What to post on InkMap — the content guidelines

• What InkMap is for

  Every post should reflect genuine body-art work. That covers finished pieces and fresh work, healed results, flash and available designs, before-and-after progress, full-look and model shots that feature real body art, and a practitioner's or studio's working life — the space, the team, conventions, behind-the-scenes moments. If a post showcases or supports real body art, it belongs here.

• What doesn't belong

  InkMap is not a general social feed. Posts that aren't about body art — food, selfies with no body art, landscapes, memes, self-promotion and "entrepreneur" content, and anything off-topic — don't belong in the feeds and can be removed. The goal isn't to be strict for its own sake; it's to keep every feed worth opening.

• Body and nudity — the photo versus the artwork

  This is the part people most often get wrong, so it's worth being precise. We treat what the photo shows (a real person's body) differently from what the artwork depicts (the tattoo or design itself).

  • The body in the photo. Work on any part of the body is welcome — chest, thighs, buttocks, anywhere. Nudity is fine as long as intimate parts are covered or cropped. What's not allowed is exposed nipples, genitals, or anus visible in the photo, or sexually suggestive poses that aren't about showing the work. When in doubt, use a simple cover or crop and keep the focus on the art.
  • The artwork itself. A tattoo is art, and we never censor it. Nudity, erotic or provocative designs, pin-ups, figurative and Renaissance-style nudes — all of it is welcome, and an artist is never penalised for the content of their work. The one absolute line: depictions of minors in sexual contexts, which carry zero tolerance.

  This is why InkMap aims to be a safe place for artists to show all their work without fear of being shadow-banned for the subject of a piece. Please don't report a post just because the tattoo design features nudity — that's exactly the kind of art this platform is built to protect.

• What will get a post reported

  A post can be removed if it's reported and a moderator confirms it breaks the guidelines. The common reasons:

  • AI-generated images passed off as real body art
  • Photos unrelated to body art (food, plain selfies, landscapes, memes, and the like)
  • Exposed intimate parts of a person's body in the photo (nipples, genitals, anus)
  • Violence, hate speech, or otherwise offensive material
  • Spam or duplicate posts
  • Claiming someone else's work as your own

• Anyone can report a post

  InkMap is moderated by the community. Anyone can report a post they believe crosses a line, and reports are reviewed by trusted community moderators matched to the relevant discipline. Reporting carries its own responsibility — accurate reports build your standing, and false or spammy reports cost you. For the full picture of how review, removals, disputes, and trust work, see How moderation works on InkMap.

Frequently asked questions

Can I post a tattoo that depicts nudity or something provocative?

Yes. The artwork itself is never censored — nudity, erotic, and figurative designs are all welcome. The only absolute line is any depiction of minors in a sexual context. Please don't report a post just because the design features nudity.

Can I post a selfie, a lifestyle shot, or something not about body art?

Practitioners and studios have a Lifestyle/Gallery space for working life — your studio, your team, conventions, behind-the-scenes. But posts with no connection to body art at all (food, memes, plain selfies, self-promotion) don't belong in the feeds and can be removed.

A photo shows a lot of the body around the work — is that allowed?

Yes, as long as intimate parts are covered or cropped. Exposed nipples, genitals, or anus must not be visible in the photo. When in doubt, cover or crop and keep the focus on the art.

What happens if my post breaks the guidelines?

If it's reported and confirmed, it's removed and there's a trust penalty that escalates with repeat offences. You can dispute a removal you think is wrong. The mechanics are covered in How moderation works on InkMap.