Glossary15 January 2026 · 1 min read

Blackout

Blackout is a tattoo that covers a large area with solid, even black. It can be used as a style in its own right or as a base to cover previous designs. It is an extreme case of blackwork.

Why it matters: It requires dense black inks and wide fills. Information on coverage and compatibility is that declared by manufacturers.

Related: Blackwork, Packing, Opacity, Magnum.

Guide4 min readReading a style: six elements for looking at a tattooStyle labels help find one's way around, but they say little on their own: two tattoos called the same thing can be very different, and a work can sit between two styles. This guide proposes a method for looking at a tattoo by observing six concrete elements: line, colour, contrast, composition, depth and subject. With these elements the families of styles can be recognised, what is seen can be described, and one can understand from which traditions and influences they come. The styles mentioned have a glossary entry; here the interest is in how to look at them.

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Blackout

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