Size of tattoo -- Help!

Hi, I have a question about how big to make tattoos. I want this tattoo to have a 7 cm diameter, but it that too small? [IMG]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/ps2yay/moonsunsnake0003.jpg[/IMG] The image would be 7 cm if you printed it out I think, but it is showing around 5.5 cm on my monitor. So if it isn't 7 cm if you measure it, just imagine it a bit bigger... thank you! Do you think that if I had that tattoo, in time the lines would blur and distort? What would you think would happen if I made it smaller? If I had to make it bigger, but much bigger should it be? Any information you can give me would be wonderful!

now, before i say anything.. lemme state for the record that i'm not a tattoo artist or a pro or anything like that. that said. i don't see why if you had a competent (sp?) artist that you would experience any difficulty with this piece. maybe if you wanted this the size of a penny i could see a potential issue.. however, i would imagine that how you care for it during the healing process and even after it's healed (hello spf 50 is your FRIEND) would effect the art over time. hmm. maybe the pro's will weigh in...

Ok, after running to find a ruler and a Texas Instrument calculater.... The simplest imput that I can give you is if you go to small, yes, EVERYTHING will blur together and instead of having a sun and moon circled by a devouring serpant you will have a funny, discolored scrambled egg with a hook worm in it.... trust me, those hurt! Once again, Bee with the point, if you find a competant (don't feel bad, that word is tricky for me too) artist you will cover everything you asked, friend. The advice that I CAN NOT stress to you enough is take!!!!.... Hope this helped in some small way. By all means if you have more questions just chime in!!! Good Luck.....J

.....My God this shit will just not let go....let me try that again.... Ahem!....I CAN NOT stress enough that you take YOUR TIME!!!..... Sorry, silly puter is wiggen out on me......

Lemme just take this opportunity to say something that I have really truly come to believe in which is that I think most people ought to go bigger, and think out their artwork more thouroughly than they tend to do. I know a lot of people with cute little tattoos right in the middle of a prime piece of real estate wishing that they had thought it out, and gone a little bigger and more complex.

....Damn Al, I can't say no to that..... You Beast!

Could get the image so I can say much about the design but I didn't see any mention of where on your body were you planning on getting it and your size. An important aspect of a GOOD tattoo is not just the quality of the work (important to be sure) but also, it should fit/flow with that part of THAT body. Any competent Tattoo Artist should be able to help you with that part, that's part of our job...Doc

Sorry, should have been-could NOT get the image so I CAN'T say (damn keyboard can't spell)...Doc

Well, I want to get it on my right shoulderblade. I am a very petite young lady, 5'1", around 100 pounds. Since I am so small, I don't want to go to big or else the tattoo may look a little excessive on such a little body. What do you think?

Let me rephrase this for you so that I think it will make sense from my own personal experience. When I was first looking at tat ideas, I thought I wanted to get something on my arm... See, that's part of the flawed thinking... You don't start by worrying about where it will go on your body, or wether the design will be too big or not. Whatcha do is you spend a LOT of time thinking about what you want your design to say about you, or what you want to say with your art. Then, you'll have an idea in your head... Something like "ROSES" or something, but come to it from the angle of what do the roses MEAN??? Don't worry about the other stuff yet. Figure out what you are trying to SAY... Then, next, after you've thought for a long time about what you want to SAY or the STATEMENT YOU ARE MAKING about yourself or whatever, pay the deposit, (it'll be the best money you ever spent) and go talk to a custom artist. The artist will have different ways of looking at things that maybe you haven't thought about. He'll know about size, placement, where it looks good on your body, and stuff like that which can all be factored in... He'll also know how big your design needs to be to get the detail you are after, etc. So, you see? If you talk to a custom guy, it's POSSIBLE, that the design you settle on won't even be what you had in mind at all when you started looking at things, but it may be way better than you ever dreamed!! Keep an open mind. Then, tell yourself this. The reality is that you will either be A. a tattooed person, or B. Not a tattooed person for the rest of your life, with all of the stigmas and benefits that go with it, regardless of how big your tattoo is or not. So think of it like this.... You should go as big as you need to go to get the beauty, color and detail out of the design you have chosen. Period. In the long run, you are going to be tattooed either way, so the question is, will you love your tattoo forever? Or will your decision be colored by those random restrictions you've placed on yourself like size, cost, whatever. DOC is completely right when he says that size doesn't have anything to do with it, it has a hell of a lot more to do with FLOW of the artwork, and wether it matches the area of the body it's been chosen for or not... For example, you may have chosen a design that you love and it will look Globby and awkward where you've chosen to put it on your arm, but for reasons of flow and shape, it may look anything BUT awkward on the back of your shoulder!! It's possible, right? But the only way you'll figure any of this out is to pay the money, commit to the process and go for it, but you can't do that until you are ready. You can go into tattoo shops and hang around, look at portfolios all day long, and you'll never be any closer to your design untill you make the commitment that it's YOUR time to be serious. On a final note. I have seen some japanese women who can't be 100 pounds ringing wet covered in tattoos from head to toe, and these ladies could not look more sexy or feminine. Their tattoos are BIG but it does not take away from their sensuality at all, because it's a level of confidence and comittment. It's part of who they are... when your design is a part of who you ARE you will very probably wish you had actually gone BIGGER! Does thismake sense?? Al

Well stated, Al, I think/hope ya gave the young lady a lot of good,pertinent info and you, Brit, take your time and be very selective in who you go to if you do decide that is what ya truly want to wear the REST of your life. Think about the info you've been given. I've been a tattoo artist for over 40 years and personally, I think a pretty, feminine looking tattoo, properly done and properly sized/placed ENHANCES the body, can be sexy-not slutty- and can add beauty to the wearer. Unfortunately, not all see tattoos for the ART and/or beauty they are/can be and think women who have 'em are 'trashy' and fortunetly more and more people are finally understanding/accepting the FACT that tattoos CAN be art and not everyone who has 'em are 'trash' but that's also a fact you should consider, are ya ready to deal with the jerks-and how concerned are you of 'other peoples opinion?' By the way, I finally got that image to work, saw the design...I believe it should be done a bit larger than the size you stated or it may not look very good when first done, let alone 10 years from now. Again, I think it's great that you're doing your research, asking questions, I know I WISH everyone were as careful. Again, if ya do decide to do it, go to a good tattoo artist, see work they personally have done- if ya like what ya see, talk to 'em, show 'em your idea and they should be able to do the rest. How 'bout letting us know what ya decide? Take Care...Doc

I mostly agree with daddy rose butI have to disagree on one point: the whole thing about finding a "meaning" first. I don't think that's always necessary and it's starting to lead to some silliness. I like to read the stories on BMEzine about people and their tattoos and I always laugh when I hear stories like "my great uncle died so I'm going to get this nautical star tattoo" or I just went through some stuff so I want to get a cute little Koi on my lower back..." you know what I mean? I think it's perfectly okay to want a good looking tattoo simply because you want some killer art on your body. I was just looking at those amazing bio-organic headpieces on the front page and I can't imagine them having any meaning other than "i just got a fucking cool tattoo by an amazing artist and I'm going to show it off for life!" Of course, a lot of people are going to get tattoos just because they're trendy, and we can't do anything about that. But there is no point in telling people how they should think about tattoos.

wo, I agree that not all people need to have art on their body that means something, they might just love the art. But I think it makes a lot of sense for people to advise thinking about the meaning so that 20 years down the line when your artistic taste changes you're not stuck with something that you don't care for. If the tattoo means something than it is always art. I know that my body means a lot to me, and I wouldn't want to add anything to it that didn't have meaning...but that's just me. Dana

wo, I realize not every one gets their work for the same reason or to always have a 'special' meaning behind their choice, but it IS an option, just one of many meant to have Brit make an INFORMED decision. As to you saying 'Of course, a lot of people are going to get tattoos just because they're trendy, and we can't do anything about that. But there is no point in telling people how they should think about tattoos.' We CAN at least try to make people 'THINK FIRST' some of us see what an impulsive rush to get a tattoo can end up like and think TRYING to educate people so they can make a wiser/more informed decision-that's what we're trying to do. Dana, you seem to have a good perspective, good post, thanks for joining in...Doc

Wo, I think you have a point to a certain extent. True. Doesn't have to have any kind of meaning... it could just look fucking cool. But like Dana said, is fucking Cool enough when your 67? I dunno. I see your point, but I'll stick with my perspective.

yes, I'm definately pro "think first". of course. And I know that a lot of people really do get tattoos to comemmorate (sp?!!!) something touching in their lives or whatever. That's a great way to get a tattoo that you won't regret two years later. I just don't think that people should feel guilty for getting a tattoo for asthetic reasons. I think it's okay to say "I think I will look great with a large black and grey piece on my upper arm, now what should I get?" That's what tattoo lovers and collectors do, right? Y'all know what I mean? how many times have you heard somebody on this forum say "I want a tribal piece on my lower back with a butterfly to symbolize inner peace and stregnth and because my grandmother died 2 years ago and I think it would be great to remember her this way..." It's sillly!!! It's not a big deal at all, though. I just felt like ranting. I do respect your opinions. I think we mostly agree. Thanks for responding!