If you run a Google search on the net for a tattoo, you’ll get pages of sites with varying information. To make the right choice, you must know the intrinsic differences between traditional tattoo sites and design contest sites. Your ultimate choice will largely depend on your objective for conducting research. In order to click the right site each time, here’s some valuable information:

Traditional tattoo sites: Are you looking for general information on tattoos? Then choose a conventional tattoo site. Do the same if you’re just browsing tattoos. Such sites merely showcase tattoo studios and give information such as the studio location, bios of designers, and photos of artists who work there, etc. In addition, these sites present a list of all the tattoo shows the designers have attended or been associated with. Their blogs will have info on new tattooing techniques and other similar industry information, besides also having press releases sent out by studios or photos of clients who have had themselves inked there or somewhere else.

Tattoo design contest sites: If you want to go in for a custom tattoo, choose a design contest site. The raison d’être of these sites is to help you go to the precise site where your tattoo design idea can become a reality. Usually, traditional tattoo design sites are information-based, because they are meant to lead you into the studio.

Besides, if you have a budget in mind for your custom design, you must go to a tattoo design contest site, because here you can begin, and then control, the contest proceedings. You present the artist whose design you choose with a cash prize. However, this is in stark contrast to what happens on a traditional site where they don’t quote any prices for custom designs. Here, you’re often instructed to call for custom pricing, or encouraged to do so. Remember, that when businesses don’t list their prices on their sites, it means you’ll need some time together to negotiate, and decide the cost between yourselves.

If you’re looking for a wide range of custom tattoo designs to choose from, your best bet is a design contest site. At the best of such sites, you can get at least ten versions of your own tattoo idea done in different styles, techniques and colors. Of course, this won’t be available to you on a traditional site where you’ll enter only to receive one visual of your tattoo before it is inked on your skin.

Choose to go with a custom tattoo contest site if it is important to you to have a stenciled version of your tattoo just as it’s going to look after it’s applied to your skin. You could get this at a contest you host, but not at a studio where you might have to pay more for a custom tattoo design.

Using a stencil to design a tattoo is best for a tattooist because this makes a perfect picture. To attempt to draw a custom design without a stencil is a difficult task that only very highly skilled artists can pull off.

Author's Bio: 

Kristen Dunn is a tattoo enthusiast and professional tattoo designer who has created thousands of thought provoking, elegant, and funky tattoos for her clients. She has a vast collection of custom designs to her credit. Winner of several awards and accolades, Kristen is now a founding member of the world's largest custom tattoo design community at CreateMyTattoo. View her tattoo collection or read more on her blog here.