Is it normal, or ok, to find a pic of a tat online and copy/get it?

Don't do it. Tattoos began as symbolic messages of past accomplishments, one's self and one's dreams. A tattoo is very personal because it WILL be with you throughout your life. Many cultures looked upon tattoos as protection and guidance. Design your own tattoo, or work with another artist to get the results you want, but don't copy someone else. That's like stealing something very personal to them.

I have many tattoos, all of them were things I drew myself, and took to my tattoo artist to 'tune up'. Every day I get people telling me they love it, and want one just like it. I know they are trying to be nice, but it is pretty insulting. Many people think long and hard about what to get, and for someone to rip off an idea, and not put any time or work into the rough draft, just shows that they only want it because it's 'cool'. Its not a shirt, or accessory. How awkward would you feel if you ran into this person and they saw THEIR tattoo on you? If you like the tattoo, draw a better version yourself, or have a friend do it. If I saw someone with the same tattoo as me, especially if I knew they got the idea from me, I'd punch them in the face. Being inspired by a tattoo you've seen, and copying, are two completely different things. :) just make it your own. Keep adding changes till it's perfect again.

To the people who are saying things along the lines of "If they didn't want it copied it shouldn't be on the internet" you clearly are missing the point that it's wrong to take it. Sure, people save pictures and use them illegally but that doesn't make it right. The fact that you're justifying it like that is part of the reason it continues to happen.

Ask the artist if you can use it. The vast majority of the time the designs you'll find are not for public use. Obviously you have the money to get the tattoo why not either design an entirely unique one yourself or commission an artist to make you one. There are plenty of artists on DeviantArt.com that make tattoo commissions for reasonable prices. For all you know the design you stole could have some horrible meaning or symbolize something that will brand you for the rest of your life. :p

If the image was on Google, there's a 70+% chance that it's not original anymore.

Totally normal
Thats how a fashion trend is spreaded
Some don't go so far
Some just go global

Everyone does that! They look online for ideas and print off pictures and bring them to the artist. A way to make it just yours would be to add something or change a minor detail and then it's all you. Then no one can say you copied theirs if you add a little thing to it even if it's just a quote. Good luck!

no, it's not. most people get tattoos because they have meaning. why would you get a tattoo if it means nothing to you? you're obviously only getting it for the fact that you like the way it looks. people who come up with their own origional ideas should be RESPECTED. you are a douchebag.

I agree with aussiewolf and kellstar. Do it, but change it and make it personal.

An image being on tue web doesn't make it free to take, not hardly. If I were a tattoo artist I wouldn't do a tattoo that someone took from the Internet, there's copyright law involved, you and your tattoo artist could end up getting sued.

Always ask the artist if you can use their work. ALWAYS.

I know I would kill if I saw someone with my tattoo, but I cant just stop posting pictures online because of that, right?

You said yourself you'd feel bad for taking someone else's original tattoo. Do you really want to feel bad any time you look at the tattoo once you have it. For the rest of your life, you will be reminded you are a unoriginal follower.

If the person put the design on the web in the first place, they must expect that there'll be a few copies. I still wouldn't completely copy it though.

Take the basic design and play with it, mold it into something that's a little more "you". Then, if you still want it etched into your flesh for the rest of your life, go for it!

If you like the tat try to at least change up some of the design. Stick to the idea but try to make it your own.

As a person with original Tats...Id be upset because the point of getting original Tats is usually meaningful to that individual. Or its because that person wants to be original. BUT I also see the point if someone doesnt want it to be copied, dont put it on the web.

I think you shouldn't do it. You said yourself that it seems very original and likely, that was the point in the first place. So to have someone copy it is kind of wrong. Use your own imagination and come up with your own idea. Don't just steal someone elses design. What's the point in that? When people ask the story behind it, you'll have to confess to how unimaginative you are and tell them it was just something you stole off the Internet.

As an artist and a practicing tattooist, I'd be pretty mad if I designed a tattoo and everyone copied the design and other tattoists started doing it, there would be no evidence for me to say I designed it I guess and things like that. No copy right, but deaddread is right, it's normal for unimaginative people to copy. :]

I agree with aussiewolf, it's on the web for millions to see and I'm sure it's already on other people by now, you wouldn't be the only one that liked it. If they didn't want Ppl to copy it they shouldn't have put it on in the first place. Change it slightly and it's original to you but make sure it ha meaning to you, I've have four and they all have a story of my life to tell

i think if you put your very personal tattoo on the internet for everyone to see then you have to expect that it gets copied. i say if you like the design then get it but i prefer to design my own that way they all have their own meaning and there will be less of a chance that i will regret getting them done 30 years down the track.