Even today some people prefer to get their designs from original tattoo flash, especially if they’re vintage tattoos, in order to stick to the design’s original framework. In this case one should make sure (after the stencil has been applied) that the design is not accidentally mirror imaged. This can be especially apparent if there is lettering in the design.

Initially, tattoo flash was hand drawn for use in one’s own shop but with time professional flash artists took over this niche. Companies started hiring flash designers to produce designs for commercial sale. They produced copyrighted flash in bulk and started selling them over the internet and in conventions either on single sheets or in books of collected tattoo flash.

It is essential now for tattoo artists everywhere to be weary about copying a piece that his / her client printed off the internet, these may have copyright implications, unless of course the client has permission to use that design. Even otherwise, I think that the beauty of a tattoo lies in its custom design, which is why picking the right artist for the job is a very big deal. Artists now have even started trading tattoo flash.

Nowadays, tattoo flash comes with the line drawing for the design which is printed separately on a different sheet. This means artists now don’t even have to spend that extra time copying the line drawing, making the process of tattooing even faster than before. Some of the most common designs you would see on tattoo flash are those of Bettie Page, Hearts, flowers, stars, barbed wire, dragons, etc. Some of the most popular pieces are those created by famous artists such as Sailor Jerry and the like. Although some people look down on tattoo flash because it’s not “original work,” it can come in very handy for those basic designs and for those clients who want it done quickly.

Tattoos have had a long and rich history in several ancient cultures and to them, the tattoos that one sported actually meant something. It usually identified them as part of a group or clan, marked their social status, it showed respect and devotion to their gods and so on. Although most of that ancient symbolism is now lost in our modern world, a few strong ideologies still remain, and angels are one of them.

The concept of Guardian Angels has long been a part of our culture. They are meant to protect their human ward during times of crisis. These guardian angel tattoos are often depicted as human like figures with wings and holding swords. Today, people normally wear these tattoos as a symbol of their love for their children. Another type of angel tattoo in use today is that of cherubs. Cherubs are supposed to be messengers of love. Many today wear these together with their loved one’s names.

The fallen angel tattoo is perhaps the most popular among angel tattoos. It is often depicted as a beautiful angel with a bloody sword or torn and injured wings. Artists usually use heavier, darker inks for these designs.

On a woman, an angel tattoo usually is representative of her search for purity within her soul. It also represents her patience and divinity. The tattoo also shows that the wearer believes that confidence in one’s own ability is an essential part of beauty. Whereas on men, they are representative of their masculinity and their fondness of women! It also symbolizes their love and respect for an angelic woman in their life. These associations in our modern world however, are mere generalizations and don’t necessarily mean the same for everyone. After all, it is your tattoo, I guess it can mean what you want it to mean!

Ankle tattoos have been in fashion for a while now. Most women like it because they feel it makes them look sexy! So if you’re contemplating a tattoo on your ankle… go for it! Some of the most popular designs for the ankle are those of stars, flowers, butterflies, zodiac symbols, Chinese characters symbols, fairies, dragons and crosses. For men, I’d recommend something bigger and more solid like ferocious looking dragons, tribal designs or Celtic knots.

Another design that is quickly becoming popular among both men and women is the tattoo like a bracelet that goes around the ankle. These bracelet tattoos can have any design – barbed wire, flowers, hearts – you name it. These bracelet barbed wire or bracelet tribal design looks great on guys too! Of course, what’s most important is that you are comfortable with whatever design you choose.

One of the biggest advantages of ankle tattoos is that they can be easily concealed when the need arises. On the flip side, getting an ankle tattoo is going to hurt twice as much! The thickness of the muscle or tissue surrounding the ankle is thinner when compared the thighs, or arms. So, the thinner the tissue the more the pain and longer the healing process! But look the brighter side, at least this tattoo wont need frequent touch ups like those on your arms. Since your ankle won’t be exposed to the sun as much as your arms, these tattoos tend to last longer. Not to mention, they also cost less (depending on the design you choose) since the tattoo area is limited. And good luck with that tattoo!

Tattoos on the arm have their drawbacks too. Due to their ready exposure to the sun they are prone to fade (or become dull) faster when compared to designs on other parts of the body that are not exposed to the sun as much. But that really hasn’t stopped anyone I know from getting their arms tattooed!

Although arm tattoos are popular among both the sexes, it seems to be the most preferred body part especially among men. Tattoo sleeves (full arm, half arm or quarter arm) are becoming increasingly popular among men. Even women, most of who prefer smaller, simpler designs have begun to take a liking to these sleeve designs. Tattoo sleeves are nothing but a group of similarly themed tattoos (sometimes even one large design) that covers the entire arm from shoulder to wrist.

Tattoos have had a vast historical presence. Throughout our history tattoos have been associated with social and religious rites for which several of our ancient tribes stand as testimony, but as time progressed they were relegated to merely permanently marking people. As people started using them to mark the outlaws of their civilization the practice slowly began to be associated with criminality and immorality. And for this our modern society stands as testimony. Up until a few decades ago tattoos were a tabooed subject in our communities. In fact some countries still prohibit public display of one’s tattoos.

These public biases are slowly changing and tattoos once again being appreciated as an art form. Tattoos nowadays don’t have the same religious significance it used to have. People are now get inked as a way of expressing their true self and for aesthetic purposes.

Some of the most popular designs for the arm include Tribal designs, Celtic knot designs, Cross designs, Japanese or Chinese designs and symbols, Japanese or Chinese Kanji characters, barbed wire, fire, zodiac symbol designs and dragon tattoos. A majority of women seem to prefer the more delicate or feminine tattoo designs such as flower designs, fairy tattoos, star designs and butterfly designs.

Today, the Sun as a tattoo design is an indication of its deep symbolic nature in almost every culture around the world. One of the common symbols of the Sun is a circle with curvy lines stemming from the perimeter denoting the sun’s rays. Sometimes these designs come with a dot in the centre of the circle which is representative of the blending of the male and female forces.

Usually the Sun is perceived as a masculine symbol and the moon and the earth its feminine counterparts. Hence it is common for the Sun to be paired with the earth or the moon. For years people believed that the Sun was the centre of the universe and it came to be a symbol of both divine and royal powers. This idea was adopted by the ancient secular as well as religious authorities.

Almost every major ancient culture has a myth about creation. It speaks of how the Sun came into being and these stories are often accompanied by the apocalyptic myths that prophesy the end of the world. They explain that the end will come when the Sun is destroyed (quite true if you ask me, I don’t see how mankind can go on living on earth if there were no Sun!) The rising and the setting of the sun, the cyclic light and darkness is also representative of life itself in most ancient cultures. The idea of regeneration or reincarnation takes root from these beliefs.

The Sun is also symbolic of passion, courage and eternally renewed youth; vitality, fertility, enlightenment and knowledge. The different ancient cultures in our history denoted the Sun in different ways. A winged Serpent (like a dragon), an eagle with a serpent, an eagle, a falcon (which also represented the Egyptian god Horus), a phoenix, a swan, a ram, a cock, a bull and a lion are all various representations of the Sun. Some cultures even used such symbols as a rose or a rosette, a lotus, a sunflower, a chrysanthemum (a perennial garden plant) and the heart symbol to depict the Sun.

So many of us have tattoos today that it is almost impossible to find that fresh, unique idea that no one has ever thought of before, and what’s more if you do end up finding just the tattoo, you need to love it enough to have it on you permanently. The big question is where do you find this perfect tattoo? And there is no one answer to this question.

It is way better to get a tattoo of something you are passionate about than get a tattoo design that is popular. Trends change all the time and so do our ideas of what’s “cool”. It’s quite rare that a person’s love for something will change – quite often people grow fonder of their one true passion with time (like music or cats).

Simply looking up designs may cause a great deal of confusion. If you first decide in your mind what you want then you will find that there are plenty of resources to help you adapt your idea into a tattoo. You don’t have to be a great artist – If you have the idea any tattoo artist worth his / her salt will be able to flesh it out for you.

A good practice is to keep writing them down as you get these ideas. Make sure you have quite a few to choose from, before you refer back to them and pick your winner. Sometimes you find great tattoo ideas in the most unlikely places – keep an eye out for great ideas and make a note of them (I like to take pictures of all that I like, with the camera in my phone)

Tattoo Conventions are a great source for brilliant tattoo ideas. Artists display their work at these conventions. I’ve found that looking at tattoos on a live person often gives you a better idea of what it would be like than looking at them in a magazine or online. And where else can you find a large gathering of tattooed people than in tattoo conventions?!

Of course the other options are magazines, tattoo books and online galleries. Several of these online galleries (like ours) are free and so are all reference books in the library. All you need is patience and perseverance and I promise you – you’ll find that unique design!