How much are you paying the tattoo guy?

BTW, best not to use Minya Nouvelle, since
it's not a Groucho Marx quote you're using...

I might look at uncial fonts, especially ones
with low stroke contrast (where the various
parts are not very different in thickness).

hhp

hrant: I'm not sure how much this design will cost. I had gotten a quote of $200 for a more detailed tat (pair of stake pierced hands). I'm sure this one will be a little less (as it's not as detailed--just letters). Can you, or do you know of anyone who can help me with this? I tried and tried to figure it out using that GIMP2.6 program and also Microsoft Word. I just CAN NOT figure out how to shape text.

I think if you offered $50, some Illustrator guru
here (not me) can whip it up in about half an hour.

BTW, good letterforms are often quite detailed!

hhp

I think one of these might work quite well:
http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/canadatype/sultan/
http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/urw/stanza/
http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/nicksfonts/aethelred-nf/
http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/solotype/mozart/

hhp

Please don't be offended, but if you are getting text tattooed, go to someone who has specific examples of text tattoos in their portfolio. Letterforms are very hard to tattoo properly and if you're going to have it for the rest of your life, it might as well be well done.

That said, go talk to a couple of artists and ask them about size, the amount of text, the design and placement.

it's not as detailed--just letters

You are talking to people who obsess over “just letters” their whole life here :)

I agree with hrant and jselig…put some money down if you want someone from here to design it for you. Do you ask your tattoo artist to just throw down a tattoo for you without purchasing it? We eat, too. :)

I also suggest you go to an artist who knows what they are doing with letterforms. Do you really want a shitty tattoo for the rest of your life? If he is doing it in his garage or kitchen … well that's even worst. Best of luck dude!

You need someone who's experienced with type and can show you examples of outstanding work he's done.

If you must use this particular guy because he's a relative or something, have him do something simple and small, and save the triquetra for another time with a more-experience tattoo artist.

dreinva, as you can see from my image above you have some interesting design challenges ahead of you.

The above comments are very critical, compare my sarcastic image (using comic sans) with hrant's linkage and keep in mind the above comments. Each letter shape is an expression in and of itself and if everything goes according to plan, all those letter shape expressions should be a integral kick ass component of the entire design.

I think this piece could be really awesome but it will take some time in the planning stages.

Good luck, hope that helps.

> compare my sarcastic image (using comic sans) with hrant's linkage...

Just to be extra sure the original poster understands, 5star is saying NOT to use Comic Sans!

It would be awesome to find a quote that has an "o"
in both streams of each of the three overlapping points.

hhp

You might consider adding a background behind the type. Create a triquetra that looks like a 3d object, similar to the one below, and put the type on it, sort of like it was engraved on a bracelet. Space the words so that the hidden areas are between two words, so that no characters are hidden.

In the example below the bands are obviously way too thin, there's not room for the type, but take that general shape and make the bands much wider so the type will fit in them.

Besides the typical tattoo challenges conveying it's triquetra-osity, is the mere fact of the tattoo artist's body position when inking the piece :)

For all of those who gave insightful, helpful responses, thank you for your time and help. I eventually posted my request in an "Illustrator" forum. From there, I rec'd a video on how to go about doing what I was attempting Instead of trying something simple my first time using Illustrator, I had to go tackle something pretty complicated. It took me a little while, playing with the font (different fonts and sizes) to finally get what I was looking for. My first two fonts, the tattoo artist said wouldn't work, because of eventual "bleeding" together. This week though, I found 2 fonts that were the right size and spacing that would work. Hoping to get my tat this weekend. Thanks again for all that helped me. Will post a pic once I get it done.

Maybe post it before it gets done...

hhp

Cool, np. What font(s) did you decide on and are you still going with a 4"x4" size?

Looking forward the pic.

Last week I got a killer tattoo comish. It's a ribbon of text telling the guy's life story. The text begins on top of his left foot and wraps and weaves and moves up and around his whole body pausing / incorporating for his many other tattoos (one of which is mine!) He's a hip hop artist and will be coming up with the verses, I'm so stoked to get this piece going.

What I really fond intriguing about your piece is not so much the design challenges - they can be the fun part - but the fact that you've laid christian verse on what was/is originally a pagan symbol ...

Maybe post it before it gets done...
(I'm so excited for this... for the wrong reasons.)