Glossary15 January 2026 · 1 min read

Linework

Linework is an approach in which the design is built mostly from lines, with few or no gradients and fills. It can be fine, thick, geometric or illustrative.

Why it matters: It is the basis of lining and appears in many descriptions of needles and machines. The term does not indicate a specific style.

Related: Lining, Fine Line, Illustrative, Blackwork.

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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Linework

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