Honest assessment first
Not every old tattoo can be sensibly covered directly. The first step is evaluating how dark, how large and how problematic the existing work really is.
Every cover-up starts with an honest assessment of the old tattoo — its density, contrast, size, colour and how it sits on the body. Only then does a design that makes technical and visual sense get created.
Not every old tattoo can be sensibly covered directly. The first step is evaluating how dark, how large and how problematic the existing work really is.
Sometimes Q-Switch lightening is the better first step. It makes the later cover-up cleaner and gives more creative freedom for the new design.
A good cover-up does not just hide something. It works as a new tattoo even when nobody knows the old work underneath.
For a meaningful assessment, clear photos of the old tattoo in good light are needed — from several angles, relaxed and without filters. The less guessing, the better.
After analysis it becomes clear whether:
If travelling is an issue, everything can be initially assessed remotely based on good photos.
If a motif only looks good on screen but does not work over the old tattoo — it is not worth doing.
Cover-up and rework examples are available in the full gallery filtered by category.