Tattoo Basics: Flash vs. Custom Tattoos
If you’ve ever stopped by a tattoo shop or visited an artist’s page on Instagram, chances are you’ve seen what are called “flash pieces” or premade tattoo designs based on the artist’s style. Flash designs are easy ways to get a tattoo if you have an open mind and are willing to wait for the perfect one to appear. Flash designs differ from customs in that they often have a set size, price, and occasionally require a specific location on the body to go on. While customs offer more flexibility and creativity on the customer’s end, they often require a greater time and financial commitment. This includes consultation, sketching, and the actual tattoo process, depending on the size and how long that takes.
Having a personalized tattoo is always an intricate process; it is intense for both parties if the tattoo has a deeper meaning behind it, and both the artist and the customer often feel pressure to make it perfect. Custom tattoos can tell unique stories about the individual wearing them, symbolize a deeper meaning that others might not recognize, and are a creative symbol of the person’s individuality. However, all this is not to say that flash tattoos can't be just as impactful. Flash tattoo sheets are often designed around a specific inspiration or theme, so if you look and wait for the right one to cross your path, you could get lucky and end up with something similar to exactly what you might have wanted as a tattoo, but couldn't decide on getting yet.
Flash tattoos are also great for people who know they want something simple, or a design that might be common, like roses or an anchor. They also offer a simple pathway to getting something that you might have had on your mind. If you have trouble visualizing designs yourself, getting flash is a helpful idea for people who don't think they're “creative enough” to come up with their tattoos, or who simply don't want to put the effort into coming up with an original design every time they want one. Flash tattoos also offer an option of speed for people who want to get multiple tattoos at once, or who want to fill up empty spaces on their bodies quickly, without having to have a consultation for each piece going on their skin.
Both styles of tattoos have their pros and cons, but flash is usually the easier and cheaper option, while customs tend to be more involved and therefore require more time and money. If you find yourself wanting a custom piece, it is best to also take extra time to find an artist you can trust and that makes you feel comfortable during the consultation process. There can be a level of vulnerability in getting custom tattoos and sharing your design ideas with another person, so it's best to make sure that person can be on the same page with you, and not make you feel uncomfortable or push you to go in a certain direction. At the same time, you have to be sure that you can adequately communicate the type of tattoo that you're looking for, usually by showing inspirational photos (ideally of other tattoos or similar art pieces), using photos of the artist’s past work, and making sure that the language you're using is clear and accurate to the style that you're asking for, researching different tattoo styles and techniques could be helpful for this.
Flash tattoos are easiest to get if you’re willing to sit and wait for the right one, and sometimes even more fun to get on an impulse if you're the type of person who wants to go pick one off a board that day. Most often flash sheets are posted on Instagram on the artist’s account, and artists tend to do even bigger deals on certain holidays or things called “flash days” where a shop has a designated day of only taking flash appointments often at special rates, and its best to have notifications on for your favorite artists, so that you never miss getting in their books when these special opportunities come up! If you’re deciding to get a tattoo, knowing the difference between flash and custom is step one of the process in getting something that fits you best, and that you know you’ll love. Regardless of what you may decide on, knowing the requirements for both types of tattoos is useful for your future tattoo journey.
