How to Make a Tattoo Flow

Achieving that perfect tattoo flow is key to making art that stands the test of time. In this guide, we’re diving into the intricacies of tattoos that wrap around the body and how to make your work tattoo flow (and fit) perfectly on any client’s skin.

Tattoo Flow 101: Anatomy is Your Canvas

The body is a canvas. That’s gospel truth! To truly master the art of tattoo flow, you’ve got to understand the anatomy of the body you’re working on. Every client is unique, from their muscle structure to their skin tone, and it’s your job to tailor your designs to work with—and in some instances accentuate—their features.

Customizing Tattoo Placement—Start with “The Fit”

Picture this: you’ve got a killer tattoo design or concept sketched out, but now comes the real challenge—making it work on your client’s body. Whether it’s a forearm, thigh, or back, fitting your design seamlessly onto their unique canvas is a unique challenge every time, because no one’s forearm, thigh, or back is identical. But fear not: we’ve got some Jedi-level tips to guide you through the placement process, so you can size your tattoo design correctly and make sure it fits.

1. Reference Photos: Before you even pick up your tattoo machine, snap some reference photos of the area you’ll be working on. You can either have the client send you these photos, or you can take them during your initial consultation. This helps you gauge dimensions, contours, and how your design will flow with the body. Check out our blog on using Procreate to design a tattoo stencil, and you can see how to apply your stencil to images of your client’s body parts.
2. Accounting for Body Variation: As we said, no two bodies are alike, so don’t expect your design to fit like a glove right off the bat. Take into consideration factors like muscle structure and skin elasticity when plotting out your tattoo, and expect to make a couple of mistakes during the design process. Placing the stencil on the day of the appointment will reveal a lot about the flow of your tattoo on your clients’ bodies.

Amplifying Natural Harmony for Perfect Tattoo Placement

Now that you’ve nailed down the fit, it’s time to focus on the flow. Tattoo flow isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about enhancing the body’s natural movement and rhythm. Here’s how to bring tattoos to life using flow.

1. Tattoo Styles Tailored to Flow: Certain tattoo styles, like Japanese or biomechanical, are all about that flow, baby. But flow is important for any style. For maximum flow, embrace fluid, S-shaped motifs that complement the body’s contours and dynamics for maximum impact. Other elements that are common in lots of tattoos like florals, filigree, ornamentation, and geometry can all be strategically placed and customized to fit the unique flow of your client’s body.
2. Consider the Focal Point: What do you want the subject and primary focal point of the tattoo to be? Make sure it’s highlighted and centralized in the flow of your design and doesn’t get overshadowed by other details.
3. Adapting to Diverse Physiques: Remember, not everybody is built the same. Adjust your design to accommodate different muscle structures and body compositions.

Navigating the Terrain: Mapping Out Your Tattoo Design

Those three skills we just touched on are important. But there are also two rules you have to remember when creating tattoos with optimal flow. These rules are especially important when you’re doing full-body tattoos or tattoos that wrap around the body.

Understanding the terrain of your client’s body is essential for creating tattoos that flow seamlessly. So follow these “tattoo flow rules” like your life depends on it:

1. Utilizing Body Maps: Body maps provide invaluable guidance for tattoo placement and design. One way you can do this is by using a skin-safe marker to outline your client’s unique musculature. This divides the body into quadrants so you know exactly where to put key elements of the design. You’ll also see how the muscles move when the client moves, which will show you, in turn, how your tattoo will move. This is the most hands-on way to create a body map, but you can also study body mapping or use workbooks or Procreate to structure tattoos on different parts of the body. From outlining muscle structure to indicating areas prone to distortion, these maps help ensure your design fits like a (very flexible) glove.
2. Facing the Design: When it comes to placement, remember the golden rule: all designs should face the center of the body (the heart). Except… of course, just to make things more complicated… there are exceptions to that golden rule. For example, when creating inner forearm tattoos, facing away from the heart may be more visually appealing. The golden rule is most applicable to tattoos that wrap around the body.

Celebrate Every Body: Empowerment through Ink

At the end of the day, tattooing is about more than just creating pretty pictures—it’s about celebrating diversity and empowering your clients to feel confident in their skin. By understanding and respecting their unique features, you can create meaningful tattoo experiences and champion inclusivity in the industry.

So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a fresh-faced apprentice, remember this: when it comes to tattoo flow, the key is to embrace the body’s natural rhythm and let your creativity run wild. With a little bit of skill, a dash of intuition, and a whole lot of love for tattooing, you’ll be creating masterpieces that flow like a river. (Cheesy, sorry). Go get your flow on!