Tattoos-Supplies.com

We have been working on a documentary about the tattoo industry for about 6 months, and sadly, it’s been put on the back burner while we work our day jobs. The documentary is going to be aimed at those who want to become a tattoo artist, showing exactly what you need to do to get an apprenticeship, tattooing tips, where to get your supplies, how to choose a location, whether you should start your own tattoo shop, and on and on.  Okay, I guess it’s half documentary and half educational.  If you are interested in getting notified when it is done, just leave a comment here and we will give you a sneak preview (must use your real email address so that we can reach you).

In the mean time, I found a cool resource for anyone who wants to learn about how to become a tattoo artist. Unfortunately I am not able to GIVE you a free copy of this, but if you are interested in checking it out, just click on the picture below (I will also be adding it to the sidebar eventually, but for now, just click the picture…)

Using a ruler

Maybe this is obvious, but I’ve only recently been using it a lot. This example was used for a cover up, but I use it even more when I’m planning a tattoo for a certain space.

All I do is hold up a ruler to the piece when I take a picture. That’s it.

After transferring the images to my computer, I open up Photo shop.
Create a new file (File > New). For a new document I always use the Photo shop Preset: U.S. Paper. (Size – Letter) This creates a standard 8.5″ by 11″ sheet at a 300 dots per inch resolution.

Next, I open the image I want and drag it onto the new document. Making sure the rulers are showing (View – Rulers) I click on the ruler and drag/pull a guide down to the inch mark. And I drag another down to the two inch mark.

Then it’s a matter of resizing the photo; enlarging or reducing enough so the inch and two inch marks line up with the guides.

Pretty easy.

Then I have my size. Sometimes I print it out and draw over it. Other times I use my Wacom and sketch right there. It’s perfect. And it helps with figuring out sizing for cover ups.

I also have paper rulers I print out and use as well. I like using a new one for every person, so I just print them out and throw them away. It’s nothing special, but, when I get time, I’ll throw it in the reference section so it’s easy to just grab and print.

If you are just getting started, you may think that it will be difficult to find people who will be willing to let you practice tattooing on them. Fortunately, there are several ideas you can try, without resorting to giving people free tattoos in exchange for being your guinea pig!

The most popular practice surface for tattooing is the grapefruit. Although it is round, it has a surface area that is larger than an orange, and the texture is very similar to that of real human skin.

Some tattoo artists use pig skin to practice doing tattoos. If you can find a butcher that sells whole pigs, try to buy one with the skin still on it. the pig body can be used for about 2 days, which is long enough to get in several practice pieces. Unfortunately, this can be quite expensive.

Another option is fake skin. You can find polypropylene rubber swatches or leather squares that are specifically made for practicing your tattoo skills. The surface is flat, so it beats a grapefruit, but you should expect to pay about $10 for each 6′ by 6′ square. Look for the brand called Second Skin–it works well, and if you can afford it, it is nicer than grapefruits, and won’t freak people out when they come to visit, and find an entire pig in your refrigerator!

Finally, a fourth idea is to go to a sport flooring supply house and ask if they carry the rubber underlayment that is used to cushion the tiles of a basketball court or gymnasium floor. Actually, I will do you one better: THIS SITE will send you a free sample if you want to try it out before buying a larger quantity.

Have you used any of the above ideas? What method or practice material is YOUR favorite?

I thought this video might be helpful for anyone who wants to learn how to do tattoos.  This video is not about tattoos supplies specifically, but still a great clip to watch if you are interested in learning how to tattoo instructions. Feel free to leave your comments! It is a good video for people who are new to tattooing, so if you enjoy the clip, feel free to click through to Youtube and subscribe, and use our Sharing buttons if you want to bookmark this post!