Chopper Tattoo Review

March 26, 2010

Chopper Tattoo is the most popular tattoo finder on the web, but it's not the best.

While it has many strengths, there are aspects of the service that are misleading. In the end, its breadth of tattoo designs shines.

Read on to learn how you can get the most from this service for the least amount of money. You'll also see the good and bad about this popular service to determine if it is the right tattoo finder for you.

Package Contents

Membership to the Chopper Tattoo web site
Free music downloads (bonus)
Inked magazine subscription (bonus)
Tattoo Parlor directory

Before you get too excited about these bonuses, I'd like to point out a few things:

Free music is provided via mp3suite.com. MP3Suite is a bit misleading in that it is a piece of software that you can use to access file sharing sites. That is, it provides organized access to music downloads that are already free. This is not explicitly stated anywhere on the site. Beware: just because you can freely download songs doesn't mean that it is legal to do so!
The Inked magazine subscription is for the online edition only. When you click the link in the members area, you're taken to one electronic issue. To access the other issues, click the "Archives" icon to view other issues that are available for viewing.
The tattoo parlor directory is nothing more than Yahoo's yellow pages .

Detailed Review

Chopper Tattoo is the oldest and most popular tattoo finder on the web, and it's not hard to see why when you begin looking through their designs. There are nearly 4,000 tattoo designs available for download, and hundreds of high-quality pictures that can be used for tattoo design inspiration.

A great feature about the Chopper service is that they actively encourage and reward tattoo artists for submitting quality designs. That means that their design collection will constantly be growing, and will constantly attract more artists and more talented artists.

You can browse tattoo designs by category, and download, use, and print out as many as you like during your membership period. Browsing is straightforward: each category consists of one long page with all of the tattoo designs for that category. This is both good and bad. If you have a fast internet connection, it works wonderfully, as you can just click the link and keep scrolling through all of the designs quickly. Talk about saving time. If, however, you have a slow connection, you could find yourself clicking on a link to a large category, only to wait for a few minutes while the page loads. Personally, I thought navigation was very fast using this method. TattooMeNow requires you to flip through individual pages, which made me click-weary after a while (see the full TattooMeNow review for details).

There are over 45 categories of tattoos, and most categories are well represented, having between fifty and one hundred designs in each category on average. Some categories, like tribal tattoo designs, dragons, and Chines tattoos have several hundred designs, while others (like lizards, fairies, and Harleys) have only 20 to 30 tattoo designs.

There are three membership options available as of this writing: 30 days access for $19.95, 60 days access for $24.95, and lifetime access for under $35. For most people, the sweet spot will be in the 60-day range. You'll have this tattoo for a lifetime, so take your time when making a decision! There is also a $4.95 tattoo lettering add-on option -- do not get this! On this blog (another post), I show you how you can access and use these same fonts to create your own tattoo lettering style for free. No sense paying $4.95 for it.

Pros:

Active tattoo artist incentives should continue to drive the growth of Chopper's available designs.
There are a lot of really good tattoo designs available for printing and download.
You can download, save, modify, etc. an unlimited number of tattoos.
The one-month membership has a very attractive $19.95 price point.
Each tattoo category is relatively well represented, offering a good number of choices in many different styles.
If you have a fast internet connection, scrolling through each design category is very fast.
Chopper is the most popular tattoo finder on the web.

Cons:

The search function is weak.
The tattoo parlor directory is weak.
The $4.95 tattoo lettering option is deceptive.
There are advertisements in the membership site. Some people don't mind these, but I find them tacky.
Chopper sometimes advertises a "$500 tattoo credit." This is not a bonus -- it's one of those deals where you have to sign up with 8 other services for at least two months in order to get the card. It's dubious at best (although I did get a free iPod a few years ago doing an offer similar to this ).

Based on all of the above factors and the relative scarcity of quality tattoo finders, I've given Chopper Tattoo an overall rating of four stars out of five. While there are some aspects of the service that I find tacky or misleading, I can't argue with the number and quality of designs that they have here. And it looks like that number will continue to grow, thanks to their tattoo artist program. With that said, even though the tattoo selection is great, the negatives of the service lead me to rank Chopper Tattoo as the runner-up among the tattoo finders.

Chopper Tattoo Official Web Site

Video Review

Customer Feedback

"You can download every single design, print it out and take it to your favourite tattoo studio. . . With a Chopper Tattoo Design you always have at least an idea to start from ([even] if you do not want to use the original design)."

~ comment from tattoosforgirls.net

"Most people. . . only pick a design when they are in a tattoo shop. Tattoo shops only have limited designs. . .Chopper Tattoo is by far the most popular tattoo resource in the world."

~ comment from a Squidoo lens

"Some fantastic art work! My son has found a very satisfactory tattoo which will be used to cover an existing one. Many thanks!"

~ Chopper Tattoo customer Jean Underwood

"Chopper Tattoo has all that they promised. . . mind blowing tattoos. Clients keep coming to my shop because of the quality designs I have for them."

~ Chopper Tattoo customer and freestyle artist Hon

Product Details

Author: N/A

Package: access to Chopper Tattoo's tattoo finder and design gallery, free online edition of Inked magazine, free download software from MP3suite.com. I didn't list the other bonuses as they are of dubious value.

Price: $19.95 for one month access, $24.95 for two months, $34.44 for lifetime access.

Return Policy: 60 days, no questions asked, money back guarantee.

Chopper Tattoo Official Web Site

Technorati Tags: chopper designs, Chopper Tattoo, chopper tattoo review, chopper tattoos, choppers tattoo, pictures of tattoos, tattoo finder

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Star Tattoo Designs: Here’s a Twist

March 12, 2010

Star tattoo designs are becoming more common in my buddy's studio. Most are the traditional style, on the hips or the side of the torso (like the one below), but this design steps away from the typical style. I like it. Sorry for the low-quality image. . .

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pink-cupcakes/2180620695/

Technorati Tags: pictures of tattoos, star tattoo

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Lower Back Tattoo Designs: Mushrooms

February 12, 2010

I don't know why this one appeals to me. It's not the typical type of tattoo I like. I think I just picture its owner as being fun and unconventional. And someone who like mushrooms. Yumm.

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Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30012085@N06/2807850799/

Technorati Tags: lower back, pictures of tattoos, tattoo

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Tattoo Crosses: a Cracked Cross

December 4, 2009

Crosses come in all shapes, styles, and sizes, but this is an incredibly realistic effect:

119
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetattoostudio/2338835703/

Technorati Tags: cross, pictures of tattoos, tattoo

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Feminine Tattoo Lettering

November 20, 2009

Lest I forget some of the more delicate fonts, here is a great tattoo lettering style for poems, song lyrics, scripted works, or even quotes. This would be a great style to work into a larger floral or nature piece as well.

Delicate Tattoo Lettering Style

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/talulayu/2651214599/

Technorati Tags: designs for tattoos, Pictures of Tattoos, pictures of tattoos, Tattoo Lettering

Filed Under Girly Tattoos, Tattoo Lettering · Leave a Comment

TattooMeNow Review

January 25, 2009

TattooMeNow snagged our top tattoo finder honors after just a few short months in operation.

While it doesn't have the breadth of designs that competitor Chopper Tattoo has, it is aggressively adding new designs, features attractively priced membership plans, includes many bonuses of legitimate value, and is more professional in appearance.

Due to the lack of breadth, this service isn't for everyone. Keep reading for details on the hits and misses of this service, and to determine if TattooMeNow is the best tattoo finder choice for you.

Package Contents

Membership to the TattooMeNow web site
Access to the private members forum
Access to the members gallery of tattoo photos
Tattoo Parlor directory
Tattoo bonus videos (Caring for a tattoo, getting a tattoo, aftercare, etc.)
3300 Chines Signs e-book
You and Your Tattoo e-book and MP3
Got Ink? e-book
Learn How to Tattoo in 12 Easy Steps e-book
Infection Prevention e-book
Getting Inked e-book
Xtasys Tattoo Designs e-book
Assorted fitness, weight loss, and muscle building e-books

The amount of bonuses available is impressive, and they have actual value. The members gallery features over 1,600 tattoo photos, and more than 30,000 users post to the private discussion forum. The Got Ink? and You and Your Tattoo e-books contain good information for those who are new to tattoos.

Detailed Review

TattooMeNow is much newer than Chopper Tattoos, but it is quickly gaining ground. Now featuring more than 3,500 designs and more than 1,600 tattoo pictures, TattooMeNow is as large in scale as Chopper Tattoo. See our full Chopper Tattoo review here.

The most readily apparent thing about TattooMeNow is the sense of community at the membership site. Members actively submit their tattoo photos, and contribute to the discussion forums. You'll find newbies, knowledgeable pros, and professional tattoo artists on the message boards.

The fact that TattooMeNow has cultivated a community bodes well for their future prospects. Not only do they continue to upgrade and expand their design inventory, but they also ask for input from community members on what types of designs should be added. This focus on the member and on attracting high-quality tattoo artists is an appealing characteristic.

You can browse tattoo designs by category, and download, use, and print out as many as you like during your membership period. Browsing is straightforward: click on a category to view tattoos within that category. Tattoos are separated into pages, so if you have a slow internet connection, you won't have to wait for hundreds of pictures to load before you start viewing designs. However, with all of the paging, you might become a bit click-weary after a while.

There are over 40 categories of tattoos, but many categories are under-represented at present. For example, the fantasy tattoo category only contains 25 designs. However, if you are a fan of tribal tattoo designs, you'll find more than 1,600 tribal tattoo designs alone. TattooMeNow's blog states that they are continuing to add to each of these under-represented categories.

There are two membership options available as of this writing: one year access for $27, and lifetime access for $37. The lengthy membership length is a good sign. When you want to pick out the best possible design, you shouldn't be in a rush. TattooMeNow's membership options provide plenty of time for you to find the perfect tattoo.

Pros:

Active tattoo artist incentives should continue to drive the growth of TattooMeNow's available designs.
The community is consulted to determine which new designs to add.
There are over 3,500 tattoo designs and that number continues to increase.
There are more than 1,600 high-quality member photos to view for inspiration.
You can download, save, modify, etc. an unlimited number of tattoos.
The introductory membership option is very attractive at one year for $27.
You can both browse and search for tattoo designs.
The community at TattooMeNow really sets them apart from the other tattoo finders.
The bonuses have legitimate value.

Cons:

Some design categories are under-represented
It's easy to become click-weary while browsing through designs

Based on all of the above factors, TattooMeNow gets our top recommendation ranking. While they lack breadth of tattoos in some categories, the focus on the customer, the friendly and interactive community, the large number of current designs, and the prospects for growth are enough for TattooMeNow to pull ahead of Chopper Tattoo for top honors.

TattooMeNow Official Web Site

Video Review

Customer Feedback

"Offers the best bang for your buck when compared to the other most popular tattoo design sites. With its combination of 3500+ designs, an active forum, videos, and other interactive features, a membership to Tattoo Me Now is a great investment."

~ comment from tattoo review site

"High quality tattoo membership site . . . one of the most affordable ways to find unique designs for yourself."

~ comment from an EzineArticles article

"One of the best features we found with Tattoo Me Now is the active and helpful community. . . the discussion forum is a great place to meet other people and get answers to your most pressing questions from professional tattoo artists or from the other members."

~ Comment from tattoo review site

"Excellent tattoo design gallery filled with thousands of top designs."

~ Comment from tattoo review site

Product Details

Author: N/A

Package: access to TattooMeNow's tattoo finder, design gallery, member's photo gallery, private members forum; bonus tattoo videos; tattooing e-books including 3300 Chinese Signs, You and Your Tattoo, Got Ink?, Learn How to Tattoo in 12 Easy Steps, Infection Prevention, Getting Inked, Xtasys Tattoo Designs; and assorted fitness, weight loss, and muscle building e-books.

Price: $27 for two month access, $37 for lifetime access.

Return Policy: 60 days, no questions asked, money back guarantee.

TattooMeNow Official Web Site

Technorati Tags: pictures of tattoos, Tattoo Designs, tattoo finder, tattoo me now, tattoomenow, tattoomenow review, tattoomenow.com

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Hip Tattoos: No, THIS is Committment!

January 15, 2009

Okay, I take that previous post back. Now THIS is committment. . . or fanatical devotion to an at best average movie (sorry, Tim Burton).

Nightmare Before Christmas

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30612590@N06/2866660606/

Technorati Tags: hip tattoo, Pictures of Tattoos, pictures of tattoos

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Choosing a Qualified and Safe Tattoo Parlor

December 9, 2008

Getting a tattoo is a lifelong commitment, there is no way around that. While you might be eager to get your ink, take your time to find the right tattoo studio and artist for you. Laser removal of tattoos is not nearly as advanced as some would lead you to believe, it's not very reliable, and let's not forget that removal is pricey and the process is lengthy (multiple sessions spread out over a year or more). So what you choose today could be with you for decades. Make sure it's an informed decision.

1) First and foremost, do your research. Don't even bother looking for a tattoo artist until you find a reputable parlor. These days, this is simpler than it sounds, thanks to our favorite online research and rating tools. Plus, you're not looking for the best parlor yet -- just eliminating the worst.

2) Ask around. Chances are that your friends and acquaintances have tattoos and you can ask about their experiences. Of course, if their tattoos are awful, don't bother asking! Surprisingly, even strangers are open to talking about their tattoos. After all, they are visible, so their owners want them to be noticed, and they're impersonal enough that few people take offense to questions. And it's a great way to meet people to boot.

Once you have personal recommendations, do some web searches for each of the specific parlor names. Search for phrases like "tattoo-shop-name problems, "tattoo-shop-name complaints," etc.

Your local independent paper is another good source of referrals. Tattoo shops very often advertise to these audiences, and if the ads are recurring, odds are very high that the shop is favored in the community.

3) Do your safety checks. Now that you have a shortlist of potential providers, take a trip to each of the shops. You're looking at safety and cleanliness at this point.

When working with customers, do the tattooists wear gloves?
Do the tattoo artists thoroughly wash their hands and forearms prior to beginning a tattoo?
Are people smoking in the shop?
Is a license present and visible in the shop?
Is the studio free of dirt and debris, i.e. is it clean?
Does the studio use an autoclave to sterilize equipment prior to beginning a fresh tattoo?
Does the parlor use single-use materials, such as inks, ink cups, needles, etc?
Is each client shaved and properly disinfected prior to beginning work?
Are spray bottles and other hand-held equipment wrapped in plastic bags (prevents cross contamination)?

4) Find an artist. If you're satisfied that the shop is clean, it's time to look for a specific artist. This is a matching process. While most artists are very versatile, if you're looking for a skull tattoo, wouldn't it make more sense to get it from someone who specializes in skulls? Often by looking through the art books in the parlor, you can get a feel for the style of each artist.

When you meet the tattoo artist, they should be friendly and helpful. They get a lot of window shoppers, so don't expect them to be bubbly and excited to meet you, but they should still be accommodating. They should never try to talk you into getting larger or more intricate tattoos. Any artist who has been in business knows that the most satisfied clients are informed clients. Experienced tattoo artists will usually offer their opinions and guide the process, they should never push you.

If you feel that you are being pushed into something that you don't like, or if the artist is dismissive of your questions, you might need to move on. Many experienced artists prefer working on intricate, large designs, so you might just fall under their radar. Not to worry: there is someone out there perfect for your tattoo.

5) Don't price it. Keep in mind that this tattoo will be with you for decades, making the cost per wear minimal. Don't try to save a few bucks and risk ending up with a tattoo that is less than optimal. The risk just isn't worth it. I'm sure there are some cases of price gouging out there, but I've never personally experienced them or talked to anyone who has. Just spend the money -- the peace of mind is worth it.

6) Choose your location. Sensitive areas and areas closer to bone tend to be more painful, but you shouldn't let pain determine your tattoo's location. Hip tattoos are very popular, as well as lower-back and shoulder tattoos. Growing in popularity are hand tattoos and foot tattoos, while the old standbys like arm tattoos are still going strong.

7) Choose your design. Similar to pricing your tattoo, don't settle for any old design you find in their books. With the abundance of tattoo designs available in online galleries, there is no reason you can't find the perfect tattoo for your skin. Your best option is to make use of a quality tattoo finder to browse designs. You'll be able to find and download artwork, and see real life pictures of what the tattoos look like on people.

Click here for our top-ranked tattoo finder

Technorati Tags: pictures of tattoos, safety, tattoo, tattoos piotures

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My Favorite Tattoo Lettering Font

November 23, 2008

This is the tattoo lettering style that I'm leaning towards. It has a traditional script feel, but at the same time it incorporates a very up-to-date and current font trend. I have to rummage through thousands of fonts in my day job designing game screens, so I've seen a lot! This style is bold, crisp, and current.