Tantoo

Step 1 Cutting your graphic onto your vinyl

If you happen to have a vinyl cutter you can just send over your graphic from adobe illustrator.
If you don't happen to be so privileged you can draw out your graphic on your vinyl with a sharpie and then cut gently with an x-acto so the backing stays intact. I use a number 16 but I'm sure the typical 11 would also work.
I got a 10yd roll of white vinyl form signwarehouse.com (http://www.signwarehouse.com/c-VAVA4O1510.html) I'm not an expert in the different types of vinyl but this stuff works for me.

Comments

[Advar]

An ex-gf put a bit of food coloring in sunblock and used a small paint brush to apply a flower design on her sister who wanted an unusual tan. Maybe this will be an alternative for some of us. As I personally just burn and peel, I just use a design free complete block.

[lukev2]

he looks like ringo from the beatles

[Blacksmith Spader]

I kinda like the idea, and it works on paper.... but after some thought... it seems a little on the "not quite thought through" category

[macmundi]

OOOOOUUUUCCCH...!!

[arpoky]

Awwwww... Who da big ol' disgustin' puss-filled vomit-cowored bwister? Is dat Amadeus?

[codongolev]

it's known in the state of california to cause cancer.... shhhh, don't tell the other states.....

[arpoky]

Lolz...

[cammers]

Melanoma kills very very quickly. Caused by as few as one sun-burn, it starts on the skin and quickly moves to brain, lungs, etc. Most Australians know at last one or two people who have died of melanoma. So it's not just California. I'm not a doctor, but I've been to a couple of funerals. Take care with this one.

[mountain island]

Oooowwwee. A tan would be ok but that's just burnt! if i were to do this then i would do it with smaller graphics as well, personally not a fan of the face :L xx

[kmpres]

Sorry, I won't "lighten up" for this one, nor should anyone else. That's a "burn-too" and burns are BAD! I'm a cancer survivor and things like this make my skin crawl. Take my advice, USE SUNSCREEN. The life you save might just be your own!

[corey11]

Well Sir Cancer survivor, he did us sunscreen! How do you think he got the "tan- too"??? He sure didn't fart to get it on there. And attention- a public service announcement: . If someone wants to e stupid enough to try this, just let them do it. . And one more thing, and I will apologize for the language ahead of time, and for the remark I'm about to make: . Why the hell do you have a crip sign on your back?????? If your in a gang, your possey probably laughed their asses off at this......

[static]

Obviously there was an error in judgment here, and someone was made aware of that fact painfully. I give as much credence to that one sunburn can lead to cancer cancer as I do that one Pierette can lead to nicotine addiction, that being none, but that's something everyone has to decide for themselves. The author should be given cit for not window dressing the instructable, by not including the evidence of what can go wrong. Anyway as they say; think about how good it's going to feel after it quits hurting ;) I'm n sure how one could go about creating a "tan tattoo" using a stencil over multiple exposures to avoid a burn. Away to index stencil has to be worked out

[Flecks]

This is pretty old. I did it last summer, still have the outline of the smiley. (i hope the picture works, i have had a lot of problems posting pictures)

[zipknitter]

Why do people think it is their job to "save" everyone. Lighten up, let people do something fun once in a while, just sit back and be quiet! Yes I have had really bad sunburns, and even had a skin cancer removed. But, that does not mean I have the right to yell at other people and act like I am their protector. It's their skin, their lives, they have free will. I think this is kind of cool and since I have to spend a lot of time outside in the summer and long sleeves drive me crazy, will probably try it myself. A rose seems nice.

[ciroman]

maybe because getting involved into activities which are or are on the border of dangerous and then showing them or telling others about it and not warning others is bordering on encouraging others on doing it. and the saying "it's their lives, they have free will" soon involves other peoples lives as well... so please

[zipknitter]

I am sorry so many think I am rude. After being in the medical field for over 20 years and trying to help those who do not want help or have to learn life's lessons the hard way, it was pointed out to me by the ones in charge that you cannot wrap people in protective layers just because you know they are doing something they shouldn't. But, when they do, you take care of the damage they have caused themselves by being foolish. Take care of yourselves, and hope others know what is right and wrong and what they shouldn't do because it might harm them, many people feel that horrible thing that happens to others won't happen to them and just because someone posts an idea does not mean a lot of others will use it. So please, excuse my manner, but understand my message, it was learned the hard way.

[InquisitorBC]

Yes i do agree with you that its their skin their bodies, i think you should still take kmpres's advice and not be so rude with your posts. yes its a cool idea but at the same time not a very smart idea.

[friendly-ginge]

Wow! I'm not sure if this is denial or ignorance. For the people that fall into the latter category, observe. Sunburn comes from UV light (yes, thats stuff coming from the sun AND the one that makes a sunbed work). UV light is proven to alter your DNA (the stuff that makes your body function normally). These changes to DNA can result in cancer. Hence, UV light is known as a carcinogen. Any deliberate exposure to UV light should be avoided. Melanin (a pigment in your skin) is activated by UV light to protect the cells. Melanin is brown, when activated it looks like a tan. So in reality (that's the real world), tanning is your body's response to harmful levels of UV light. It's your body trying (not very sucessfully) to block UV light from reaching your DNA. Any degree of sunburn is bad. Tanning, but not burning is still bad. Blistering is VERY bad. Any source of UV light is bad. Still not convinced? Look up the story of Claire Oliver. As for Step 10 - the only amazing thing about this instructable, is that it is still available to be accessed.

[The_Apartment_Bedroom_Studio]

If you use a tanning bed, or spray tan, I think this would work better (although, I think you would have to leave the vinyl on for a spray tan). then you don't have to worry about sunburns and huge nasty blisters.

[boelkw]

people have been getting burnt for thousands of years, i dont think this guy will die from a little sun

[skipernicus]

I've only had one bad sunburn when I was a kid. The doctor who cut the melanoma off my shoulder told me one is all it takes. Here: study up. http://skincancer.dermis.net/content/e02factors/e141/index_eng.html

[codongolev]

oooh, burn. (no pun intended)

[drummonkey92]

cool idea with the whole stenciling thing. me an some friends layed stuff we found on the beach on a sleeping friend's chest an actuall design woulda been better. ignore the negative comments, you clearly, (and repeatedly) say that you recomend doing the opposite and only buring in a small area

[zom b]

i'm kind of amazed that instructables would put this in my weekly email and feature it so prominently. it's pretty ridiculous to actually PROMOTE sunburning yourself to achieve, and let's be generous here, an almost completely unrecognizable design. worst contribution i've seen in a while. major fail, instructables.

[Meragness]

what you should do is burn yourself in the tiny outline of a shape, instead of burning everything BUT the shape. that way you wont regret it as much. nothing is worth a sunburn with blisters that big

[skipernicus]

It strikes me that if you want to make a sun tattoo, the obvious thing to do is make a vinyl cut out of the tattoo you want, and keep it on. That way, you could apply sunscreen to the rest of you and tan at a reasonably safe rate.

[Eirinn]

That's a nice idea! Here's another one, if you do this DO NOT USE BLACK VINYL - for your own sake (use white if anything :S ), black absorbs sun like nothing else and the cumulated heat will roast your flabs :D

[Eirinn]

Getting brown is cool getting burnt is not, you can still make a nice graphic by aplying different sun factors to your skin and just get the nice brown tan. No need to look like a lobster and risk skin cancer (and other skin related deteriorations). :)

[Kulawend]

You can't protect people from themselves. If someone wants a tan they will get one.

[maximuscrates]

you took it one step too far with the burning and blistering. I hope you don't get skin cancer. I thought about doing this on my chest with the superman logo. except i was going to do it over months and reapply sunscreen each time. Instead i have opted for a slow and normal tan. i haven't been burned yet this year.

[cbergquistf]

Did anyone try this with spray on tan? If it works, it would be MUCH safer. I am still recovering from cancer surgery on my face. Not fun and UGLY.

[PatentPending]

Yeah, what if instead of additive tattooing, try subtractive? Invert the image of the stencil, fix any islands, and apply sunscreen everywhere BUT there? I'm in sunny Florida and see there's not much reason to go in the water, this seems like a nice little thing to do.

[ttatmost]

I did that once, I went to the beach drunk and couldn't reach a part on my back, I ended up with a bat on my back, like batman

[11richie21]

thats a burn not a tan good luck CANCER!

[jessyratfink]

Oi! That looks rough, what a burn! The graphics came out surprisingly clean though - shows just how well sunscreens can work I guess. ;)

[dossdj]

a much less painful way would be to cover the 'area' in a design and use spray suncreen over it

[h_sama]

freaky.

[jtpoutdoor]

and in a few years time he'll have a REALLY interestingly shaped melanoma which will be soooo cool

[NutandBolt]

I like the design it's very nice but thats about it. Anyone who has ever met a person that has past away from cancer or has a bit of intellect wouldn't play russian roulette with UVB sun rays. This artistic experiment  is Cancer waiting to happen. Tumors can appear 20 years after over exposure due to dangerous UVB rays. Not to mention the fact that with person in the images is in the highest risk factor group because of his light complection he is more likely to develope skin cancer. 
The days of self body frying under the sun are over, use you brain!!!!
There is no such thing as a safe tan.
As a parent I fear this instructable is promoting skin cancer amongst young people that want to copy this horrible experiment without the ability to understand the real dangers involved.

[jellybean0k]

I think this is the first time I have ever been compelled to comment on this website, and I must say, that was truly awful, and that was just for the risk factor alone. It was like, Jackass, but in slow motion - it should have a DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME (or on the beach) warning. Sorry guys, this is definately one that I will give a miss. ouchie