I'd argue it's both. You are certainly restricted to the elements provided by the tattoo, however you are not bound to any specific set of magic or skills. You could read up a spell in a library and be able to teach yourself how to use it so long as it fits your element.
And that's where the imagination lies. You will only be able to use the magic as much as you can think of ways to do so. I imagine there may also be some personal adeptness as well. It may be possible that one person may not be able to execute a spell while another can. However, I'm not that well-versed to provide a proper answer, just conjecture from my observations.
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And that's where the imagination lies. You will only be able to use the magic as much as you can think of ways to do so. I imagine there may also be some personal adeptness as well. It may be possible that one person may not be able to execute a spell while another can. However, I'm not that well-versed to provide a proper answer, just conjecture from my observations.