TATTOO STYLES / THEORY QUESTIONS WITH
100% ACCURATE ANSWERS
Traditional - Accurate answers Solid black lines, limited color palette, less detail & strong precision
Realism - Accurate answers "Photograph on skin"
Watercolor - Accurate answers Uses splashes and streaks of color like watercolor paint. Can be all
encompassing with no line work or other styles but can also be combines with realism or solid outlines
Tribal - Accurate answers Nearly always black in color, often using symmetry & geometrical design.
Sometimes un-detailed with block black lines or utilises delicate detail and precision
New School - Accurate answers Cartoon-like designs influenced by graffiti & hip-hop artistic
techniques and styles. Bubble-like designs, bright colors, exaggerated dimensions & features
Neo Traditional - Accurate answers Uses bold outlines and careful precise shading. Very detailed,
experimental with color & blending, more dimensional & often brighter - yet, often inspired by the 2D
layout, limited symbolism, & specific technique of traditional tattooing
Japanese - Accurate answers Detailed designs that often cover large areas of the body such as the
back or arm. Follows strict rules regarding positioning, imagery used, direction, color, and more that all
adhere to ancient traditions
Dotwork - Accurate answers Intricate designs that use lots of tiny dots in areas where one would
normally shade or use block color
Geometric - Accurate answers Intricate designs made of shapes that might use symmetry &
repetition. May be added to neo traditional or other style. Often black but may use color, create a 3D
effect, or incorporate dot work
Script - Accurate answers Generally gothic, swirly, intricate fonts but there's no limit to what font a
script tattoo may utilize. Good artists will create a custom script tattoo instead of a downloaded font.
Black & Grey - Accurate answers Similar to realism but no color. Traditionally only uses black ink
and water to make softer shades but newer artists use grey washes, pre-watered down ink, as well as
grey and white ink.
Illustrative - Accurate answers Combines techniques from both traditional styles of tattooing and
realism. Typically features bold outlines with intense color saturation paired with realistic shading
techniques
Biomechanical - Accurate answers Designed based off of the client's body flow & typically
freehanded. Usually flow through patterns that are of mechanical, cyborg, or alien aesthetics.
100% ACCURATE ANSWERS
Traditional - Accurate answers Solid black lines, limited color palette, less detail & strong precision
Realism - Accurate answers "Photograph on skin"
Watercolor - Accurate answers Uses splashes and streaks of color like watercolor paint. Can be all
encompassing with no line work or other styles but can also be combines with realism or solid outlines
Tribal - Accurate answers Nearly always black in color, often using symmetry & geometrical design.
Sometimes un-detailed with block black lines or utilises delicate detail and precision
New School - Accurate answers Cartoon-like designs influenced by graffiti & hip-hop artistic
techniques and styles. Bubble-like designs, bright colors, exaggerated dimensions & features
Neo Traditional - Accurate answers Uses bold outlines and careful precise shading. Very detailed,
experimental with color & blending, more dimensional & often brighter - yet, often inspired by the 2D
layout, limited symbolism, & specific technique of traditional tattooing
Japanese - Accurate answers Detailed designs that often cover large areas of the body such as the
back or arm. Follows strict rules regarding positioning, imagery used, direction, color, and more that all
adhere to ancient traditions
Dotwork - Accurate answers Intricate designs that use lots of tiny dots in areas where one would
normally shade or use block color
Geometric - Accurate answers Intricate designs made of shapes that might use symmetry &
repetition. May be added to neo traditional or other style. Often black but may use color, create a 3D
effect, or incorporate dot work
Script - Accurate answers Generally gothic, swirly, intricate fonts but there's no limit to what font a
script tattoo may utilize. Good artists will create a custom script tattoo instead of a downloaded font.
Black & Grey - Accurate answers Similar to realism but no color. Traditionally only uses black ink
and water to make softer shades but newer artists use grey washes, pre-watered down ink, as well as
grey and white ink.
Illustrative - Accurate answers Combines techniques from both traditional styles of tattooing and
realism. Typically features bold outlines with intense color saturation paired with realistic shading
techniques
Biomechanical - Accurate answers Designed based off of the client's body flow & typically
freehanded. Usually flow through patterns that are of mechanical, cyborg, or alien aesthetics.
