A portrait is a great dedication to another that is often very meaningful to the recipient. When a portrait tattoo is rendered poorly, the tribute to that person is marred in a way that does not do justice to that person’s memory. Covering the ineffective portrait tattoo with a design that better suits the memory of the portrait’s subject can be an emotional and uplifting experience. A skilled and responsible tattoo artist is the most important facet of the transformation and must be carefully selected.

Other cover up designs are completely different than the old image and allow the individual to conceal the ink that no longer describes them or serves a purpose to them. For these people, the old tattoo is a facet of their past and they do not want to be associated with it any longer. A new tattoo will cover the image that does not complement their personality while providing a new representation of themselves. A cover up tattoo helps the individual move past the previous design and whatever it may have signified to them.

Because lighter colors can be placed over dark, with the right tattoo artist there are virtually no limits to covering up old tattoos. In the best circumstances, even the darkest tattoo can be transformed into a dimensional and attractive design with the right highlighting and contouring. White or colored ink can be used to cover up black and grey in order to lighten an old tattoo and give it more shape. Depending on the type of ink and how well the artist is able to apply it, any color should cover any older color that has been previously introduced into the skin.

Obviously, cover up tattoos are reliant on the size and shape of the tattoo that they intend to cover. The new tattoo must be designed around the shape of the old tattoo or designed larger than the original piece. Some designs may use the old image as background imagery to surround the new design or cover it up completely. Artists will often use the shape and flow of the original tattoo as a foundation for the new tattoo so that the new design fully incorporates the old ink. A well done cover up design will not appear like a “cover up” or allow any of the previous design to show through. The method of coverage should be a discussion between the client and the tattoo artist so that the client will receive the design that they failed to receive in the first place.