Texas startup Blackdot has developed a robotic system that uses AI and computer vision to apply tattoos. The new technology is already being used at Bang Bang Tattoo studio in New York. First, the artist uploads the design, then the device makes test dots 0.25 mm thick and calibrates itself to the skin type to ensure accuracy.
For now, the system works only with shades of gray and on flat areas of the body, but more complex zones are already being tested. All designs are the work of artists, who receive royalties for each copy used. They are stored on a cloud server and can be reproduced at any studio with Blackdot. At the same time, the artist can set a limit on the number of copies to preserve uniqueness.
The automated process makes the tattoo less painful thanks to shallower punctures, and also much cleaner thanks to a system that removes excess ink. Blackdot’s technology is calibrated to a specific skin, depth, and texture — something even the most experienced artist cannot do at that level. And there is no “oops, it shifted a little, we’ll fix it later”: each dot is exactly where it should be.
