Organic versus Inorganic Molecules: Part III

Transparency and Opacity is not a permanent makeup phenomenon. These are concepts that primarily belong to the field of physics, particularly optics. However, their understanding and application often involve physics, chemistry, and PMU principles. Transparency and opacity are terms used to describe the degree to which a material allows light to pass through it. When discussing PMU, transparency, and opacity refer to the characteristics of the pigments in our inks and how these characteristics relate to tattoo pigments:

Opacity:

Opaque materials generally do not allow light to pass through them and they often appear solid and non-translucent. Examples include wood, metal, or thick paper. Regarding PMU, opaque tattoo pigments tend fully cover the skin and are not see-through. These pigments have a dense consistency and typically provide solid bold colors. Opacity is desirable for creating solid outlines, bold color fills, and cover-ups of existing tattoos. In general, inorganic pigments are more opaque than organic pigments.

Transparency:

Transparency refers to the property of a material that allows light to pass through it without significant scattering or absorption.  Examples include glass, clear plastic, and water. Transparent tattoo pigments allow some of the underlying skin to show through, creating a more subtle or layered effect. Transparent inks are often used for shading and blending colors, as they can be layered to create depth and dimension. In general, organic pigments are more transparent than inorganic pigments. In between transparency and opacity, there is a range of translucent materials. Similarly, in tattooing, artists often use a combination of opaque and transparent pigments to achieve the desired results.

In tattooing, artists often use a combination of opaque and transparent pigments to achieve the desired results. For example, they may use opaque pigments (inorganic) for outlining and solid areas while incorporating transparent pigments (organic) for shading and blending.

Similarly, manufacturers often use a combination of inorganic and organic pigments in their ink formulations in order to offer the best of both types. Reputable tattoo ink manufacturers provide a range of inks that contain pigments with varying levels of opacity and transparency to meet the diverse needs of tattoo artists and their clients.