Side by side
| Custom | Flash | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Drawn for your idea and body | Ready-made by the artist |
| Uniqueness | One of a kind | The same design may be tattooed on others |
| Planning | Consultation and design time | Usually quicker to arrange |
| Fit to the body | Designed around the placement | Adapted in size and position where possible |
| Price | Includes design work | Design already exists |
When each makes sense
Custom makes sense when the idea is personal — a meaning, a memory, a combination of elements — or when the design has to fit a specific placement. Flash makes sense when you see a design you love exactly as it is. On a short holiday, sending a custom idea early gives the studio time to design it. See how a custom tattoo is made.
General information, not medical advice. Your artist's instructions come first; for anything worrying, see a doctor.