TatMash 3D lets you try a virtual tattoo before you take the plunge

TatMash 3D lets you try a virtual tattoo before you take the plunge: "

Filed under: Fun, Photo

There are two things I've always wanted to try, but never had the guts to actually do: cut my hair short and get a tattoo. I also want to bungee jump, but that's not something that computers can really help with, so let's stick to hair and tattoos...



It's the permanence of it all. Sure, hair might grow back -- and you can remove tattoos with lasers -- but you're still looking at weeks or months of pain and embarrassment. While I haven't found a good tool to virtually crop my hair, there is something for tattoos: TatMash 3D. It's free (with cheap premium upgrades, if you're a serial skin painter), and the site itself is ugly -- but it works! Not without issues, mind you.



First, you name and tag your image before you upload it. You have to click through to the next page to get the upload dialogue -- how very counterintuitive. The CAPTCHA sucks -- despite typing it correctly, the site disagreed -- and the uploader had some issues with my transparent PNG. GIFs worked fine, though.



Next, you have the option of uploading your own image, using your webcam to grab an image, or giving the site an image URL (which is great for plastering tattoos all over your favorite celebrity).



Then you create your TatMash. Drag the tattoo around, resize it, rotate it -- marvel as it magically hugs the contours of your body! This is where the '3D' bit comes in: 'SkinSnap' somehow maps your skin and alters the shape of the tattoo. With the premium version you can do even more 3D wizardry! As you can see above, the DLS logo is quite heavily skewed by my bulging, manly musculature.



Once you're done, you have the usual social sharing options or you can create a 'should I get this tattoo?' voting widget. Because everyone knows that asking your friends is a brilliant idea...

TatMash 3D lets you try a virtual tattoo before you take the plunge originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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