Table of contents
Step 1: Find design size
- Print the design in black and white in a size that seems good for the placement
- Cut around the printed design and try it on the body of the client, making sure the size is good
- If needed, resize with the printer, print again and double check the new size
Step 2: Copy stencil by hand
- Once the good size was found, get a sheet of stencil paper and remove the tissue paper barrier
- Tape the printed design on top of the stencil paper to prevent it from moving
- Using a ballpoint pen, trace over the lines of the design while applying good pressure
- Before removing the design, make sure all the lines are copied
- Remove the taped design and cut the stencil to size
- Place it onto the tattoo bed, stencil side up
Step 2: Copy stencil with a thermal stencil machine
- Once the good size was found, tape the design on a blank sheet of paper, leaving some room at the bottom
- Get a sheet of stencil paper and remove the tissue paper barrier
- Place the stencil paper in the machine
- Place the sheet with the design in the machine
- Press copy and hold the stencil paper with both hands slowly pulling on it while it copies the design
- Once the copy is done cut around the stencil and place it onto the tattoo bed, stencil side up
Step 3: Prep skin
- Wash your hands and put on some gloves
- Take your razor and shave very closely the area you’re gonna tattoo + around 2 inches
- After the skin is shaved, use an alcohol pad or prep stuff to sterilize the skin
Step 4: Apply stencil
- Once the alcohol has dried, apply a moderately generous amount of stencil stuff to the area, spreading it with your finger to get an even thin coat
- Hold the stencil over the area and when really sure of placement apply it onto the skin starting from the middle
- Slowly stick the rest of the stencil to the skin with your finger working from the middle towards the outside
- Rub it slightly when it’s all stuck to the skin
- Slowly peel the stencil off
- Leave to dry for around 10 minutes