Tattoo stencils are drawings that transfer designs onto client skin quickly and efficiently before an artist inks them permanently. While stencils provide quick results, perfect results may take more work.
Tattoo stencil paper comes in two varieties – thermal paper and hectograph carbon paper; the latter is used with thermal printers to create stencils. Hectograph carbon papers have been around for approximately 200 years, operating via pressure or impact rather than heat.
Spirit Master hectograph paper is an innovative hectograph paper that can be used manually and with thermal copier transfer machines to create stencils for artists without access to thermal printers or computers. Spirit Master makes an ideal alternative for artists without these resources available to produce their stencils.
Thermal paper
One of the critical aspects of tattooing is creating an accurate stencil, as this will transfer onto their skin and become part of them permanently. Professional tattoo artists understand that an inaccurate stencil can be a huge hassle. That’s why they invest in top-of-the-line transfer paper to ensure all their lines are transferred accurately.
Tattoo artists commonly utilize Xerox-based thermal paper for creating stencils, although other options, such as Hectograph transfer paper and Spirit Classic thermal papers, are also available.
Tracing paper
Tattoo stencil drawings are an integral component of tattooing. Artists use these designs to ensure that their desired tattoo designs appear exactly where selected on the skin and can use these for permanent or temporary tattoos.
Tracing paper designed specifically for tattoo stencil drawings should be transparent and thin enough to be transferred directly onto the skin without losing details. It is essential when dealing with portrait designs requiring shading elements to be added to.
Before applying a tattoo stencil, an artist will ensure the skin is clean and dry before shaving the area that needs tattooing with a disposable razor. They then will apply trace paper over their skin to compress any air pockets that might form underneath the stencil and avoid air bubbles forming underneath it.
Digitally-drawn designs
Tattoo artists typically rely on digitally drawn designs when creating tattoos, enabling them to quickly adjust the size, rework colors, and smooth out linework before beginning tattooing.
Adobe Illustrator is one of the most widely-used drawing programs tattoo artists use, providing users with a powerful means to create vector illustrations – perfect for stencil drawings. This free and user-friendly software makes it a popular choice among artists. Available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, the application provides artists with the brushes and tools to design the tattoo of their dreams quickly and efficiently.
