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I Design Tattoos That Don’t Fully Reveal Themselves Until The Light Changes (40 Pics)

I Design Tattoos That Don’t Fully Reveal Themselves Until The Light Changes (40 Pics)

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Most tattoos are designed to be seen. Mine are designed to transform. I’m Jonny Hall, a globally recognized tattoo artist specializing in realism and ultraviolet tattooing. While most artists focus on what’s visible in daylight, I became obsessed with what could be hidden within it. Over the past several years, I’ve developed techniques that allow a tattoo to exist in two distinct states — one that stands strong in natural light, and another that only reveals itself under blacklight.
Below are some of my favorite UV tattoos so you can see exactly how each piece transforms.

#1 My Octopus Teacher

My Octopus Teacher
Not your typical octopus!
18points

My work has been featured across major international platforms and has generated over half a billion views online. Much of that attention has come from pushing UV tattooing beyond novelty and into high-level realism. I’m widely recognized as the first artist to specialize in integrating ultraviolet pigment into detailed, realistic compositions as a core style—not just an accent.

#2 Freehand Lightning

Freehand Lightning
8 months healed. Done using invisible UV ink.
18points

#3 Feminine Energy

Feminine Energy
This tattoo was for my client who wanted a tattoo to represent a quote that she lives by each day: "To become learned, each day add something. To become enlightened, each day drop something." - Lao Tzu
17points

UV tattooing isn’t about making something glow. It’s about restraint. A tattoo must look complete, balanced, and powerful in daylight. Every shadow, highlight, and texture must hold up on its own. Then, when the light shifts, a second dimension activates—constellations ignite, embers burn beneath the skin, eyes illuminate, and bioluminescent details appear where there was once only shadow.

The result is artwork that holds a secret.

#4 The Tiger

The Tiger
The one you don’t see coming, unless you happen to have a blacklight!
16points

#5 Cairns Birdwing Butterfly

Cairns Birdwing Butterfly
Cairns Birdwing butterfly done using green and yellow UV, which both look like regular color inks in daylight.
15points

#6 Cyborg

Cyborg
Art imitating technology, or technology imitating art?
15points

#7 The Sea, The Moon And The Stars

The Sea, The Moon And The Stars
The pull of the moon, the rhythm of the sea, and a sky full of stars—everything is connected. A tattoo for a particularly spiritual client of mine.
12points

#8 Memorial Tattoo

Memorial Tattoo
More than a car—a legacy carried forward. Built in steel, remembered in skin. This piece keeps my client's dad riding with her, every single day.
12points

#9 Arcane Hex Tattoo

Arcane Hex Tattoo
That which inspires us to our greatest good is also the cause of our greatest evil: Arcane. Another fun Arcane tattoo, for another one of my clients who is fanatical about the series.
11points

#10 Magic Mycelium

Magic Mycelium
Psychedelic by name, psychedelic by nature. This tattoo was done using color UV, which look like regular tattoos in daylight and really show off that fantastic fungi magic under the black light.
10points

#11 UV Glitter Snake

UV Glitter Snake
Another UV glitter tattoo done using emerald style colors, this time in the shape of a snake, using regular white ink as the outline to keep a subtle look in daylight.
10points

#12 Zeus, Lava Lightning

Zeus, Lava Lightning
A different spin on Zeus. Lava lightning, created with red UV ink.
10points

#13 Fire Phoenix

Fire Phoenix
Rebirth in real time—a phoenix forged in shadow, ignited with orange UV lava.
10points

#14 Om - The Essence Of The Universe

Om - The Essence Of The Universe
The sound of creation, translated into light.
9points

#15 Zeus, King Of Kings

Zeus, King Of Kings
Zeus in natural light—classical, powerful, timeless.Under UV, the lightning reveals itself—an invisible force brought to life.
8points

#16 Green UV Butterfly

Green UV Butterfly
12 months healed butterfly done using green UV ink.
7points

#17 Cross

Cross
Christian Cross for my client who wanted a tattoo to represent his faith. This was done using orange UV ink, which heals like a regular orange in daylight and glows like lava under a black light.
7points

#18 Samurai Warrior With Glowing Eyes

Samurai Warrior With Glowing Eyes
Another example of not all tattoos needing a lot of UV. Sometimes less is more.
7points

#19 Capricorn Energy

Capricorn Energy
Capricorn, the star sign of patience, power, and precision.
7points

#20 The World Is Yours

The World Is Yours
A classical Greek statue tattoo, with a modern gangster twist…IYKYK.
7points
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