# Tattoo-Making 3D Printers This 3D Printer Tattoo Machine Was Developed by French Design Students By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-04-08 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-printer-tattoo References: [cnet](http://www.cnet.com/news/robo-tattoo-machine-fashioned-from-3d-printer/) & [ensci](http://www.ensci.com/en/) Who needs Kat Von D and Scott Campbell when you can get inked by a 3D printer tattoo machine? A group of students at the ENSCI-Les Ateliers design school in Paris created this impressive 3D printer tattoo machine, essentially a 3D printer hacked to become some sort of robotic tattoo artist. Starting with a MakerBot 3D printer, the students swapped the machine's extruder for a pen to see if the machine could be used to draw simple patterns on artificial skin. When that experiment proved successful, the students further modified the printer to be able to create real tattoos on real human skin. They then put out a call for guinea pigs, and several people expressed interest in being the first humans tattooed by a robot. The 3D printer tattoo machine cannot match the intricate tattooing abilities of flesh-and-blood tattoo artists, but they are able to create permanent tattoos on real human skin. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 23% | Activity: 64% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **3D Printer Tattoos:** The development of 3D printer tattoo machines presents an innovative method for creating tattoos. - **Robotic Tattoo Artists:** Robotic tattoo artists offer a disruptive innovation opportunity in the tattoo industry. - **Creative Modifications for 3D Printers:** The creative modifications made to 3D printers for tattooing purposes showcase the potential for customized applications. ### Who This Affects Most - **3D Printing:** The 3D printing industry can explore the utilization of 3D printer tattoo machines for unique manufacturing capabilities. - **Tattoo:** The tattoo industry can embrace the use of robotic tattoo artists to expand their offerings and reach a wider customer base. - **Design:** The design industry can capitalize on the creative modifications made to 3D printers for tattooing and apply similar innovations in other areas. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Tattoo Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/imprintu.md) - [AI-Powered Tattoo Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blackdot-device.md) - [Custom Tattoo Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-tattoo-creator.md) - [Custom Tattoo Designers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-tattoo-generator2.md) - [Custom Tattoo Design Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-tattoo-generator1.md) - [Generative Art Tattoo Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blackdot-1.md) - [AI Tattoo Designers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tattoo-maker-ai.md) - [Online Tattoo Art Marketplaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blackdot.md) - [AI Tattoo Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tattoo-ai-design.md)