When Misbah Quadri wanted to visualise his thoughts about a meaningful tattoo design, the media professional turned to AI. "AI helped bridge the gap between concept and reality. I experimented with prompts, tweaking keywords until AI generated a design that resonated. The result was surprisingly close to what I had imagined. It even added subtle details I hadn’t considered,” says Misbah. Lately, AI tools have been offering unique designs to people looking for something new in their tattoo designs.

You may have the perfect idea for a design, but there are some limitations even for tattoo artists when it comes to creating what you want. That is where AI comes into play. “We often use AI apps to visualise the concepts that clients have in mind. This has become an extension of our artistic toolbox that helps explore new possibilities while retaining originality,” says Mukesh Tupkar, a Goa-based tattoo artist who uses AI tools to create base designs. Vague ideas and limited visual cues aren’t a problem for AI tools. Sunny Bhanushali, a Mumbai-based tattoo artist and founder of Aliens Tattoo studios, says, “It helps with instant visualisation along with a unique result. That said, at the end of the day, we believe that an artist’s touch gives the tattoo a personal, creative and meaningful essence.”

Not every tattoo artist is comfortable or even accepting of AI generated ideas. Some call it an insult to their craft, and some have even compared it to doing sports on steroids. But when an artist is open to exploring these possibilities, they see it as a visual representation of the client’s emotions and story. For Rahul Chhabra, a Delhi-based communications manager who used an AI to design a tattoo, the design’s accuracy was nearly perfect to what he had in mind. Recalling the tattoo artists’ reaction to an AI generated design, he says, “They were very open and curious. The design was neat, detailed, and easy to follow. They built a whole portfolio using my tattoo design for future clients. So, in a way, something I created with AI to be deeply personal is now also a source of inspiration for others.” AI definitely helped make my tattoo design feel more personal and refined. It gave structure to my thoughts and brought a clean, visual form to my emotions.

-Rahul Chhabra, a Delhi-based communications manager

We edit and refine the AI references to suit the client’s preferences. AI has been helpful, but we prefer handling the creative process ourselves to ensure quality and uniqueness.

-Mukesh Tupkar, a Goa-based tattoo artist

Commonly used AI tools: