modern moko are almost all done with plain old needles, i think, and lack the pronounced scarring of the old methods. Super clear photo of the old result: http

modern moko are almost all done with plain old needles, i think, and lack the pronounced scarring of the old methods. Super clear photo of the old result: https://scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/b80fdf49074ae5b49395361b2af846e8/5D76D72D/t51.2885-15/e35/40594732_392789677925072_1554535160492326912_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com https://scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/b80fdf49074ae5b4... (it appears to have been maybe sharpened in software?) edit to add: I think chisels are no longer used because 1] it's painful 2] not many people know how to do that anymore -- but they sure do look good, the old way. They used to use a bluer ink, made of caterpillar guts among other things? A painter named Charles Goldie did some great portraits showing that older pigment: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c5/52/82/c55282ddab815e9e4d9d7f2d8d23f118--maori-people-unique-art.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c5/52/82/c55282ddab815e9e4d9d7f2d8... https://www.nzgeo.com/wp-content/uploads/1998/04/38_Goldie_13-1018x1300.jpg https://www.nzgeo.com/wp-content/uploads/1998/04/38_Goldie_1... https://s3.amazonaws.com/img.aasd.com.au/86317163.jpg https://s3.amazonaws.com/img.aasd.com.au/86317163.jpg https://images.internationalartcentre.co.nz/_auctions/2018/2018-08/2018-08-030-H.jpg https://images.internationalartcentre.co.nz/_auctions/2018/2... and many many more And some trivia, moko were occasionally used as signatures on old deeds and treaties, since moko identified the bearer and no two were the same: https://c8.alamy.com/comp/PM1Y2X/image-from-page-41-of-moko-or-maori-tattooing-with-illustrations-etc-PM1Y2X.jpg https://c8.alamy.com/comp/PM1Y2X/image-from-page-41-of-moko-...