Kept
- The eye, nose, muzzle, outer head shape, and major stripe rhythm.
- The vertical floral frame around the animal.
- The distinction between the main tiger subject and its decorative support.
Worked stencil example
Tiger and roses reference to tattoo stencil
This example focuses on protecting the tiger eye, nose, muzzle, and stripe rhythm while the roses continue to support the vertical composition.
- Tiger portrait with floral framing
- Black-and-white stencil
- Face hierarchy and floral support
What to check
Start with the full stencil. Then zoom into the decisions that matter.
Compare the source and result, then inspect the areas where recognition, spacing or detail changed most.
ReferenceStencil
Evidence index
Full composition
Inspect the complete hierarchy before zooming into one local decision.
This page documents one matched source-to-result pair. The full images stay the same while the viewing crop changes. One example does not guarantee that every reference needs the same cleanup or produces the same result.
Reference
What had to stay readable
- The tiger face needs to remain the first read even when roses occupy a large part of the vertical frame.
- Petal overlaps, whisker transitions, and stripe detail can compete at smaller tattoo sizes.
Stencil decisions
What we kept, what we simplified, and what stays your call
Simplified
- The result converts the reference into a black-and-white stencil structure with a clearer face-first hierarchy.
- Floral detail remains visually secondary to the tiger landmarks.
Artist call
- Check whisker lines and the smallest petal overlaps at final size.
- Keep secondary flower detail lighter than the tiger face when refining the stencil.
- Confirm the vertical composition against the intended forearm, calf, or comparable placement.
Keep working
Continue from this example
Compare more tiger stencil directions
Open the focused Tiger subject page and compare several face-led and concept-led examples.
Browse the animal stencil group
Compare tiger structure with wolves, octopuses, birds, and other animal subjects.
Open the photo-to-stencil workflow
See how StencilStudio turns a photo or reference into a cleaner stencil draft.
Prepare a photo source
Review source selection, simplification, and cleanup before generation.
Next step
Use your own animal reference in StencilStudio
Download the iPhone app to generate, review, and export a stencil from your own reference.