Tattoo Glossary – Key Terms of the Tattoo Industry
Aftercare (Nachsorge): Care of fresh tattoos to ensure healing, color brilliance, and hygiene.
B
Black and Grey: Style using only black and grey shading.
Black and Grey: Style using only black and grey shading.
Blowout: Blurry lines caused when ink is inserted too deep into the skin.
Bugpin-Needles: Extra fine needles (0.20–0.25 mm) allowing denser arrangements for highly detailed work.
C
Cartridges: Disposable needle modules for modern rotary and pen machines.
Cartridges: Disposable needle modules for modern rotary and pen machines.
Cover-Up: A new tattoo that covers an old or unwanted design.
Curved Magnum (CM): Needle grouping with a curved arrangement for smooth shading.
D
Dotwork: Style created by using small dots instead of solid fills.
Dotwork: Style created by using small dots instead of solid fills.
F
Flash: Pre-drawn tattoo designs displayed in studios.
Flash: Pre-drawn tattoo designs displayed in studios.
Freehand: Design drawn directly onto the skin before tattooing.
H
Healing Process: The healing period of a tattoo, usually 2–4 weeks.
Healing Process: The healing period of a tattoo, usually 2–4 weeks.
Handpoke: Manual tattooing technique without a machine.
I
Ink: Tattoo pigment or dye.
Ink: Tattoo pigment or dye.
L
Linework: Tattoo work based primarily on lines.
Linework: Tattoo work based primarily on lines.
Long Taper: Needles with a long, fine point for precision.
M
Magnum (MG): Needle configuration with two rows, ideal for shading and filling large areas.
Magnum (MG): Needle configuration with two rows, ideal for shading and filling large areas.
Membrane System: Cartridge protection preventing backflow of fluids.
O
Outline: The contour lines of a tattoo.
Outline: The contour lines of a tattoo.
Ornamental: Style
featuring patterns, mandalas, and geometric elements.
R
Realism: Style imitating photographic realism in black and grey or color.
Realism: Style imitating photographic realism in black and grey or color.
Round Liner (RL): Needles grouped in a circle for line work.
Round Shader (RS): Circular grouping for shading and soft color fills.
S
Stencil: Template transferred onto the skin before tattooing.
Stencil: Template transferred onto the skin before tattooing.
Stretch: Technique of stretching the skin during tattooing for precision.
Supply: General
term for tattoo equipment and supplies.
Taper: The
length of the needle tip affecting precision and ink flow.
Tattoo Removal: The process of removing tattoos, usually with lasers.
W
Watercolor: Style resembling watercolor painting.
Watercolor: Style resembling watercolor painting.
White Ink: White
tattoo pigment often used for highlights.