Jerusalem Cross Sunframe Back Tattoo

A shaded Jerusalem cross inside a dotted circular ring and eight-point sunframe spreads across the upper back in black and grey dotwork.

Style: Dotwork
Placement: Back
Motif: Christian, Crusader cross
Good for: Sleeve
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An AI-generated concept, reviewed by our team before publishing. How we review designs

About this design

What the design shows

A Jerusalem cross sits inside a round, double-bordered center, with the large squared cross surrounded by four smaller equal-armed crosses. Grey stippling shades the faces of all five crosses, leaving their black outlines crisp. A ring of separate black dots follows the inner circle, then a broader circular border supports eight pointed rays. The rays extend at the cardinal and diagonal positions, each with a dark stippled base that fades toward the sharp tip. Small dot trails continue beyond the top, bottom, left, and right points, giving the frame a measured compass-like rhythm. The design is entirely black and grey with open skin inside the circles. In the on-skin preview, it spans just wider than a hand across the upper back, centered over the spine below the neck.

In this design

Jerusalem cross
four small crosses
dotted inner ring
double circular border
eight pointed rays
grey stipple shading

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Placement

Placement and size

The upper-back preview centers the circle over the spine below the neck, with the longest vertical rays pointing toward the nape and mid-back. Its radial geometry also suits the center chest, upper thigh, shoulder blade, or the flat space above the knee. Keep the circle level before placing the stencil because uneven rays are easy to notice. If made smaller, simplify the dotted ring and shorten the outer dot trails before losing the five internal crosses.

Patchwork

Building it into a patchwork

This roundel carries medium-dark dotwork weight and needs a broad clear field around its eight rays. It works as a central back marker with smaller linework pieces placed beyond the ray tips. A short black banner below it or individual stars at the diagonal points can echo the radial layout. Avoid enclosing it in a second ring, which would make the sunframe crowded. Maintain a skin gap after each point so the stippled fades remain visible.

Small pieces that pair with it

A small black banner below the lowest ray
Four tiny stars outside the diagonal points
A short dotted arc beside the right ray

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On skin

More back tattoos on skin

Other reviewed designs previewed on the same body area, to compare size and placement.

For your artist

Notes for your tattoo artist

01Align the top and bottom rays with the spine.
02Keep the inner dot ring evenly spaced around the circle.
03Fade the ray shading toward the pointed tips.

Made and reviewed

How this design was made

Design: Generated with AI image tools under our direction, then reviewed by the Patchwork Tattoos team: a readable outline, the same design in the clean and on-skin views, and a reviewed Builder piece.
Page notes: Written from the clean design and the on-skin preview of this exact design, then checked against both pictures.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-03
Your tattoo: A concept for planning. Your artist will redraw it for your skin, placement and size, so the finished tattoo will differ from the image.
License: Free to download and use as the reference for your own tattoo and to share with your artist. Selling the file or republishing it in a collection is not allowed.

How we review designs Read the design license

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