How to unroll a tattoo

Review a design from more than one angle

A photograph gives you one view of a tattoo. Before using an image as a drawing reference, identify what is visible, what is hidden and what may be distorted by the camera angle. Use the video below alongside this observation exercise.

Compare the views

Work with a design you created or have permission to use. If you have several photographs, arrange them in a consistent order. Mark recognisable features on a separate sketch and note where they appear in each view. Keep uncertain areas marked as uncertain rather than filling them in as though they were documented.

Test a paper version

Draw a simplified version on paper and compare it with your references. Try placing the paper around a cylinder to observe how the drawing changes from different angles. This is a design study, not a substitute for checking the intended placement with your trainer.

What to ask for feedback on

Show the reference views alongside your sketch. Ask which proportions need another look and whether the relationships between the main shapes remain clear. Keep your first version so you can compare it with the revision.

Continue with a simple design, simplifying a design or a paper trace. For structured study, explore the tattoo curriculum and current South African online tattoo course.