Black & Grey Realism

Realism is the pursuit of capturing a photograph on skin. It is not about interpretation; it is about replication. Whether it's a memorial piece of a loved one, a beloved pet, or an iconic movie character, the goal is to make people ask: 'Is that a photo?'

The Importance of Contrast

The secret to realism isn't the black ink—it's the grey wash and the negative space (skin). Squid uses a full spectrum of 5-7 different grey washes to build dimension and depth. Without deep blacks to anchor the image, a portrait will look 'washed out' in 5 years. We build them to last.

Selecting Your Reference Photo

Your tattoo can only be as good as the photo you provide. We need:

• High Resolution (zoom in—if it's pixelated, it won't work)
• High Contrast (clear separation between light and shadow)
• No heavy filters (filters destroy skin texture details)

If you aren't sure, bring 3-4 options to your consultation and we will advise which one will translate best to skin.