Character

A character tattoo carries a figure or a symbol from something you love. The first decision is whether to keep the original linework or redraw it in our own hand.

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Why people choose them

• Attachment : a work you have loved for years is less a preference than a record of time, which is why it outlasts trends.

• A clear form : a character is already a finished drawing, so the design direction comes easily.

• Easy to scale : the face alone, one symbol, or the full figure — take as much as you want.

• No explanation needed : the people who know, know. It is an easy subject to keep quiet.

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How it is worked

• Line : we decide first whether to keep the bold original stroke or move it into fine line.

• Colour : partial colour, laid on one area only, is often a better fit than full colour.

• Copyright : if reproducing the original artwork concerns you, taking only a symbol or a line of dialogue is an option.

• Placement : a detailed face will blur if it is made too small, so size and placement are settled together.