Tattoo Stencils
Tattoo Stencils
Even great freehand artists need to use tattoo stencils at times, whether it’s to ensure absolute precision for a finicky customer, to make sure that you and the customer have the same design concept, or to finalize the location of the tattoo with the customer.
Of course, artists often purchase ready-to-use tattoo stencils, for those clients who like to be able to point at the wall, then at their bicep, and get their first tat. Stencils, however, not only help you get on the same page as the customer, but also help you maintain your all-important credibility as an artist. After all, one seriously bad tattoo on the wrong customer can damage a career. Whether you use a Thermofax or hand trace all your tattoo stencils, you need top-quality supplies to make sure your tat is perfect.
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 Self Adhesive Decal Stencils For Henna temporary tattoo 18d 13h 7m US $5.50 |
 10 Henna Rubber Stencils Mehndi Tattoo Wedding Bride Bridal Make Up GIFT 019YE 1h 11m US $8.99 |
 10 Henna Rubber Stencil Stencils Mhendi Mehndi Tattoo Tattoos Reusable 019YF 1h 11m US $8.99 |
 Totally Tattoo Party Art Body Stencils for Belly Buttons Badger 1d 15h 20m US $14.00 |
 Japanese tattoo design book great background stencils 1d 2h 3m US $30.00 |
 STENCIL PRO 4oz for Applying Tattoo Stencils onto Skin 20d 13h 54m US $12.99 |
 10 Henna Rubber Stencil Stencils Mhendi Mehndi Tattoo Tattoos Reusable 016KM 16h 49m US $8.99 |
Thermal Paper Tattoo Stencils
Traditionally, tattoo stencils were made from plastic sheets or acetate, but now, thermal paper is far more common. Thermal paper is a high-grade paper treated with a chemical that changes color when it’s exposed to heat. If you have a Thermofax, this is the paper you need to buy. You can also use thermal paper to trace your design by hand, freehand your design, or even run them through a dot-matrix printer. In other words, thermal paper is incredibly versatile.
Tracing Paper Tattoo Stencils
If you’re tracing a design or picture, this is the paper for you. Simply put the tracing paper on top of the picture or design, put the whole thing over a light box or light table, and then trace away, using a hectograph pencil (which will allow you to transfer the design directly from the tracing paper to the customer’s body). The advantage to this over using carbon paper to trace your design is that you won’t have to worry about the design inverting upon transfer (which is particularly useful if your design includes text)—at least, assuming that you reverse the photograph or design before tracing it. You did remember to do that, right?
Hectograph Paper Tattoo Stenciles
This is basically carbon paper specifically designed for tattoo use. It can’t be fed into a copier, but you can trace or freehand your designs on it, then apply it more-or-less directly onto skin. If you don’t have a Thermofax, then hectograph or tracing paper is probably the way to go.
Hectograph Pencils
Hectograph pencils allow for easier transfer from tattoo stencils to flesh than other types of ink. You can also use them for freehand drawing on the flesh prior to tattooing.
Stencil Fluid
Instead of hectograph pencils, you can use stencil fluid (with a dip pen) to create your traced or freehanded tattoo stencils. The fluid is basically an impermanent ink that will fade—generally, you’ll want to use a different color than the color you’re using for your tattoo’s outline, in order to make it easier to keep track of where you’ve already tattooed.
If your rocking tattoo stencils you may also want to check out tattoo posters.
