Tattoo & business glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms you use every day - and how each one works in Inky.
Aftercare
The instructions a client follows to heal a fresh tattoo - washing, moisturising, sun and water avoidance.
In Inky: Sent automatically after a session and stored on the client's page so they can find it without DMing you.
Blackwork
A style using only black ink - bold lines, solid fills, geometric or organic patterns.
In Inky: A portfolio category so clients find your blackwork without scrolling past colour pieces.
Blackwork style guideBooking widget
An embeddable scheduling form clients use to request and pay for an appointment without a back-and-forth.
In Inky: Your shareable link captures placement, size, references and a deposit in one flow.
Client 360
A single view of everything you know about a client - past work, notes, references, aftercare and forms.
In Inky: One page per client that survives longer than a chat thread.
Consent form
A signed acknowledgement that a client agrees to the procedure and has disclosed relevant medical info.
In Inky: Digital, signed before the session and stored against the appointment - no paper.
Consultation
A pre-appointment conversation (in person or over DMs) to agree design, placement and price.
In Inky: Notes and references from the consult live on the client page, ready at session time.
Cover-up
A new tattoo that conceals or transforms an existing one - usually needs more design work and a larger piece.
In Inky: Tracked as a project with references and session history so the original stays documented.
Custom piece
A one-off design drawn specifically for a client, as opposed to flash.
In Inky: Captured with references, quote and deposit before the session.
Deposit
A non-refundable upfront payment that secures an appointment and protects against no-shows.
In Inky: Taken at booking; forfeited on late cancel/no-show per your policy, tracked automatically.
Design reference
An image a client sends (or you collect) showing the style, subject or vibe they want.
In Inky: Attached to the booking and the client so you're never hunting an old DM for it.
Dotwork
A technique built from stippled dots rather than lines, often used in geometric and ornamental styles.
In Inky: A portfolio + booking category for artists who work this way.
Fine-line
Delicate, single-needle tattooing using very thin lines - minimalist and detailed work.
In Inky: A portfolio + booking category; clients self-select the right artist style.
Flash
Pre-drawn, repeatable designs (often displayed on the wall or as sheets) sold as-is, sometimes at a set price.
In Inky: Listed in your Flash Art library with price and availability, bookable directly.
Guest spot
When an artist tattoos at another studio for a limited time, rather than their home base.
In Inky: Your schedule and clients travel with you - the same tool, wherever you're working.
Ignorant
A deliberately rough, bold, cartoonish style that rejects traditional polish.
In Inky: A portfolio category for this style.
Installment plan
A way to split a large piece's cost across multiple payments over time.
In Inky: Tracked per client against the project, with balances and due dates.
Intake form
Pre-appointment questions covering medical history, allergies and ID, sent before the session.
In Inky: Digital, reusable per client, stored alongside consent forms.
Invoice
A document itemising what a client owes for work done.
In Inky: Generated from the appointment; balances and refunds tracked against it.
Japanese (Irezumi)
Traditional Japanese tattooing - bold outlines, specific iconography (koi, dragons, flowers), often large-scale.
In Inky: A portfolio + booking category.
Liner / shader
The two fundamental machine roles: liners lay the outline, shaders pack colour and gradients.
In Inky: Session notes can record technique per session for multi-sitting pieces.
Neo-traditional
A modern evolution of traditional tattooing - bolder colour, more depth and detail, looser rules.
In Inky: A portfolio + booking category.
No-show policy
Your rule for what happens when a client doesn't show - usually deposit forfeiture.
In Inky: Enforced automatically: deposits are taken at booking and forfeited per your settings.
Ornamental
Decorative, pattern-based tattooing - lace, mandalas, fine symmetrical linework.
In Inky: A portfolio + booking category.
Placement
Where on the body a tattoo sits - affects sizing, flow, pain and price.
In Inky: Captured at booking so you (and the client) agree before the session.
Realism
Lifelike portraiture and imagery - photo-realistic shading, often black and grey or full colour.
In Inky: A portfolio + booking category.
Session
A single sitting of tattooing; larger pieces are built across multiple sessions.
In Inky: Each appointment is logged with notes, so a sleeve's progress is one click away.
Touch-up
A follow-up session to freshen or fix a healed tattoo, usually discounted or free.
In Inky: Linked to the original piece on the client page, with its own booking.
Traditional (American)
Bold-outline, limited-palette classic tattooing - anchors, roses, eagles, the foundation of Western tattooing.
In Inky: A portfolio + booking category.
Trash polka
A high-contrast style fusing black/grey realism with red splashes and graphic/text elements.
In Inky: A portfolio + booking category.
Watercolour
A painterly style mimicking watercolour washes with soft edges and bright, blended colour.
In Inky: A portfolio + booking category.
Want all of this handled for you?
Deposits, consent forms, client records and your portfolio - one tattoo-first tool. Free for artists - your client pays a small booking fee on deposits. Professional $29/month, no booking fees.
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