The Best Tattoo Design Software & Apps 2022-2023

The Top 5 Tattoo Design Software and Apps

Nothing quite captures a person's unique sense of style and personality like a Tattoo. It’s an artistic extension of ourselves that is both amazing to look at and can mean a lot to the wearer. Tattoos are also extremely permanent. It’s really not something you can afford to get wrong so it’s important to be able to design something concrete beforehand. That’s where tattoo design software or apps can help. Whether you want to create something personal for yourself, showcase to clients or even as an accompaniment to a cover letter for beauty industry. Here’s the best tattoo software and apps on the market today.

1) Procreate

Perhaps the go to tool in terms of tattoo design, Procreate really is the perfect design tool for tattoo artists. While the functionality is weighty and in depth, the app itself is still incredibly approachable for novices.

The app features a clean and friendly interface that allows you to draw with either your right or left hand. It also provides a ton of options in terms of the pressure sensitivity so that you can really capture the perfect vibe for your tattoo.

But all the features and options in the world would be pointless without the performance to back it up and Procreate absolutely knocks it out of the park in this regard. There is absolutely no lag at all when drawing and the experience is so seamless it can feel like you're working with a physical canvas. Simply put, this is probably the most complete tattoo designing experience you're going to find on a digital canvas. 

The only issue is that this is an IOS exclusive product so you need an iPad as your tablet to use the fantastic tool.

2) Photoshop

The “ole’ reliable”, photoshop is still the premier design tool for many visual creators. This piece of software has been around for a very long time and has faithfully served thousands if not millions of creators at this point.

It has just about every design tool available  within its locker so whether you're altering an image or creating something fresh, you have everything you need.

But how effective is it for tattoo artists? There’s no doubt that photoshop will have just about every tool a tattoo designer will ever need and even more on top of that. But therein also lies the problem. Photoshop can be a little intimidating, particularly for novices or specialists.

The UI can take a while to learn and until you become comfortable with it, it can feel rather alien. On top of that, Photoshop can be pricey with a regular subscription needed, unlike other options on this list.

So if you want every option under the sun, Photoshop is still number #1. But if you want a more specialised experience, there are better choices.

3) InkHunter

InkHunter has an intriguing proposition that many tattoo artists will love. It allows you to visualise tattoos directly on body parts.

It’s real time augmented reality mode, allows you to see how a tattoo would be on your arms or anywhere else you want to try. You can upload any design you’ve made or even choose one from InkHunter’s extensive library.

The only issue is you really can't use this tool to design the tattoo itself. The editing tools are lacklustre at best and the intention seems to be for you to upload a premade design.

4) Tattoodo

If you’re struggling for inspiration then Tattoodo is the perfect app for you. It’s like the Instagram for tattoos and has countless options to choose from. Searching is simple with the app’s highly efficient categories that will help you find just about anything you could possibly want. Tattoodo also allows you to connect with your favourite tattoo artists so you’ll never be short on inspiration for your next (or first) design.

5) Soundwaves Tattoo

Finally, this tool is a little outside the box but that’s also why we love it. Music is such a big part of our lives and being able to capture a moment of your favourite song is absolutely magical.

Soundwaves tattoo can create a sound wave of a part of a song that can then be tattooed on your body. This soundwave tattoo can then be scanned and played! And if that isn’t perfect enough, you also have a number of design elements available to you that allows you to source up the tattoo and really make it your own.

Summary

So, there you have it, some of our picks for the top 5 best tattoo design software and apps that you can get your hands on today. With these tools at your fingertips, you can create fantastic, memorable tattoo designs that will wow your friends and clients while also living long in the memory.

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