Planning and design

• Should I go color or black & gray?
  That’s a very personal question, based upon your tastes. There are factors such as your skin tone and the type of design that can also play a factor. Black and gray can often be tattooed a bit faster, while color can have a lot of different aesthetic possibilities. Ultimately, it’s best to consult with your artist if you feel undecided.
• This is my first tattoo, and I am afraid to go too big. What would you suggest?
  Many people wish they went bigger with their first tattoo, while I’ve never heard a single person say they wished they went smaller. While a back piece isn’t for everyone, a larger piece will afford more subtlety in the detail, and appear to blur less over time. So I'd suggest making it as large as you are comfortable, and if you're like most, you'll be glad you did.
• Will my idea work as a tattoo?
  There are many types of tattoos that go beyond the general definition of what a tattoo ‘has’ to look like. If you have a questions about a certain design or image being tattooable, it’s best to find an artist that does similar work, and then discuss the possibilities and limitations with them.
• I want a tattoo, but I don’t know what I want. How can I get some ideas?
  Start by looking into yourself, and see what your interests are, what you'd like to see on your body, etc. Also, look at books, TV, the internet..wherever you have interest. If you are looking more for something that is simply aesthetic, it might be a good idea to talk to your artist. They’ll often have suggestions that they’d like to do for you.
• Can I provide my own design?
  Of course, but since EDEN is a custom-only studio, we will not reproduce existing tattoos from magazines, etc. If it’s your design, be ready for some suggestions on making it work better as a tattoo. Skin has many possibilities as a canvas, but there are limits to it as well.
• How can I be sure the finished tattoo will look like the sketch?
  Granted, the skin is a living, changing medium, so there may be slight variations in the final tattoo. But seeing examples of previous tattoo sketches and final designs will often help you to see how close an artist can get.
• What if I change my mind on the design?
  Some changes in the specific details are often part of a tattoo design process, but it’s expected that if you begin a process with a general idea, you have thought about it enough to go the distance without changing the complete direction. A thorough discussion with your artist at the beginning of the project, and regular communication throughout, should help you keep each other on the right track.
• What if I decide I don’t want a tattoo after we start the design?
  Tattoo designs take an artist’s time as well as the actual tattoo. So be sure you are confident in your artist, your idea, and your intention before committing. If you pull the plug on a project once you’ve had your artist begin the process, you can generally count on forfeiting your deposit to pay for the wasted time. Remember, tattoos are forever, so make sure you enter into the process only when you are certain you are ready to make it real.
• Where is the best place to get my tattoo?
  That’s a very personal question, and should be decided before starting a custom design, as it will heavily influence the layout and parameters of the project. If you already have a design, then it’s best to discuss it’s location possibilities with your artist.
• Can you add-on to my tattoo?
  If the style of the piece is something I feel comfortable in working with, then yes. If not, I’ll try to refer you to an artist whose work is a better fit.
• Do you re-work old tattoos?
  EDEN generally does not take on reworking of other people’s tattoos. If you can find the original artist, it’s recommended you go to them for the repair.
• Do you do cover-ups?
  Yes, but these are accepted on a case-by-case basis, and must be discussed before commitment to the project is made.
• Can you cover this up?
  Most tattoos can be covered up in one way or another, but it’s a good idea to think of what you’d like to see there instead, and let your artist guide you through the process to make it real, since they may have an unexpected approach to the solution. There are lots of options, but there are limits as well. So while every coverup doesn’t have to be a black panther, you might not want to get your hopes up at doing a portrait over that Taz.