Tattoo flash is an important aspect of any tattoo shop. Many times a potential client will search through a shop's tattoo flash to find just the right design. Of course, the client may also come to an artist with his or her own flash. Often times, the client will even arrive with little more than an idea from which the artist will draw some suggestions.

Whether the artist is working from predesigned tattoo flash or is creating the work from scratch, an understanding of some of the major subcategories of flash can be useful. In some cases, it can allow for a common language that can be used to communicate ideas back and forth. In addition, knowledge of the basics gives the artist a place to start, as well as the opportunity to branch out based on his or her own creativity.

Old school tattoo flash are tattoos that reach back to the classic styles from 19th and 20th century America. This type of flash includes the hearts and anchors and "mom" that are often synonymous with sailor and carnival folk from that time period. Other common themes in old school tattoo flash include pinups and skulls.

New school flash tattoos have certainly evolved since the days of the traditional hearts and daggers. As pigments have improved, the applications for them have expanded. New school tattoos often utilize lots of bright, bold colors. The designs are often very intricate, as well. This type of flash is likely to have a more fantasy, "artistic" feel than some of the other categories included here.

While tribal art has been around for literally thousands of years, there is something about it that still appeals to those of us in modern society. Perhaps we choose this type of tattoo because it speaks to us on some sort of a primal level. Maybe it's just a matter of beauty that endures over the centuries to be admired again and again. No matter what the reason, any shop is going to benefit from carrying a decent line of tribal tattoo flash.

A perennial favorite form of tattoo flash is that of religious imagery. Some people use their tattoos to proclaim their own religious beliefs, while others are simply interested in the art and symbolism behind various religious figures. Whether it is just a matter of aesthetics or a deeper religious meaning, this type of tattoo flash should generally be included in any shop's collection.

Many of those getting tattoos today are interested in art that is symbolic in nature. For example, there has been a wave of tattoos that include the use of Asian characters. The shop that utilizes this type of tattoo flash really needs to be sure that they have a reliable source so that the meanings of the symbols are not garbled. After all, no one wants to get a Japanese symbol for "peace" only to find out it really means "sweet and sour pork". Also in this category are logos, although it can be tricky to work with this type of tattoo flash because of copyright infringement issues.

Getting good tattoo flash is extremely important for any shop. The categories mentioned here are just a few of those that should be represented in a shop's collection. There are a number of outlets that offer great flash, and there are catalogs and web sites that can help narrow down the choices. Of course, artists should be encouraged to create their own tattoo flash, as well. This is a useful way to show off an artist's particular style and to set him or her apart from others and build a unique reputation.