The Ink gene allows for black marks that appear on the face, feather tips, and sometimes legs.
Feather Mutation Coverage
Ink can extend to cover the edges of feathers on appropriate feather mutations, including Seraph and Tendril, and Crest, as well as the feather horns on Horned stryx and the various crests on Royal stryx.
Seraph
So far, Ink can optionally present on Seraph wings on Avians only. The Seraph mutation on Chiro and Lycan stryx are not necessarily extensions, and therefore are not the edge of the wing and out of range.
Non-dominant Ink (nI) can cover up to half the feather, and Dominant Ink (II) can cover the entirety of the longest row of feathers. The seraph coverage shown replaces the normal coverage allowed on legs.
Tendril
Ink can optionally present on the long Tendril feather. The maximum nondominant coverage lines up with the same coverage of the normal feathers. Refer to the full coverage guides if unsure!
Notes
- Can show just on the topside or underside of feathers, if you choose to do so.
- Should generally show above other markings.
- Can layer in any order with Tips and Stains.
- Ink should not cover the middle of the face like Mask.
- Ink MUST show around the eyes, even on top of genes like Hood and Eclipse– the only exceptions are Velvet stryx and Bald Heads.
Ink should not cover any feathers in the middle of the wing, as it resembles Barring.
Edges, Blending & Texture
Ink may not have soft or blended edges, however very slightly soft edges are allowed.
Be sure that the textures you use are not soft ones.
Texture Varieties
Stains are allowed a variety of textures and styles.
Stains on Face
Stains can produce a variety of shapes and markings! Stains should always originate from the eyes and be roughly natural in shape.
Correct
Incorrect
Notes
- Ink should not cover the middle of the face like Mask.
- Ink MUST show around the eyes, even on top of genes like
- Hood and Eclipse– the only exceptions are Velvet stryx and Bald Heads.
- Ink cannot produce unnatural shapes such as elaborate swirls or complex geometric shapes.
- Ink cannot produce its own ticking or flecking.
- Ink+Scorch– Ink may need to cover more than the minimums, so that this marking is visible on the design!
Colors & Interaction
Unmodified, Ink must appear black on the design and should not be light enough to appear as grey.
Ink should also not appear as any saturated color, such as dark brown, dark red or blue, unless affected by another color modifier.
Color Modifiers
When Ink is being modified by a colormod, such as Silver, Cardinal, Canary, or other markings like Spectrum, Aurora, etc., Ink can be the color allowed by the modifier.
Layering
Ink can layer in any order with other markings. All of the minumum Stains coverage still needs to be visible, however.
Misc Section
Can Ink fade-erase? No
Can Ink be modified by a colormod? Yes
Can Ink show on the beak, feet, and skin? No
Things to Avoid
- Stains does not allow for markings on the body.
- Stains should not cover the middle of the face like a mask.
- Stains should not cover any feathers in the middle of the wing, as it resembles barring.
- Stains cannot be too dark, regardless of saturation.
- Stains cannot pull from the Nox sliders of any color modifier.
Correct & Incorrect Examples
Below are in-game examples of design displaying the marking, either correctly or incorrectly.
Correct
Dominant Ink
Dominant Ink
Incorrect
WIP