6 Styles to Iterate: Quick Comparisons

Use the same subject and swap style keywords to test density and mood. Example subject: “crane with pine branch on shoulder blade.”

Blackwork: high contrast, bold lines, solid shading.
Keywords: blackwork, bold outlines, high contrast, heavy shading.
Use when you want durability and strong silhouettes.
Fine-line: delicate, light shading, airy negative space.
Keywords: fine-line, delicate lines, minimal shading, subtle details.
Use for small/low-pain placements or minimalist looks.
Watercolor: soft washes, controlled edges to avoid blur.
Keywords: watercolor wash, soft gradients, controlled bleeding.
Use for dreamy color but watch edge cleanliness.
Japanese-inspired: flowing composition, story-heavy, larger coverage.
Keywords: irezumi inspired, flowing composition, bold outlines, color blocking.
Use for shoulder/back/thigh when you want narrative scenes.
Minimal: clean geometry, generous negative space.
Keywords: minimal linework, generous negative space, clean layout.
Use for modern, low-maintenance pieces.
Neo-traditional: saturated palette, painterly shading, depth.
Keywords: neo-traditional, saturated colors, painterly shading, bold outlines.
Use for strong focal characters and rich color.

Swap-in examples

Too dense: add more negative space / reduce shading / simplify composition.
Too pale: increase saturation or switch to blackwork; if harsh, lower contrast slightly.
Framing drifts: add tight framing on [body part] or specify diagonal / S-curve composition.