Eternal Ink

Eternal Ink tattoo ink began with a Michigan tattooer who mixed colors for his artist friends. According to Eternal, Terry Welker, known as "Tramp," started tattooing in 1976 and turned his own palette into an ink line in 2004. The ink is made in the USA at a purpose-built facility in Brighton, Michigan.

The story behind Eternal Ink

Eternal says Welker opened tattoo studios in Michigan, moved his shop to Livonia in 1982 and had refined his own palette by 1998. In 2004 he bought a struggling ink-mixing operation, reworked its pigment production and named the line Eternal Ink. It started with 31 hues, and by 2010 Eternal had created more than 50 standard colors.

Themed sets came next. Muted Earth Tones was the first specialty set, and the Artist Signature Series began with the Zombie and Portrait sets, designed with Dan Henk and Ron Russo. More artist sets followed over the next decade.

How Eternal makes its ink

Eternal says it controls mixing and bottling in-house. Production at the Brighton building began in July 2022, with mixing labs on the second floor and pouring, bottling and packaging on the first. The company describes clean-room areas, HEPA air filtration, regular surface sanitizing and PPE training for staff, and states that every bottle is sterilized and certified sterile. Eternal also markets the line as vegan and cruelty free.

Eternal Ink at SVT Shop

• The full line: single colors, gray wash sets and artist sets are collected in our Eternal Ink category.
• By color family: Eternal shades also appear in Green Inks, Brown Inks, Purple Inks, Blue Inks and Flesh Tones.
• Next to other brands: compare palettes in Inks By Color or browse every line in Inks By Brand.

Eternal Ink FAQ

What is an Eternal Ink artist signature set? It is a themed set designed with a tattooer. Eternal says the first were the Zombie and Portrait sets, made with Dan Henk and Ron Russo, and more artist collaborations followed.

Does Eternal make its own ink? Eternal says mixing and bottling happen in-house at its Brighton, Michigan facility, with clean-room areas and HEPA air filtration.

Where can I compare Eternal's blacks with other brands? See Black Inks for black and lining options side by side.