Turn Any Photo Into a Custom Tattoo Design
Upload one photo and compare four line-art styles. Generate a cleaner AI line-art version, preview the size, then export a PNG and a true-size stencil PDF for your artist.
Start with a photo
No photo handy? Try one of ours:
Compare styles
Four style previews will appear here.
Free style previews are drawn in your browser. AI line art sends the photo to our server only when you press the button; the first preview is watermarked.
Preview position and size
The placement preview appears after you choose a photo.
Where will it go?
20 line-art designs
One-time · full-size PNG + stencil PDF
50 designs
One-time · designs never expire
100 a month
Monthly · cancel any time
Prices match the pricing page; refund policy applies. One watermarked AI preview is included before you pay. The free style previews and placement preview run in your browser.
How the photo to tattoo tool works
- Upload one photo. Use the sample buttons if you want to see the flow first.
- Compare the four styles. They are drawn in your browser; nothing is uploaded for these previews.
- Ask for AI line art. It removes background noise and draws a cleaner outline. The first preview is watermarked.
- Set the real size. Use the placement preview to judge width and angle, then choose a print width.
- Export and talk to your artist. Full-size PNG for reference, true-size 300 DPI stencil PDF for transfer.
Photo to tattoo: what the AI line art does — and what it cannot do
The AI stage is a line-extraction pass, not a tattoo designer. It looks at the subject and tries to keep the edges that carry the likeness: eyes, ears, a mouth, the outline of a face, the shape of a pet's head. It does not know which details will survive at 8 cm, and it cannot tell whether a line should be thinner for a small wrist piece.
That is why the export is labelled a design concept. Use it to agree on the subject, direction and style with your artist. They will redraw or adjust the final linework for the needle and your skin.
A useful test: upload the photo, generate the line art, then look at it on your phone at the size you want the tattoo. If the eyes or the lettering collapse at that size, the design needs a larger placement or a simpler angle — not more AI passes.
Which photos work well
- Pet portraits: eye level, eyes sharp, plain background. Avoid a dark pet on a dark sofa.
- People: flat, even light. Side-lit faces lose one eye in line art.
- Objects and places: a strong silhouette. Buildings, instruments and flowers work better than a busy street scene.
- Handwriting: shoot straight on, avoid shadows, keep the whole line in frame.
What you get
| File | Use | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Browser style preview | Fast direction check for free | Not a downloadable production file |
| AI line-art preview | Watermarked look at a cleaner outline | Low resolution until unlocked |
| Full-size PNG | Reference for your artist and your own notes | Still a concept, not a tattoo-ready stencil |
| True-size stencil PDF | Printed at 300 DPI at the width you choose | Your artist should check line weight, spacing and placement |
Before you book: a five-minute check
Print the stencil at 100% — not “fit to page” — and hold it against the placement in a mirror. Check three things: the width in centimetres, the direction of the design, and whether the busiest detail sits where the skin flexes. Curvature on a forearm, shoulder or ankle changes how a flat file reads.
If you are bringing the design to an artist, bring the original photo too. It gives them the real reference, not only the line-art interpretation. Our seven handoff checks walk through line weight, negative space, minimum size and skin tone.
If the photo is old, blurry or low contrast, read the photo tips first. A better source photo will improve the line art more than any style setting.
Related tools
Each page does one job. Start where your photo is.