I want to put a tattoo on skin with this technique by quinlor - Quinlor Tattoo. 

How is the best way to go about this using VSS?

Thanks, Vestmann.

Check out the link below.  It is probably a better method to apply tattoos although a bit more complicated.  The node structure created by BB, the same author of VSS.  I would need to look at this much more closely but it might not be that difficult to set up.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2716576

Ahhh thank you so much hborre.  I remembered, somewhere in the back of my head, that butterfly tattoo but couldn't quite remember where from.  I´ll take a look at this when I have more time.  Thanks!

You're welcome.  I usually keep a hardcopy in a folder closeby for quick reference.

Yeah I've started saving threads recently.  There is so much going on these days that it's hard to keep up, even if you're just following bagginsbills threads :)

Okay I've read through the thread and what I´m worried about is what will happen when I synchronize VSS.  Let's say I want a tattoo on the torso and I set it up with VSS.  Now when I synchronize the added shaders would go on the limbs maps as well...

Okay I´m thinking outloud here and I think I've solved it.  I´ll just make a copy of the template skin and plug the Rule torso to it.  That way I can set up different tattoos for the limbs and torso.

It could get a little complicated within the VSSProp shaders.  I might opt to modify the shaders after applying to your character and render afterwards for overall homogeneous appearance.  Would be interested what you come up with.

I want to do a Tattoo VSS Prop where I can plug tattoo maps into VSS and have it synchronize onto any character/texture.

Here's what I've done so far:

1. Made a template called "Template Torso Tats".  This is a copy of Template Skin with the added tattoo nodes.

2. In Shader Rules a made a copy node for the new template and plugged Rule torso and Rule hip into it.   When I synchronize it works for the torso but not the hip for some reason.

I want to do it like this so I can choose which map the tattoo is applied to.  I could also make a Template Face or a Template Limbs.

I did some preliminary renders testing with tattoo application with VSS and was impressed how well it performed.  However, I am concerned how it behaves by just modifying VSS's Template Skin and let it find tattoo mapping.  Of course, your approach for separating the body parts may be the best solution.  Be aware of your UV coordinates.  Those will need to be changed depending on tattoo application.  Also, pay special attention to tattoos stretching across the texture seams.  These will be tricky.  If at all possible, I would like to see a screencap of your set up.

I use Decal Master to place the tattoos over maps.  I will post some screenshots as soon as I have some time.

I use Decal Master to place the tattoos over maps.  I will post some screenshots as soon as I have some time.

well, if your tattoo blocks SSS, you might want to generate a mask for the SSS and plug it into SSS amount.  not necessarily a full block, but maybe like a light grey on white.

Errm...   okay, I got a little bit sidetracked as you can probably understand from the image above ;) I was going through some brushes in Photoshop to make a good tattoo when I came across Ron's Suds brushes.  So I loaded some suds into the tattoo map and plugged into the displacement channel as well and I'm pretty happy with the results.

I managed to adjust VSS so it applies the suds over any texture although my setup only works for V4 and M4 characters.  This could of course still be used for tattoos :)  I´m making a minitut that I will post shortly but my internet connection is very bad at the moment and I´m not sure I can post at all.  But if you're reading this, it means I probably can...

I've have a new found respect for tutorial makers! 

I hope this minitut makes sense to someone.  I call it VSS Overlay since it can be used for Tattoos, Suds, Second Skins etc.  This is of course all based on things that bagginsbill has already posted so all credit goes to him.

For information on tattoo masks and such, refer to this thread:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2716576

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask here!

Hope you'll enjoy!