How to Design Your Own Tattoos for Men
Tattoos are created by inserting colored ink below the surface of the skin using a tattoo gun. In Western culture, the tattoo has gone from a taboo to a large part of mainstream culture. Because tattoos are permanent, it is important to consider exactly where you're going to put your tattoo and how you want it to look. Tattoos can be designed at home and then taken to a professional tattoo artist to be applied to your body. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Designate the location of your tattoo. Tattoos can go anywhere on your body, but popular places for men to get tattoos include the upper back and shoulder blades, the upper arm or forearm and the calves. Determining where you're going to get your tattoo before you design it will help you design a tattoo of the appropriate size for its location.
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Find an example of, or visualize, the subject of the tattoo. Many men chose to get tribal tattoos on their arms, odes to their mothers, wives or children, or symbols of strength, such as a tiger or the Chinese character for strength. There are four main types of tattoos: the abstract tattoo, which mimics tribal designs; the naturalistic tattoo, which uses a lot of shading and detail to create a complex tattoo image; the dedication tattoo, which includes the name of a person or organization; and the simple tattoo, which is a simple or reduced representation of an image. Each of these types of tattoos can make a good design for men, depending on what you are trying to convey.
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Draw or design your tattoo on a piece of paper or on a computer imaging program, taking into account the considerations you have made. Be sure the image is the appropriate size for its destination body part, because the act of shrinking or expanding images at the tattoo parlor can cause distortion. Make several drafts of the design if necessary to obtain the proper design. Be sure all the lines are clear so that the tattoo artist will have no trouble replicating the design on your body.
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Go to a reputable tattoo artist. Especially if you are getting a naturalistic tattoo, it is important to choose a tattoo artist who is capable of creating intricate designs. Ask to see the tattoo artist's portfolio and check to see if he has successfully done designs similar to the one you have created. Consult online reviews or ask previous customers about their satisfaction with their tattoos. Show the tattoo artist your design and make sure she is comfortable with tattooing the design.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider the intricacy of the design and how much time and money you are willing to put into it. Naturalistic tattoos, tattoos with a lot of different colors and extremely intricate tattoos generally cost more than simple tattoos. Additionally, these tattoos can take a number of visits to the tattoo parlor before they are complete. Before beginning these tattoos, be sure you are committed to seeing them through to completion.
References
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