Thinking of getting inked or planning your next tattoo? Or maybe you’re a tattoo artist in need of a creative boost? Well, guess what? Midjourney’s got your back! From a subtle, low-key design to a full-on body masterpiece, Midjourney’s got all the inspo you need. Just throw in a few prompts, and voilà! Your next big idea might be just around the corner.
I’ve tried it myself, and let me tell you, Midjourney can whip up some seriously rad tattoo ideas in all sorts of styles and shapes. Take a peek at the examples I’ve created below, and feel free to tweak the prompts to make your very own, tailor-made tattoo art.
But wait, before we dive into the prompts I used, let’s have a quick run-through of the different tattoo styles and their names. That way, you’ll know just the right lingo to use in your prompts to score the results you’re after.
Top ten tattoo styles to help you with your Midjourney tattoo prompts
Use the following terminology with the prompt examples that I provide to help Midjourney create the images that you want to see.
Traditional, neo traditional or American Traditional tattoo:
/imagine: full colour traditional style arm tattoo design of a boat and anchor –v 5
Also known as Old School, this style features bold lines, a limited colour palette, and iconic images like anchors, roses, and pin-up girls. The lingo: “Sailor Jerry” is a popular term, referring to the tattoo artist Norman Collins, who pioneered this style.
Keywords to integrate into your traditional tattoo prompts
Here is a list of keywords you can integrate into your prompts for this style of tattoo:
Traditional (American Traditional) Tattoos
- Bold lines: Emphasize the use of thick, strong outlines.
- Solid colours: Highlight the use of limited but vibrant color palettes.
- Iconic symbols: Mention classic motifs like anchors, eagles, hearts, roses, daggers, etc.
- Nautical themes: Suggest maritime elements often found in traditional tattoos.
- Patriotic elements: Include flags, eagles, or military symbols.
- Retro style: Indicate a vintage or classic look.
- Minimal shading: Note the use of minimal and straightforward shading.
- Classic American imagery: Include traditional American icons or scenes.
Neo-Traditional Tattoos
- Intricate lines: Indicate more complex and detailed outlines than traditional tattoos.
- Vivid colours: Suggest a broader and more vibrant color palette.
- Modern motifs: Mention contemporary takes on traditional symbols or new, imaginative designs.
- Art Nouveau influences: Incorporate elements inspired by this art style.
- Enhanced shading: Note the use of more nuanced and detailed shading.
- Realistic details: Include aspects that offer a more lifelike appearance.
- Bold and dynamic: Emphasize a strong yet sophisticated look.
- Cultural fusion: Suggest blending various cultural or historical elements.
American Traditional Tattoos
- Classic Americana: Focus on iconic American themes and imagery.
- Bold outlines: Reiterate the use of strong, clear lines.
- Primary colours: Highlight the use of fundamental colors like red, blue, and yellow.
- Simplistic design: Indicate a straightforward, less intricate design approach.
- Historical motifs: Include symbols with a long-standing history in American tattooing.
- Patriotic symbols: Suggest flags, eagles, or other national icons.
- Sailor-inspired themes: Incorporate elements associated with maritime or naval history.
- Time-honored style: Convey a sense of tradition and timelessness.
Japanese or Irezumi tattoo:
/imagine: colour Japanese style leg tattoo design of water lily and koi –v 5
Originating from Japan, this style is known for its rich colours and intricate detail. Common themes include dragons, koi fish, and samurai warriors. The lingo: “Tebori” means hand-poked tattooing in Japanese, a traditional technique still used today.
Keywords to integrate into your Japanese tattoo prompts:
Here is a list of keywords you could try integrating into your Japanese tattoo prompts:
- Irezumi: The traditional Japanese term for tattooing, which can set the context.
- Bold lines: Emphasize the strong outlines typical in Japanese tattoo art.
- Detailed shading: Highlight intricate and nuanced shading techniques.
- Vibrant colours: Indicate the use of a rich and varied color palette.
- Koi fish: A classic motif in Japanese tattoos, symbolizing luck, perseverance, and strength.
- Dragons: Another central element, representing strength, wisdom, and power.
- Cherry blossoms (Sakura): Symbolize beauty, the transient nature of life, and new beginnings.
- Samurai: Include references to these historical warriors, denoting honor and bravery.
- Geisha: Represent beauty, mystery, and traditional Japanese femininity.
- Tigers: Symbolize strength, courage, and protection against bad luck or disease.
- Phoenix (Hou-ou): A mythological creature symbolizing rebirth and fire.
- Water elements: Waves and water patterns, often used as background elements.
- Mythical creatures: Include Oni (demons), Tengu, or other folklore beings.
- Lotus flowers: Symbolize purity, enlightenment, and rebirth.
- Clouds and wind bars: Common background elements that add movement and depth.
- Maple leaves (Momiji): Represent the passing of time and the beauty of nature.
- Carp scales: A detailed pattern often used in backgrounds or to texture creatures.
- Buddhist and Shinto elements: Include symbols or themes from these religious traditions.
- Seasonal themes: Reference to the changing seasons, each with its own symbols and meanings.
Full body suit: Mention this if you want an image that reflects the traditional large-scale nature of Japanese tattoos.
Tribal tattoo:
/imagine: tribal face and neck tattoo design –v 5
Inspired by indigenous cultures, Tribal tattoos feature bold black lines, geometric patterns, and symbolism. The lingo: “Polynesian” and “Maori” are two popular types of tribal tattoos, each with its own cultural significance.
Keywords to integrate into your tribal tattoo MIdjourney prompts
Creating Midjourney for tribal tattoos involves using keywords that capture the distinct elements and styles typical of this genre. Here’s a list of keywords that can be effective in generating images of tribal tattoos:
- Bold black lines: Emphasise the use of thick, dark outlines, a hallmark of tribal designs.
- Geometric patterns: Highlight the use of shapes like triangles, squares, and other geometric forms.
- Symmetrical designs: Note the balance and symmetry often found in tribal tattoo art.
- Polynesian influences: Mention if you’re looking for a style specific to Polynesian, Maori, or Samoan tribal art.
- Abstract shapes: Indicate the use of non-representational forms.
- Animal motifs: Include references to animals, often stylized in a tribal manner (like tribal wolf, eagle, or turtle).
- Celtic knots: If you’re interested in Celtic tribal designs, include this for intricate interlacing patterns.
- Spirals and curves: Mention the use of these elements that are common in tribal art.
- Native American elements: For a Native American tribal style, include specific cultural symbols or patterns.
- Totemic symbols: Reference totems or emblematic figures of clans or tribes.
- Warrior markings: Indicate if you want designs that symbolize warrior status or bravery.
- Tribal bands: Mention if you’re interested in band-style tattoos, which encircle a part of the body.
- Nature-inspired elements: Include aspects like leaves, vines, or natural patterns.
- Spiritual symbols: Note any spiritual or religious symbols pertinent to tribal cultures.
- Maori koru: A spiral shape based on the unfurling fern frond, symbolizing new life, growth, and peace in Maori culture.
- Henna-style designs: If you’re leaning towards a more Middle Eastern or Indian tribal style, include this.
- Ethnic specificity: Specify if you are looking for tribal designs from a particular ethnic group or region.
- Tribal dragons: For a mix of tribal styles with dragon imagery.
- Sun and moon: Common tribal symbols representing various natural and spiritual concepts.
Tribal masks: Include this for designs that incorporate stylised masks or faces.
Realism tattoo:
/imagine: black & grey hyperrealism back tattoo design of an elephant standing between trees –v 5
As the name suggests, these tattoos are incredibly lifelike, often portraying portraits or scenes from nature. The lingo: “Hyperrealism” is a term used for tattoos that are so detailed they look like photographs.
Keywords to integrate into your realism Midjourney tattoo prompts
Building Midjourney prompts for realism tattoos involves using keywords that capture the essence of this style’s lifelike and detailed approach. Here are 10 keywords that can be effective for generating images of realism tattoos:
- Photorealistic: This emphasizes the need for the image to closely resemble a real photograph in detail and shading.
- Fine detail: Highlight the importance of intricate details that make the tattoo look lifelike.
- 3D effect: Suggests a three-dimensional appearance, giving depth and realism to the design.
- Portrait realism: If you’re looking for human or animal portraits, this specifies a focus on accurate and realistic depictions.
- Hyper-realism: An advanced form of realism that aims to create an image even more detailed and lifelike than a photograph.
- Shading and lighting: Emphasize the use of advanced shading techniques and realistic lighting to create depth.
- Texture representation: Indicates the need to accurately represent different textures like skin, fur, water, etc.
- Colour realism: If you prefer a color tattoo, this specifies the use of realistic, lifelike colors.
- Black and grey: For those who prefer a monochrome tattoo, emphasizing the use of various shades of black and grey to create contrast and depth.
- Nature and wildlife: Common themes in realism tattoos, but this can be replaced with any specific subject matter like landscapes, cityscapes, or everyday objects.
Biomechanical tattoo:
/imagine: green red black & grey biomechanical arm sleeve tattoo design –v 5
This style is all about fusing organic and mechanical elements, creating an otherworldly, sci-fi look. The lingo: “Bio-organic” refers to a similar style that emphasises natural elements like bones and plants in a biomechanical tattoo.
Keywords to integrate into your Biomechanical tattoo Midjourney tattoo prompts
Here are 10 keywords to help guide text prompts for creating biomechanical tattoo images:
- Cybernetic elements: Suggests the incorporation of futuristic or robotic parts.
- Organic fusion: Emphasizes the blending of mechanical components with organic forms, like human muscles or bones.
- 3D illusion: Indicates a desire for designs that appear to have depth, creating the illusion of mechanical parts beneath the skin.
- Metallic textures: Highlights the need for textures that resemble metals, wires, or mechanical gears.
- Alien technology: For a more extraterrestrial or sci-fi oriented biomechanical style.
- Abstract machinery: Suggests the use of mechanical elements in an abstract or non-literal way.
- Steampunk influence: If you’re looking for a vintage or Victorian-era mechanical style.
- Cyborg appearance: For designs that give the appearance of being part-human, part-machine.
- Anatomical precision: Emphasizes accuracy in depicting human or animal anatomy fused with mechanical parts.
- Futuristic vibe: Indicates a preference for modern, high-tech mechanical components.
Watercolour tattoo:
/imagine: pink blue yellow orange green water colour style female shoulder tattoo design of a humming bird –v 5
Characterised by their soft, painterly look, Watercolour tattoos resemble watercolour paintings with colour splashes and sketch-like lines. The lingo: “Colour bleed” is a term describing the intentional blurring of colours in watercolour tattoos.
Geometric tattoo:
/imagine: black geometric dotwork style female full leg tattoo design –v 5
Geometry and symmetry are key in this style, with tattoos often featuring shapes, patterns, and mandalas. The lingo: “Dotwork” refers to a technique where the artist creates intricate designs using only dots.
New School tattoo:
/imagine: full colour new school chest tattoo design of goose with gold chain round its neck –v 5
A modern take on the traditional style, New School tattoos feature exaggerated proportions, vivid colours, and a cartoon-like appearance. The lingo: “Graffiti-inspired” is a term used to describe some New School tattoos influenced by street art.
Trash Polka tattoo:
/imagine: black grey red Trash Polka arm tattoo design of childs shocked face and wording –v 5
A unique style originating in Germany, Trash Polka combines realistic images with abstract elements and a predominantly black and red color scheme. The lingo: “Collage-like” is a term often used to describe the chaotic yet cohesive nature of Trash Polka tattoos.
Blackwork tattoo:
/imagine: Minimalistic blackwork leg tattoo design –v 5
Minimalistic and bold, Blackwork tattoos consist of solid black ink designs, often featuring geometric or tribal-inspired patterns. The lingo: “Negative space” is a term for the un-inked skin left within a Blackwork tattoo, creating contrast and enhancing the design.
Now onto some more examples that I created to help inspire you.
Midjourney tattoo prompts examples
Example 1
/imagine: black and grey full chest and stomach tattoo design on white background consisting of flowers knives leaves –v 5
Example 2
/imagine: full colour neo traditional full chest and stomach tattoo design of shark and roses and daggers –v 5
Conclusion
So, there you have it! We’ve covered some seriously cool tattoo styles and their lingo to help you get the most out of Midjourney’s prompts. Remember, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creativity. Just use the terms and styles we’ve shared, and let your imagination run wild with Midjourney.
Armed with this newfound knowledge, you’re ready to explore the world of tattoo design and create your very own ink-spirations. Whether you’re searching for your first tattoo or adding another piece of art to your collection, Midjourney is the go-to tool to spark that creative genius within you. So go ahead, dive into the colourful world of tattoos, and let Midjourney help you bring your visions to life. Happy inking!