For my thesis project, I will be building a prototype app that will bring Augmented Reality effects to tattoos. I am inspired to work on this project because I believe that tattoos are a very special type of art. Tattoos allow people to express themselves through images, words, and scenes. It is a very intimate form of art. That being said, people hold emotional connections with their tattoos. If I can strengthen that connection with my passion in technology, I believe that I can deepen the meaning of tattoos and provide a more personal storytelling experience. This thesis reflects my future aspirations through the use of 3D technology and VFX. My passion in games, art, and fashion provide me with a new area of visual storytelling to explore through tattoos. This project opens up the doors of the adjacent possible in merging body art with technology.
Tattoos have a wide range of art forms therefore, stylistically, the VFX and 3D art will differ depending on the style of tattoo. Traditional tattoos are more colorful and “cartoony” while Illustrative tattoos have a more abstract style. This link explains the many different styles of tattoos: https://www.tattoodo.com/a/a-beginners-guide-popular-tattoo-styles-briefly-explained-6969. My tattoos fall under the Illustrative style so I can use realistic and abstract effects that can bring them to life.
The technical aspect of this project will mostly be done in Unity, a popular engine used for making games. Images of the tattoos will be uploaded to Unity where the software will recognize the image as a target. Once the image becomes a target, it will be used a trigger for VFX. When a camera is held over the tattoo, the augmented reality effects will begin and create a new way to show off your ink or tell a story of something close to your heart.