What are realism tattoos? Realism (or photorealism style) tattoos are designs meant to look as convincing as a photographed image. Mastering this technique on paper is difficult in itself, but taking those same principles and applying them to skin is something artists spend years of dedicated practice to master! This is why it’s always a good idea to choose your tattoo artist wisely when you are considering getting a tattoo in this particular style.

Micro Realism in tattoo is a direct descendant of realism, but with an emphasis on miniaturization of the image. This is one of the most difficult styles of modern tattooing, requiring incredible precision and professionalism from the artist. Work in Micro Realism is most often performed with the smallest configurations of needles. It is also important to remember that a tattoo in Micro Realism requires careful maintenance, both during the healing period and after it.

If you’re looking for an elegant and discreet ink, fine line tattoos are usually small, generally monochrome and are often used to achieve a delicate look. This tattooing style is done by using round liner needles, such as the three round liner (3RL), which has three needle tips. That’s why you might experience less pain than you would getting a traditional tattoo that involves thicker, bolder lines. More precise needling also gives people more options in design.  Fine line tattoos may cause less stress on your body and therefore take less time to heal.