This unfinished butterfly tattoo is a perfect example of the difference between 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional tattoos. The butterfly wing on the left has not been given surface lighting or shadow, so it appears as an image on the skin. The tattoo artist has finished the right wing, so it has shadows, lighting and a surface. The illusion of distance between the wing and the girl’s shoulder creates the illusion that the tattoo is “above” the skin.
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3D Tattoos Add a New Dimension to Tattoo Art
Most tattoo designs are 2D (2-dimensional). This means that they are flat images, with no depth in the tattoo design. The terms “3D tattoo” or “3-dimensional tattoo” refer to tattoos that have an extra dimension, a third dimension. These tattoos interact with the skin, giving the illusion of being above the skin or within the […]