A Tattoo transfer paper is a type of carbon copy sheet that tattoo artists use to draw designs and then transfer the outlines onto the skin by pressing it against the skin.
If you want to know how a tattoo transfer paper works, stick around and continue reading. This article will explain the different types of transfer papers and how to use tattoo transfer paper to create unique tattoo designs.
Let’s dive in:
Types of tattoo transfer paper and how to use them
Though it might sound complicated, using transfer paper is more manageable than hand drawing designs directly onto the skin, especially if you are just a beginner. With a transfer paper, you will get a more accurate final design.
To understand how a tattoo transfer paper works, you first need to know the different types of transfer paper. There are two transfer papers: Thermographic and hectographic tattoo transfer papers.
Thermographic transfer paper
This type of transfer paper uses heat to transfer drawn or printed images from one area to another. There are four layers in a thermographic piece:
- The topmost layer is a white sheet that the design transfers onto
- The milky white second layer protects the first layer. You can discard this.
- The ink layer, usually blue or purple
- The yellow bottom layer holds all the sheets together as you draw the design.
How to use tattoo transfer paper step by step
- Create the tattoo design
Draw the tattoo design with a pencil on a regular piece of paper. You can take your time and play around with the design until you are delighted with the outcome.
Remember, what you draw here will be transferred to the transfer paper, so make sure your design is perfect. Once you are fully satisfied with your work, you can move on to the next step.
- Slide the paper with the design between the thermographic paper sheets
After you have created your tattoo design, place the paper between the tattoo transfer sheets. The original paper with the design should be between the purple/blue ink layer and the yellow bottom layer.
- Place the sheets of paper through the thermographic transfer copier.
A thermographic transfer maker is a device that allows the tattoo artist to transfer the design to the stencil (top sheet) quickly. You need to have the thermographic copier for this step to work, so if you don’t have one, you can purchase it online, in tattoo shops, or physical printer shops.
If you have the thermographic transfer maker, you can put all the sheets inside for the design to transfer from the original paper to the top sheet (the carbon copy)
- Separate the sheets
Once you have used the machine to transfer the design to the top sheet, you can tear it off the rest of the transfer sheets. Since you only need the carbon copy, you can dispose of the rest of the other sheets.
- Transfer the tattoo design
Before transferring the tattoo design, identify where the client wants the tattoo drawn and clean it well. Use a damp cloth and soapy water to rub the area thoroughly until it is clean.
Once you clean the tattoo area, you can take the stencil and press it onto the client’s skin.
Remember, the skin should still be damp when you do this. Do not be in a rush; press the carbon copy gently until the design is fully transferred to the skin, then slowly lift off the carbon copy.
Now that you have a perfect design outline for your tattoo. You can proceed to draw
Hectographic transfer paper
Also known as the freehand tattoo transfer paper, the hectographic paper works like a carbon copy sheet. The paper has three layers; the top layer is where you draw the design, the middle sheet you remove, and the bottom layer the design transfers onto.
To use hectographic or freehand transfer paper, remove the middle sheet and draw your tattoo design on the top layer. The design will automatically transfer to the bottom layer (carbon copy)
Once the design has transferred to the bottom layer, you can carefully cut it out and place it over the area you want to tattoo.
Before placing the stencil, prepare the area with a stencil stay solution and use a sponge to dampen the cut-out sheet on the skin. Lift the sheet carefully once the design has successfully transferred to the skin.
We hope this article has provided you with all the information about using tattoo transfer paper. Remember, if you are starting as a tattoo artist, a transfer paper is the best way to create quality designs that will satisfy your clients. Good luck on your tattooing journey.
