Lettering

Lettering tattoos give as much attention to the shape of the words as to what they say. Fine handwriting can feel intimate, calligraphy brings movement, and bold blackletter can become the main feature of a design. Text can stand alone or form part of a larger tattoo.

Readability comes first. Letter size, spacing and line weight need to work with the length of the text and its placement. A longer phrase may benefit from line breaks or simpler letterforms.

Bring the exact wording, including punctuation and accents. If you want to use someone's handwriting, a clear photograph or scan is helpful. Check every word and date carefully before tattooing, and have any wording in an unfamiliar language checked in advance.