Realistic Tattoos

Realism is a drawing style first. Instead of bold outlines, the subject is built from shading, soft gradients and depth. Our realistic tattoos keep that approach and print it in a single blue-black ink, so every shadow and highlight comes from tone alone.

One thing worth clearing up: every design in the shop is made to pass for a real tattoo. Here, realistic means the style.

What's in the collection

• Sacred and classical figures sculpted in shadow, a face or a bust set in deep contrast.
• A lion head with its mane worked up in shading, a close cousin of our lion tattoos.
• Flowers built up in volume, as far as a peony half sleeve (more blooms in our peony tattoos).

Like the strokes left visible? See our sketch tattoos. For linework taken further, try illustrative tattoos; for solid fills and hard contrast, blackwork.

Wearing realism well

Gradients need room, so pick the forearm, thigh, calf or shoulder blade. Expect one to two weeks of wear there; on hands it fades sooner. Application takes 2 minutes, no needles. Keep it dry and don't rub it for 8 hours; after that it's waterproof. The ink develops over 24 to 36 hours, so put it on 1 to 2 days before the big day.

Leaning toward permanent realistic tattoos? A temporary realism tattoo is an honest way to test size and placement first.

Your subject, in shading

An animal, a flower, an object: a custom temporary tattoo works it up in shadow and volume. Minimum order of 3, each design approved before printing, made in 3 to 4 weeks. Standard sizes go up to L, and exact dimensions are only an option when the design won't fit in L.

Realism, in short

What is a realism tattoo?

It's a tattoo style that renders a subject through shading, gradients and depth rather than outlines, so it looks close to life. Our printed version keeps those gradients in one blue-black tone, with no color.