The most popular form of footprint tattoo is definitely that of a child's. Most birth certificates have a hand and foot print of an infant just after birth and these small prints are the ideal size and solid black color. However, if you don't have any children, but would still like a child's footprint tattoo, you can always obtain a copy of your significant other's birth certificate and tattoo his or her infant footprint. Black is the ideal color for these tattoos, to mirror the appearance of the prints.
Also known as a paw print, tattooing the footprint of any household pet can make a special and meaningful design. The most common prints are of a cat or dog, but hamster, bird, ferret and other small animals prints are just as possible and meaningful. Typically, household pets make small enough prints to stave off any size alterations for the tattoo and basic black ink may be ideal. If you have more than one animal, you may wish to incorporate their names underneath each print.
A more original and less-used way of displaying the footprints of a loved-one or pet is to tattoo a small portion of your skin as concrete with the prints already cast in it. It is a more artistic and less conventional idea that can, at the very least, spark other ideas for displaying prints other than the typical ink-laden ones. If you want to incorporate the names that correspond to the prints, you can create a font that looks like writing in concrete with a stick.
Power animals are generally wild animals you would rarely see as a pet, but that display qualities you possess or hope to possess. Animals, such as bears, tigers or even dinosaurs are some ideas for power animal prints, but any animal print is appropriate. These prints usually have to be scaled down, some more significantly than others, and it is strongly advised you use a generic print found in a book or online.