Tattoo Dictionary

As pertains to our shop

A sleeve tattoo covers the arm or leg fully, generally extending from the hip to the ankle or the shoulder to the wrist, sometimes including the hand or foot. A half sleeve covers either the upper or lower arm or leg, while a quarter sleeve covers just a quarter of the limb. (You probably guessed that one!)
While some sleeves are designed as a cohesive piece, many choose to get smaller, individual tattoos over time. These can be done in a unified style, or mixed and matched according to personal preference.

Cover-ups are tattoos designed to conceal or alter existing tattoos with a new design. Sometimes the term is also used for tattoos that cover scars.
Like cover-ups, blast-overs go over existing tattoos. What sets them apart is that they maintain visibility of the original, layering on top and around it.
Where a cover-up aims to get rid of the original design, a re-vamp works with a preexisting tattoo. This process can range from refurbishing the original tattoo to as close to its original as possible, to adding new elements and design components to create a new design that purposefully incorporates the old one.

A pre-made design created by your artist, which cannot be altered in size, colour, or details. Once claimed, this design is tattooed only once and will not be reproduced.
A pre-made tattoo design that can be applied to multiple clients without restrictions. Like non-repeatable flash, no alterations can be made to the design.

A custom design is tailored specifically for you, incorporating the subject and themes you describe to the artist. Revisions can be made to ensure the design meets your expectations. At Mystic Moon Tattoos, customs are drawn in advance and shared with you before your appointment. In the tattoo world, it is common for custom designs to be shown to the client at the appointment.
A freehand tattoo is created by drawing directly onto your skin at the appointment, prior to tattooing. Freehand stencilling allows for precise designs tailored to your body.
A script design consists of letters or words, with your chosen phrase and font. At Mystic Moon Tattoos, we recommend selecting fonts from DaFont. Our artists can also replicate a loved one’s handwriting, such as a note or signature, but custom fonts are not offered at this time.

Fine line tattoos utilize very small needles - sometimes just a single needle - to create delicate, intricate works. These tattoos may heal lighter than others, but with a skilled artist, they can still maintain their clarity over time.
Blackwork tattoos are exclusively in black ink, sometimes enhanced with a grey derived from black ink or white highlights.
Line hatching employs lines for shading instead of traditional techniques, which may include parallel and intersecting lines.
Pointillism uses dots for shading in the design. These dots may include variations in thickness and opacity.

Colour packing involves filling a space with solid colour. This can be a single colour or a mixture of colours.
A variety of colours are incorporated throughout the tattoo.
Only certain parts of the tattoo are coloured, usually half or less. Example, Red Riding hood, with a red umbrella, and red hood.
Often a single colour, but can be more. Colour is placed in very select places. Like a black work tattoo of a tiger, but the eyes are yellow.

The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin, serving as a barrier against foreign particles. It consists of five layers, which collectively range in size from less than 1mm to 1.5mm. During tattooing, these layers are penetrated by the tattoo needle and ink is deposited in the dermis.
The dermis is the inner layer of skin, containing sweat glands, blood vessels, hair follicles, and nerves. The tattoo needle deposits ink in this layer to create pigmentation.
A blowout occurs when ink spreads beyond the dermis into the lower fat layers, resulting in blurred or smudged designs or a bruised appearance shortly after the appointment. Blowouts are caused by the tattoo needle being inserted too deeply and are not related to client aftercare.