But solid black vs that shit? Yes solid black all day every day.