Ambigram Tattoo Designs

Ambigram tattoos are tattoos made up of letters that can be read both forward and backward (or forward and upside down). The two words are often either opposites from one another—for example, LOVE and HATE or SINNER and SAINT—or spell the same word when read forwards or backwards (FATHER, for example, is a popular one). There’s an art to making the lettering clear and the words legible from either side (it’s almost like an optical illusion), but when done well, an ambigram tattoo can be both visually striking and personally meaningful for the person on whom it’s inked. Here are some tips for designing an ambigram tattoo:

1. You will likely be limited in what words your ambigram can spell, because of the challenge the design presents. It’s a little bit like designing a Sudoku or crossword puzzle: you have to work backwards from a set destination and stay within a predetermined framework. While there are ambigram generators online, you’re still not going to be able to spell out two words that vary too much in length or whose letters are too dissimilar, particularly if you want the two words to be instantly (or even eventually) recognizable as words.
   
   
2. Within the limited scope you have (see above), try to find words that are personally meaningful to you. That may happen to be in the form of a more popular design such as “ANGELS and DEMONS” but don’t feel too constrained by designs that others have used, especially if you want an ambigram but the standard ones don’t speak to you personally. An example of a more unique one that capturers the inked person’s personal philosophy: BREATHE/MUSIC.
   
   
3. Consider getting an ambigram of your name. Many people get tattoos that allow their name to be read both backwards and forwards, creating a personal touch without the challenges of designing a tattoo with two different meanings.
   
   
4. Choose your tattoo artist carefully. Ambigrams are tricky beasts to ink, and you’ll want to pick an artist who has experience inking them. If he or she can help you design the ambigram, so much the better: online generators can churn out hard-to-read tattoos, and trying to design them yourself, even if you’re a talented artist, can prove challenging.
   
   
5. At the end of the day, you may have to pay an artist to create a high-quality design for you. As noted above, the work is challenging, and all but the most benevolent artists will want extra payment for their extra work. If you’re set on getting an ambigram, however, then the extra cost will be worth it if in the end you wind up with precisely what you’re looking for.