Realism Tattoos

Realism tattoos are a true commitment to artwork on the body. This is because the artist is literally engraving the world as you see it onto your skin.

The realism style is an absolute classic, perfect for capturing something or someone very specific.

Through the use of fine lines, contrast, shading and 3D effects, as well as a range of different-sized needles and tones, your artist will bring your tattoo to life.

Are you a science fiction fan or fascinated by how technology and the human body can work together? Why not honour that fascination with an epic biomechanical tattoo?

Biomechanical tattoos are incredibly unique and stunning works of art that have gained popularity over the years. Essentially, they are tattoos that give the illusion of seeing mechanical parts beneath the surface of your skin.

History of Realism Tattoos

Realism tattoos are a true commitment to artwork on the body. This is because the artist is literally engraving the world as you see it onto your skin.

The realism style is an absolute classic, perfect for capturing something or someone very specific.

Through the use of fine lines, contrast, shading and 3D effects, as well as a range of different-sized needles and tones, your artist will bring your tattoo to life.

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The Different Art of Realism Tattoos

When it comes to realism tattoos, there are many different styles to choose from when creating the perfect piece.

Photo-Realism Tattoos
Photo-realism tattoos are a great way to capture an object or person in a very specific way. 

The artist must have an incredible eye for detail and a steady hand to create a fantastic result using this realistic tattoo style. 

Through shading, contrast and 3D effects, your tattoo artist will bring any object or person to life on your skin. 
Hyper-Realism Tattoos
Hyper-realism tattoos are types of tattoos that resemble high-resolution photographs. Using depth, shading and intricate details, your tattoo artist will create a piece of art that looks incredibly lifelike. 

What makes hyper-realism tattoos so mesmerising is the amount of detail and steady handwork that goes into each piece. So, while you may be sitting in the chair for a long time, rest assured your tattoo artist is creating a piece that will cause people to stop you wherever you go to take a look!
Morphed-Realism Tattoos
Morphed-realism tattoos are a captivating style of tattooing that blends various lifelike images into a cohesive and abstract design. 

While the tattoos are very realistic, they also take on a more abstract way of looking at the world. 

From portraits to objects or even scenery, all of these can be morphed into one design. Using shades of black or colour, the only limit to this incredible tattoo style is your imagination!
Portraiture
If you’re looking for a way to honour someone who means something to you, then the portraiture style of realism tattoos is the way to go.

As you can guess by the name, this style is about creating a photo-realistic tattoo of a person. 

This is one of the most incredible styles of realism tattoos because of the amount of detail that goes into each piece. From wrinkles to reflections in the eyes and even shadows on the skin, it’s easy to see who the image is on your skin with the portraiture style. 
Black and Grey Realism
If you want to ink an animal, flower, timepiece or portrait on your skin, black and grey realism tattoos are the way to go.

Using fully saturated black ink and gradations of grey tones, your skilled tattoo artist can bring your design to life. 
Colour Realism
Much like black and grey realism tattoos, colour realism tattoos are popular for designs such as animals, flowers, scenery and portraits.

However, unlike black and grey realism tattoos, colour realism tattoos bring the designs to life through varying shades of colour and depth with minimal use of black ink.

If you want an eye-catching tattoo on your skin, colour realism is the way to go.

Book an appointment with your nearest Celebrity Ink studio to see how we can bring your design to life!

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Techniques of Realism Tattoos

When creating a stunning realism tattoo, three main techniques are required to achieve a successful, lifelike result.

If you’d like a realism tattoo as your next piece, book an appointment with your nearest Celebrity Ink studio to see how we can bring your design to life!

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Contrast

Achieving the right balance of contrast, especially between light and shadow, is essential in realism tattooing to create depth and dimension. Correct use of contrast will ultimately give the piece a three-dimensional quality. 

Shading

In the world of realism tattoos, mastering the art of shading is a must. It’s what allows your tattoo artist to blend colours smoothly and make the transition from light to shadow more natural. To achieve this effect, tattoo artists use shading techniques such as cross-hatching, dotting, and blending. 

Highlights

Adding brighter ink to some regions of the tattoo can give it a more realistic feel. For example, adding lighter ink to the eye on a photo-realism tattoo can show how light from a specific direction reflects off the subject’s eye, like how it would in real life.
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