When deciding to get a script tattoo, several factors need to be considered. Script tattoos may seem very simple, but in this blog, we will unveil the details that go into designing a perfect script tattoo. We sat down with Mr. Dreegz, a script specialist, and he went into detail about his process of choosing the right script design from the font to the shading of each letter.
Type of font
Script forearm tattoo by Mr. Dreegz
Depending on the feeling a quote or word has, I decide which specific font can portray that message on appearance alone. For example, "No Fear" - I would mash up the styles and go with a Script for the "No" and something Bold like Old English or something with hard and sharp aesthetics. It will punch out the word "Fear", and if I really want to emphasize the "No" I would switch it up and do "No" in Bold font and "Fear" in the Script.
Typeface
Typeface Definition: A typeface is the overall design of lettering; the design can include variations, such as extra bold, bold, regular, light, italic, condensed, extended, etc.
Typeface decisions are based on the location of the tattoo, what can fit in the area without compromising its look.
An example of Typeface
The part of the body may force me to angle words to buy space. By angling words, I start to look at the whole piece like a puzzle or a game of Tetris. After some drafting and manipulation, I decide what treatment I will give the typeface. I may have two words in the same style but shade them differently to make one stand out more than the other. I may have words like "in," "and," etc., appear smaller. These words aren't as important in banners or different designs, so the size difference will convey that. Manipulating all these differences will buy me space for more essential words and allows me to detail them better because they are more prominent. Another deciding factor of the typeface is the word or quote itself. What type of feel or vibe it has and what is the message. Does it suit a classy script? Is it bold and conveying a serious message? What are the client's requests, what do they like? All these things come into play.
How the text will fit
Script chest tattoo by Mr. Dreegz
Depending on the word, size, style, and body part, the word may have to be manipulated. For example, on a stomach, an arch (the upper half of a circle) will look great and fit the anatomy. On a collar bone, I would follow the bone and draw the lettering to the arch-like the lower half of a circle. Fit the natural curve. Working with anatomy is going to yield the best aesthetics.
Kerning
Kerning Definition: The spacing between letters or characters in a piece of text.
The kerning will depend on the font. A common client request, for example, is the word "dream". If the client wants a whimsical typeface, I will exaggerate the spacing in a handwritten script style to convey this feeling.
An example of Kerning
If they want the word "dream" arched across the stomach, I map out the area, measure the space, divide the shape into smaller blocks to represent each letter. Once this all looks symmetrical, I fill in the blocks with the letters. Once you know the basic rules of typography, there are ways to break them and get away with it. For example, letters arched above a knee may need to be drawn in a way so that all the letters are farther apart. This makes up for the curve of the knee. When the client is standing, the word will look normal, and they won't be able to tell the letters are actually much farther apart than they see. If you were to trace this design of the client and lay it flat, you would be able to see how far they actually are. An area like this almost always requires freehanding to look correct.
Script chest tattoo by Mr. Dreegz
Solid shaded or bold
The way a script tattoo is shaded or given gradience will portray a different image of the word. The gradience from solid to skin tone appears airy and light, while the bold is crisp and in your face.
Script forearm tattoo by Mr. Dreegz
With words that need to be more prominent in a quote, I apply a heavier shade style or boldness to them. Heavier shade catches the viewer's eye. While designing the tattoo, I'm not looking at a bunch of words. I am approaching it like a story. You need to ask, what is the narrative? How do I want the viewer to feel? I look at the whole quote as an art piece. It needs to keep the viewer's eye moving and reading. It needs to be legible. The negative space (the area around the tattoo) is as imperative to the design as the words are. It will create a balance in the overall design.
With all these guidelines, there is no right or wrong style when it comes to your tattoo. Kerning is a set rule, but the way you style your script tattoo is about the narrative you want to portray. After all, we are talking about art.
