Which lettering styles are there?
With a lettering tattoo, the font matters at least as much as the words themselves. You can choose from delicate handwriting, playful script, classic serif fonts, bold block letters or Old English lettering. Every font carries its own mood: script feels personal, block letters clear and confident. During your consultation in Berlin, you and the artist decide whether to hand-draw your lettering tattoo or adapt an existing font.
Size and spacing
The most common mistake with text tattoos is lettering that's too small. Over the years lines soften slightly, and tightly spaced letters then run into each other – especially loops like those in e, a or o. That's why we plan letter height and spacing so the text stays readable in the long run. Better a few millimetres bigger than illegible later. We go through this leeway carefully for every lettering tattoo at our studio in Berlin Mitte.
Choosing the placement
Text looks best when it follows the body: along the forearm, above the collarbone, on the ribs or across the back. On fingers, hands and feet, fine script fades faster. During your consultation at our Berlin studio, we position your lettering tattoo so it looks good in motion too.
Combining lettering with a design
Lettering often looks even stronger when it's paired with a small design, such as a flower, an old school banner or a fine line. However, the text needs to stay readable and shouldn't disappear between details. That's why we plan text and design as one unit rather than simply placing them side by side.
Other languages and scripts
If you want a word in a language you don't speak, always have a native speaker check it first – translation tools often get it wrong. With scripts such as Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese or Japanese, the reading direction, character shapes and connections also have to be right. In an international city like Berlin you'll usually find someone to help quickly, so make use of that before your lettering tattoo becomes permanent.
Handwriting as a keepsake
Text becomes especially personal when it's in the handwriting of someone you love – for example from an old letter or a postcard. Bring a clearly legible original or a scan. The artist carefully traces the lines so they work well as a tattoo, while keeping the character of the handwriting.
Found the perfect words for your lettering tattoo in Berlin? Send us the text, size and placement via our request form.