Artists' Corner — shading tattoo ink

If you're wondering how much ink is needed for a 4x4 inch tattoo, the answer depends on factors like the tattoo's complexity, design style, and placement. On average, a tattoo of this size will require about 1 to 3 milliliters of ink, with simpler linework designs needing less and detailed shading using more. This article provides a detailed breakdown of ink consumption, tattoo artist techniques, and real-world examples to help you understand how much ink your design will likely need.