The world is full of creative and talented artists who deserve to have their work in the spotlight. They go the extra mile to take their calling to a whole other level—and their clients are happy to show off their work.

Our team at Bored Panda wanted to pay homage to some of the most capable tattoo artists out there, so we’ve curated this list of the most impressive 3D tattoos ever. The details and shadowwork are utterly incredible! Scroll down for some magnificent ink inspiration.

#1 This Shark Looks Insane

Image credits: tatu_panda

#2 Tattoo For My Dear Father, It's Hard To Be A Fisherman

Image credits: stojanoski_tattoo

#3 Be Yourself

Image credits: miro_tattooer

Now, don’t get us wrong: 2D tattoos are majestic, too. But if you want to push the boundaries of your art and professional life, you can’t keep doing the same things over and over again.

You need to expand, experiment, and try different approaches. Some tattoo artists decide to specialize in the use of colors. Others go for more abstract art. Still, others hone their attention to detail to perfection. And some decide that 3D ink is going to be their forte.

#4 Old Painter

Image credits: jiro_painter

#5 Just Some Typical Florida Activity

Image credits: tatu_panda

#6 Isn't This The Cutest Otter In The World?

Image credits: 40.tatt

Creating the illusion of 3D, whether you’re inking another person or a piece of parchment, comes down to your skills in working with light and shadows, as well as perspective. These create a sense of depth and give the entire design a real-life quality.

You can’t do this by winging it. You need to know how light falls and shadows work in the real world, how objects overlap, and how big or small something looks the closer and further it is from the viewer.

#7 Dollar Bill Tattoo

Image credits: jefreenaderali

#8 Manta Ray And A Boat. Stingrays Swimming Leisurely In The Calm Sea Are Truly Relaxing

Image credits: muel_tattoo

#9 Homer Sticker Tattoo On A Client From British Columbia

Image credits: mr.sticker.tattoo

Truly good tattoos require a mix of several things. They don’t happen by accident (well, maybe once in a blue moon…). For one, you need your tattoo artist to be skilled, capable, and cool as a cucumber under stress.

On top of that, unless you’re fine with completely experimental tats, you need to clearly know what design you want and constantly communicate with the artist.

#10 Imagination Is Your Superpower

Image credits: soniawang

#11 This Is Such An Impressive Work

Image credits: ontossii

#12 Someone Asked For A Koi Fish

Image credits: tatu_panda

Fundamentally, though, there needs to be mutual trust between the artist and their client. If it’s missing, the results are going to pale in comparison to what could have been. You need to be comfortable with the artist and their work.

And that means doing some proper background research before you’ve even set foot in their salon.

#13 Think, Again. Shadow Tattoo

Image credits: miro_tattooer

#14 The Texture Of This Design Is Amazing And The Contrast Quality Is Really High

Image credits: muel_tattoo

#15 Incredible Piece

Image credits: _winkt

Meeting an artist in person is going to tell you a lot about their character. You’ll learn even more about their work ethic, passion for ink, and artistic talents when they start working on your skin. But before all of that happens, you need to sit down and do some research.

Many artists have both business and social media pages these days. They’re absolutely great for clients who want to get to grips with their level of skill, taste, and specialization.

#16 Humalog Bottle Tattoo

Image credits: tatu_panda

#17 Blue Goldfish On The Wrist

Image credits: marci_tatt

#18 Flying Dragon Tattoo

Image credits: lanarae.tattoo

For instance, if you want a 3D tattoo done, you probably shouldn’t head to any random local salon and ask for one. Sure, the artist might know what they’re doing or they’ll just try their best even if they don’t have the right skills. But what you want to do is find a person whose specialty is working with 3D designs.

You need to know for a fact that the tattooist has some experience in this area and feels comfortable with these sorts of designs. They might not live in your neighborhood, so mentally prepare yourself for a possible trip.

#19 A Custom Chair

Image credits: is.glue

#20 Rodeo

Image credits: tatu_panda

#21 Keep Going Up

Image credits: miro_tattooer

While you’re doing your internet research, consider talking to your friends who have tattoos about the artists whom they trust. People who are truly satisfied with the results will be happy to recommend these artists. Meanwhile, you can call up the salon or even pop in for a quick chat in person to see how viable your design is. Most good artists are happy to answer your questions.

You’ll also get a feel for the atmosphere. It’s actually quite important that you feel comfortable. Trust your gut on this one.

#22 This Is Truly Ant Exceptional Work

Image credits: omerxtunca

#23 Street Lamp

Image credits: miro_tattooer

#24 Tiny One

Image credits: cado.tattoo

Another thing to consider is the cost of the design. Clients generally want to get awesome designs done as cheaply as possible. Meanwhile, artists who take pride in their work and are practical know that detailed work requires time, which requires money because we all have to eat and pay rent.

Broadly speaking, you tend to get what you pay for. If you want high-quality ink, instead of a doodle, you have to be willing to splurge. 

#25 SpongeBob Candy Tattoo

Image credits: mikedevries

#26 The Crocodile And Its Shadow

Image credits: mr.k_tattoo

#27 The Personality Of Lari

Image credits: emilianopanaytattoo

As ‘Inked’ magazine points out, the best tattoo artists put stock in health and safety precautions. That means that they’ll wear gloves, have their certification up to date, and they’ll keep their workplace clean and neat. Hygiene is vital.

If you feel uncomfortable about being in a dirty and dingy salon, don’t be shy and speak up about it. It’s better to make things slightly awkward than to put your health in danger.

#28 Do You Remember When You Used To Play?

Image credits: pt78tattoo

#29 Have You Seen The Octopus Documentary? Messed Me Up, Not Gonna Lie. Kind Of Hard To Order Them Appetizers After Watching That

Image credits: tatu_panda

#30 This Thing Is Scary

Image credits: tatu_panda

Trustworthy artists will also give credit where it’s due and will avoid outright copying other designers’ work. It’s one thing to feel inspired by someone and put your own spin on things. It’s another thing entirely to duplicate someone’s ideas and claim them as your own.

Which of the designs in this list caught your eye the most, Pandas? Do you have any 3D tattoos yourselves? Let us know in the comments! In the meantime, for some more awesome 3D tattoo inspo, take a peek at Bored Panda’s earlier articles.

#31 This Unique Tattoo

Image credits: alchemistsvalley

#32 Reptile Tattoo

Image credits: tatu_panda

#33 I Love Making These Small 3D Tattoos

Image credits: mad_ink_art

#34 Bowser From Super Mario Tattoo

Image credits: terioshi

#35 Chair Tattoo

Image credits: newtattoo_demi

#36 For Me This Is Nightmare Fuel

Image credits: swamplost

#37 If It's There, It Can Also Not Be There

Image credits: pt78tattoo

#38 The Truman Show-Inspired Tattoo

Image credits: _dudink_

#39 Start Small, Dream Big

Image credits: pt78tattoo

#40 Fine Line Tattoo

Image credits: pt78tattoo

#41 Bobby Hill Sticker Tattoo

Image credits: psi_chi

#42 Tiny Floral Origami Tattoo

Image credits: debrartist

#43 Marco Pantani As A The Pirate

Image credits: bombayfoor

#44 This Is Her First Tattoo, So We Took A Bit Of Time To Decide The Design Because She Loves All Of My Drawings

Image credits: jangmi.ink

#45 Fox Tattoo

Image credits: anjelika_kartasheva

#46 My Famous Heart Tattoo

Image credits: gregory_tattoo

#47 This 3D Chess Piece Was Fun To Create

Image credits: jesse_rix

#48 Fun Strawberry Candy Tattoo I Did The Other Day

Image credits: mikedevries

#49 Look At This Sunflower Shark

Image credits: mooji_tt

#50 Bicycle Tattoo With Dotted Shadow

Image credits: notemytattoo

#51 A Serene Boat

Image credits: muel_tattoo

#52 This Bottle Tattoo Is One Of My Brainstorms

Image credits: shadow_tattooer

#53 Blue Seagull

Image credits: muel_tattoo

#54 Barium. Abstract Tattoo

Image credits: newtattoo_demi

#55 You Received A Manta Ray Swimming On Your Ankle

Image credits: muel_tattoo

#56 Ladder Tattoo

Image credits: alchemistsvalley

#57 Control Yourself

Image credits: luislefeld

#58 Zebra Shark

Image credits: miro_tattooer

#59 Manta Rays

Image credits: muel_tattoo

#60 Lucky Luke Tattoo

Image credits: mmtmtn

#61 Playing Children Tattoo

Image credits: bebe.tattoos

#62 The Serenity Seen Above The Water (Only Fishes, Boats, And Whales Are My Work)

Image credits: muel_tattoo

#63 Whale Tattoo

Image credits: d.smk_tattoo

#64 Dinosaur Ant

Image credits: mr.k_tattoo

#65 Fight With Yourself

Image credits: d.smk_tattoo

#66 The Sailor Tattoo

Image credits: _dudink_

#67 Spider Tattoo

Image credits: pablo_barraggan

#68 Tiny Shark

Image credits: vii_tattoo

#69 Two Tattoos Dedicated To Parents, They Will Always Walk With You

Image credits: francyosaki

#70 Recognize Yourself

Image credits: ugurhasekin

#71 Cats Love Tattoo

Image credits: ugurhasekin

#72 This Shark Tattoo Was Fun To Do

Image credits: miabz_tattoos

#73 This Otter Made Me Want To Do All Tattoos With Shadows

Image credits: lanarae.tattoo

#74 For My Beautiful Grandma

Image credits: tat.it.too

#75 Goku Tattoo That Looks Like A Sticker

Image credits: mr.sticker.tattoo

#76 Horror Shadow Tattoo

Image credits: swamplost

#77 Blacktip Shark Piece

Image credits: instagram.com

#78 Hammerhead Shark

Image credits: miro_tattooer

#79 Word "Gemini" Dropping Shadow

Image credits: poesie_muette

#80 Evening Walk

Image credits: klaracoral

#81 Swim Together

Image credits: ik_tatz

#82 I Present My New Work To You

Image credits: den_mojiii

#83 Paper Plane Tattoo

Image credits: m2_tatts

#84 1973 And 1977

Image credits: jiyoo_hontattoo

#85 Princess Spider

Image credits: gl.oma

#86 Shadow Play

Image credits: elementy_tattoo

#87 This Cute Tattoo

Image credits: pt78tattoo

#88 The Irony Of The Dentistry And Candy

Image credits: edit_paints

#89 Surrealism, Shadow Work, Custom Design

Image credits: miro_tattooer

#90 Shadow Puppet

Image credits: artesobscurae

#91 Van Gogh And Koi Fish Combo

Image credits: mooji_tt

#92 A Whale Shark

Image credits: tattooist_mul

#93 Jump Around

Image credits: luislefeld

#94 A Stylish Siamese Cat Leisurely Surfing In The Sea With Sharks

Image credits: muel_tattoo

#95 Hammerhead Sharks

Image credits: miro_tattooer

#96 Megumi's Hands, Slightly Enhanced With White Ink

Image credits: rafal_oddart

#97 Shark Tattoo

Image credits: alchemistsvalley

#98 Origami T-Rex

Image credits: alchemistsvalley