Design Your Own Tattoos

Once you've decided it is time to get inked, the next step is to figure out what kind of tattoo you want and, possibly, design your own tattoos. While some people are happy with flash, that might not be right for you. When you want something unique – something that really reflects who and what you are – it might be time to learn how to create your own design.

See some cool tattoo designs...

Where to Begin When You Design Your Own Tattoos

Think about what you want from your tattoo. Do you want to commemorate an event or death? Perhaps you want to mark a celebration or honor someon special. Maybe this design will be just for fun without deeper meaning and, yes, it's okay to get a tattoo just because you want to!

What images come to mind? Would a yellow rose with a name in the petals be the perfect memorial to a friend who has passed away? Maybe you just want add initials instead of a full name. Okay, but what type of lettering should you use?

As you can see, you have myriad options and a lot of choices to make. You don't have to be an artist to design your own tats. All you really need is an idea and the willingness to work with an artist.

Finding a Design For Your Tattoos

Maybe you don't want to use flash art, but that doesn't mean it's not a good place to begin gathering ideas. Look through some free flash to help jump-start your imagination. You can look for tribal designs, stars, crosses, heart designs or whatever else you can imagine.

Finding an Artist

A selection of typical flash

Once you think you've found the basis to design your tattoos, you need to find an artist. The artist may or may not be a tattoo artist; many tattoo parlors are willing to use artwork you've brought in from another source, although you shouldn't discount the talent of a good tattoo artist. Many are extremely talented and may even be able to freehand your ideal tattoo!

Finding an artist can be difficult, but you have a great tool at your disposal – tattoo galleries! There are any number of tattoo galleries on the Internet, and many of them are free to browse. A lot of galleries organize art by topic, and most of them include information on the artist and tattoo parlor where the inking was done. Don't be shy; if you find something that you like, talk to the artist or tattoo artist. You may find exactly what you're looking for.

If you think you're artistically inclined, feel free to try to design your own tattoos. Create a Tattoo is a website that lets you design your own tattoo online.

Testing Your Tattoos

Before you commit to the tattoo you've designed, you may want to test it out. There are plenty of markers meant for flesh, but you can also look into a temporary tattoo. Some places on the Internet let you upload your design, and they'll send you temporary tattoos that you can then practice placing wherever you think you may want the permanent one. You can also try out your design in different sizes. Even Microsoft provides a set of instructions on using their programs to create your own temporary tattoos, but remember to buy some temporary tattoo paper before you print.

The Final Step

You've spent all the time and effort you could spend on trying to design your own tattoos. Now's the time to get it done; find a local tattoo parlor or tattoo artist, and get inked!

While it may seem like a lengthy and possibly expensive process, remember that unless you want to go through tattoo removal, this is something that will be with you for the rest of your life. Spending an extra week or two putting your design together and testing it out will help ensure you're happy with the final product.

• Free Chinese Zodiac Tattoos
• Day of the Dead Tattoo Ideas
• Cartilage Piercing Gallery
• How Many Tattoos Are Too Many?
• Celebrity Tattoo Quiz

• Wrist Tattoos
• Design Your Own Tattoos
• Star Tattoos
• Angel Wing Tattoos
• Celebrity Tattoo Pictures

• Zodiac Tattoos
• Custom Temporary Tattoos
• Free Tattoo Flash
• Pink's Tattoos
• Tattoo Ideas