Flash is a ready-made tattoo design drawn by the artist before meeting the client. Flash designs are collected on sheets or in albums. The client picks a motif, and the artist adapts it to the placement and size.
Where does flash come from?
Sheets of ready-made designs were the backbone of classic traditional tattoo shops. They hung on the walls, and clients chose swallows, anchors, hearts or roses from them. Today flash is also a way for artists to show their own style, for example on social media.
Flash or a custom design?
Flash is the quicker option: the design already exists and it is often clear straight away how long the work will take. A custom design is created from scratch around your idea. Ready-made designs also feature at events such as a walk-in day.
Not sure which to choose? We compare the approaches in Tattoo design: Pinterest inspiration. You can see examples of our work in the gallery.