Tattoo flashes are pre-made tattoo designs that are meant to be used in a hurry. Most tattoo shop visitors have seen tattoo flash, which is commonly displayed on the walls and in portfolios to give customers an idea of the type of work they can expect. Flash can be in a variety of styles and designs, and it can come from a variety of places.
Originally, the pieces were created by the artist, who would show flash to customers so they could choose a tattoo. On request, artists would also modify flash or create custom pieces. Artists began trading flash with one another and selling tattoo flash over time, disseminating styles and designs to a larger audience. Companies eventually began to hire designers who would create a large number of pieces for commercial sale on individual sheets or in books of collected flash.
Some people criticize tattoo flash, claiming that while it’s fine to use it for inspiration, tattoos should be custom designed to create a one-of-a-kind piece. Copying from flash can have complicated copyright implications; for example, a client who prints a piece from the Internet and wants it tattooed may be breaking copyright laws unless he or she has been given explicit permission to do so.
Others believe that flash is a good starting point, and that many people prefer to get vintage tattoos from the original tattoo flash to stay true to their roots. Flash examples by talented and well-known artists like Sailor Jerry, as well as flash by contemporary artists, are frequently on display at tattoo shops for patrons to admire and use, and flash can be very useful for basic designs like stars and flowers, especially when clients want to be tattooed quickly.
Typically, tattoo flash sold to tattoo artists includes a full-color flash sheet that can be displayed or shown to clients, as well as a stencil that only shows the linework. When a client chooses flash for his or her tattoo, the artist can transfer the linework to transfer paper, which is then used to create a stencil on the client’s body. Clients should always double-check a stencil after it has been applied to ensure that it has not been accidentally mirrored, especially if there is lettering.