Fine line
Since 2019
Teo Marchetti
Fine line, single needle and small script
- Fine line
- Single needle
- Script
$170 an hour Openings most weeks
Delicate work, honest about aging
Fine line and micro
Single-needle linework, small script and botanicals, from an artist who will tell you what fine line can and can't do over the years.
Book a free consult
From $120
What it is, plainly.
Fine line uses very thin needle groupings to make delicate lines and soft shading. Done well, it looks like a pen drawing on skin.
It also ages differently from bold work. Lines soften over time, and very tiny text can blur. We size your piece so it still reads in ten years.
Good for
- Small script: a name, a date, a word
- Botanicals, sprigs and single flowers
- Minimal symbols and tiny matching pieces
- Ornamental and line-drawing styles
How it works
Four steps, no surprises.
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Quick consult
Many fine-line pieces can be planned by message. Bigger pieces get a proper consult.
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Sizing
Your artist checks the size against the detail, so letters and petals don't close up as they heal.
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Session
Most pieces take under 2 hours. You approve the stencil before any ink.
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Check at 6 weeks
Fine line can heal patchy in spots. Your first touch-up within 90 days is free.
Size it to last.
Ink spreads a little under skin over the years. Here is the same word at three heights, today and roughly how it can look a decade on.
HeightTodayYears later
1/4 inchLetters close up
always
3/8 inchSofter, still reads
always
1/2 inchOur usual minimum for script
always
An illustration of how fine lines soften, not a photo. Every skin ages differently.
What it costs
Example prices.
Ranges for this demo, the way a real studio should print them. Your artist gives you a range for your piece at the consult.
- Tiny piece or a word
- $120
- The shop minimum covers most of these
- Small botanical or script line
- $170 to $340
- About 1 to 2 hours
- Larger fine-line piece
- $340 to $680
- About 2 to 4 hours
- Matching tattoos
- $120 each
- Each person pays the minimum
Read this before you book
The honest part.
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Lines soften with time
All tattoos spread a little. With fine line, that can make tiny text or close lines blur together. Bigger usually lasts better.
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Touch-ups are normal
Thin lines can heal with gaps. That is not a mistake, it is how skin works, and your first touch-up is free within 90 days.
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Hands and feet fade fast
We will do fingers, hands and feet, but they fade and blow out more. We can't promise how they heal, and touch-ups there are charged.
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Not every spot holds it
Thin skin, sun damage and areas like the ribs or inner arm can heal unevenly. We will suggest the best spot for your design.
Who does it
Your artist.
Teo handles all of our fine line work. Ask for Teo by name in the consult form.
How small can you go?
Script under about 3/8 inch tall usually blurs within a few years. We'll show you the smallest size we would put our name to.
Does fine line hurt less?
It often feels lighter and pieces are shorter, but it depends on the spot. Ribs and feet sting no matter the needle.
Will my fine line fade?
It will soften over the years, especially in the sun. Sunscreen once healed and a well-chosen size are the best protection.
Bring the idea. We'll draw the line.
Free 20-minute consults, in person or on video. You leave with a plan, a price range and a date, and nothing is tattooed until you approve the stencil.