Flash tattoo: what is the difference between custom and flash tattoo?

Let's paint a picture; you're having a super nice day, it's sunny and warm outside and you're going to take a walk around the city. Suddenly, you spot a tattoo parlor across the street with a giant "Welcome Visit" sign. And now you're intrigued; you have wanted a tattoo for so long, but even if you decide to get a quick tattoo, what would you choose for a tattoo design anyway. Not that you were planning on doing it.

Well, if it sounds like something could happen to you (or if it did), we've got your back. You don't have to worry about coming up with a super cool tattoo design right on the spot; instead, you can always rely on something called a flash tattoo.

But what is a flash tattoo? In the following paragraphs, we will talk about flash tattoos, what they are, what designs they are made of and how you can get your flash tattoo done in, well, in no time. So, without further ado, let's jump straight into this very interesting topic!

Flash tattoo: what is the difference between custom and flash tattoo?

1. What is a flash tattoo?

If you are now suddenly thinking of a random tattoo design, chances are that an ordinary tattoo design like a rose, a gun, a heart, flowers, or anything in this world will pop up in your mind as an example of a tattoo. That's what flash tattoos are; the most common tattoo designs that almost every person considers as such.

Now flash tattoos are usually drawn on paper or cardboard. This way, they are then displayed on walls, shop windows, and folders so that clients looking for a tattoo can get some quick inspiration (if they don't really know what tattoo to get). Flash tattoos are always done in full; fully drawn and painted so that clients have a complete idea of ​​what the tattoo will look like before they get it on themselves.

This is very convenient for both clients and the tattoo artist!

So let's talk about the actual design of these flash tattoos. First, they come in different sizes. Typically, typical displayed tattoos are approximately 11×14 inches when printed. Tattoo designs are often printed and the tattoo artist sometimes chooses to draw separate lines on different sheets so they don't have to draw the same tattoo design over and over again every time.

Flash tattoo designs are often based on the most common tattoo images, such as vintage tattoos, various kinds of patterns, designs with skulls, roses, weapons, flowers, you get the point. But we must note that even among the common tattoo designs, flash designs are organized and categorized as follows;

• Flash market design is the common tattoo design we mentioned earlier; a heart-shaped rose, a gun, a skull, or anything from popular culture. These are the tattoos you see when you walk into a tattoo parlor on the walls. These designs are perfect for a trial session because they are very simple and can be done in one sitting. The designs are common, versatile and certainly far from unique. But even as such, they can be super cool and a great choice for people who just want to pop their cherry tattoo.

• Collectible flash designs - now collect flash designs - these are just unique flash tattoos. These are ready-made designs designed specifically by tattoo artists in their preferred style. These tattoos are far from the general design and they can be very interesting. Tattoo artists usually have special bindings for their collectible flash tattoos, which they only do once per client (most of the time). Usually they do not repeat tattoos made using collectible flash designs.

2. So, is a flash tattoo cool?

That's the problem; in their own way, flash tattoos really carry this idea of ​​tattoos in the minds of the general public. And they do have some level of artistry and creativity, despite having some of the most common tattoos. Also, for a reason, some people consider these super tattoo designs to be traditional and ubiquitous in the tattoo industry.

Millions of tattoo artists have been tattooed with a heart, rose, gun, or skull at some point in their careers. Millions of the same tattoo artists practiced their tattoo skills using the same designs. So, who are we to say that a flash tattoo is cool or not?

Flash tattoos are just a matter of personal preference; you either like them or you don't. To be fair, most people prefer to work on commission, and most tattoo artists prefer custom designs if they don't have something to express their style and creativity. But we think that flash tattoos can also have a sense of uniqueness in the sense that different people wear them differently or have a unique history and unique interpretations that differ from one person to another.

Flash tattoos, if you think about it, are timeless tattoos that will never go out of style as at some point they became a revolution in tattoos and the standard for tattoo design and popular tattoo styles.

So, are flash tattoos in vogue now? We're not sure yet, but let's reformulate the question to get a better answer; You should have watched the old movie, it's super cool and cult, millions of people watched it, and they still watch it. You probably would, like many of us, watch this. Just think about the fact that Titanic is still relevant even after 20+ years.

So, would you get a tattoo that is often considered traditional and cool despite having it in millions of people around the world? Let's be honest, we all probably would.

So let's ask again; Are flash tattoos cool? We are definitely leaning towards the answer "yes", but we will leave our readers to decide for themselves. In the meantime, we might as well take a look at some super cool flash tattoos in the following paragraphs.

Popular flash tattoos

Vintage or traditional flash tattoos

Vintage or traditional flash tattoos tend to have a rather masculine vibe. And of course they do; in the past, they were mostly made and worn by men, as it was considered unattractive for women to have tattoos, to say the least. Even the more feminine flash designs of flowers, roses or vines have been done in a way to depict or emphasize the masculinity and coolness of a simple tattoo.

Nowadays, traditional or vintage flash tattoos are worn by both men and women. They are also more attuned to the modern take on flash tattoos and can be easily manipulated to look more feminine or even abstract. However, old school, truly vintage flash tattoos are still the most popular choice even today. So here are some of the best vintage/traditional flash tattoos (in our humble opinion);

Modern flash tattoos

Modern or neo-traditional flash tattoos are simply a modern take on traditional or vintage flash tattoos. They are still based on old school designs and colors but are more emphasized, with bold lines saturated with modern colors and in some cases a slight three-dimensional dimension. It is important to note that modern flash tattoos allow for some infractions of the rules and definitely vary from one tattoo artist to another.

However, one thing is certain; they are definitely more attractive and seem more unique than traditional flash tattoos. Thus, these days people are more likely to get modern flash tattoos than vintage ones. So, if you're looking to get a flash tattoo but don't really like the regular and simple vintage flash designs, be sure to check out some of the following designs for inspiration;

What is the difference between custom and flash tattoos?

Of course, when talking about flash tattoos, we must mention the main factors that distinguish these quick, ready-made tattoos from standard custom designs. Of course, the main difference will be the fact that an individual design is made especially for you. These designs allow you and your tattoo artist to fully express their artistic expression by creating unique and special designs. Of course, as such, individual projects are definitely more expensive and often require longer sessions.

Flash tattoos, on the other hand, are done quickly, usually in one sitting, and lack any artistic expression or uniqueness that many would agree. These are ready-made tattoos with the general symbolism of the tattoo. Thus, flash tattoos are definitely more affordable and faster.

However, we must mention one important benefit of flash tattoos; Being so common, flash tattoos are probably the most practiced tattoos. The tattoo artist knows design inside and out and has really mastered it after doing it dozens of times. This way you know you will get the best flash tattoo possible compared to a custom tattoo done once and only for the first time.

Final thoughts

Tattoos have come a long way. There is no longer any reason to get "in the blink of an eye" tattoos, which obviously eliminates the need and interest in flash tattoos. Tattoos are a part of personal artistic expression these days, and there's no hiding it. So, the fact that maybe people don't prefer simple, quick tattoo designs isn't all that bad; because everything in this life moves forward and improves, even tattoos.

But do we find flash tattoos still very interesting and artistic? Definitely yes! There is a reason why some tattoo designs are used repeatedly, over and over again. So, if you are struggling to find the best tattoo design or have someone design one for you, you can always start your tattoo journey with a flash tattoo. Fortunately, we have provided you with everything you need for this trip! So good luck and happy tattooing!