Design styles
The words for where a tattoo sits, how big it is, how heavy the lines are and what style it is in.
What to notice
Read each definition and look for the detail it names. Related terms overlap, and a name alone cannot tell you the method or the result.
These drawings explain a term. They are not anyone’s work or results.
Compare the details
4 terms to explore
- American Traditional Tattoo
- The American traditional style uses bold outlines, flat shading and a commonly limited palette. Other regional tattoo traditions are not subtypes of this label.
- Fine Line
- Tattoo work with visibly thin, precise lines.
- Minimalist Tattoo
- A spare design reduced to essential lines or shapes. Size is separate: a small tattoo can still be detailed.
- Realism Tattoo
- Photographic rendering of subjects with smooth shading.