Freehand or Stencil

[SkinSkribe]

Do most of you use a thermal fax or similar device to produce your stencil or do we have any other free handers in here. I've only drawn my designs directly on the skin to date but i'm going to try a method utilizing an inkjet printer and glossy paper for an extremely detailed flash piece I drew up. I love going directly to skin with the design, the only draw back is when you have to redraw an intricate design.

[txtatz]

Dot matrix printer and spirit master paper is the best way to go, especialy if you have a good graphics program such as corel photopaint.
very easy to convert flash to line drawings. Second best way is to trace the design onto the spirit master paper. I have heard of others trying to fill the injet cartiridges with hecto ink with bad results, never heard of the glossy paper thing. Thermofax are good to but are becoming a thing of the past and a dot matrix printer will do better, quicker and cheaper.

A word of advice also, stay away from the ones on ebay under any tattoo category, they are way over priced, best bet is to search for 24 pin dot matrix printer.

[Anonymous]

I got to use an old thermo fax at the shop I apprenticed at , but I have always had to trace it over the spirit sheets by hand , of course id rather use the machines I am stuck with the doung it by hand .

What kind of pens do u use for drawing on the skin , I use bic ball point pens < only when I have to . They do say non toxic .....I have seen alot of people using sharpies , but I never have , they also say non toxic , so I guess they might be ok ? what do u guys use ????

[SkinSkribe]

Don't bother with the glossy photo paper. I read that on another thread in this forum but it was no bueno. I'll just stick to goin' directly to skin 'til I can scrounge up a dot matrix that you guys are talkin' 'bout. Thanks for the tip.

Runic, you should use skin scribes which are available at some medical supply stores but easier located on the web. I think needlejak has 'em for $3 a piece which is reasonable. A sharpie would work in a pinch but why muck up your working surface like that. It also helps to practice your drawing a lot if you're going to use this method because you don't want any confusing extra, sketchy lines on your freehanded stencil. Just check and recheck that everything is symmetrical before you cut.

[txtatz]

For drawing on skin, skin scrib, but if in a pinch I have used sharpies before.

Agressive,

download the trial of the new corel photo paint ( CorelDraw Graphic suite 12) (http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Corel2/Downloads/Home)

don't install , let me know when ya have it ( pm me or email me) and I'll send ya alittle surprise. It has some really cool features. under the effects menu you have contour, which will find edges and other things, if ya play with it a little you can get the line drawings from color peices.

[Jillsta]

After reading this thread, I decided to start shopping for a dot matrix printer instead of trying to save $1,000 for a thermal fax machine (which I think is ridiculous!) Now, what kind of paper are you putting in the dot matrix printer?

I also have Corel Draw and Corel Photo Paint, and I use it all the time... it's expensive, but a very powerful and professinal program.

[tjh]

Myself,Istill cant afford a thermal copier so Im still doin the deed byhand. It takes me longer but for some ungodly reason Im happy with the result. I use tracing paper & thermal sheets for my stencils;no probs! T.J.

[Inkster]

The advantage of doing it by hand as a newbie is it gets you familiar with the flow of all the lines and where to push and pull, I regard it the same as a rally driver might walk round a course getting to know it before driving around it, familiarization.

[Grafx]

You couldn't be more correct "inkster".
IMHO, if you are relatively new to tattooing DON'T buy a stencil maker of any kind yet!

Make your own stencils from the line art or darwing that you have for reference with "Spirit master" paper. Sure it saves time. BUT, don't rush something that you havent mastered yet. Meaning that if you have to not only draw the line art, then the stencil, then tattoo the design you have just drawn twice. You will be totally focused, and into that piece completely. Therefore, less likely to make a mistake such as un-even line weights, wobbles, mix mached points, or even cross overs. Please take your time and let it come naturally. You will thank me for this later. If you ever apprentice you will be doing line drawing out the wazzoo, so better to be prepared now.

Don't try and run before you walk through the basics and get them down pat.
Good luck and remember that "Rome wasn't built in a day"

"The wheel of life is turning...
Try and stop it, and your hands will be amputated by the spokes of progress"

[Chef-Ink]

Inkster and Grafx hit the nail on the head.
Im a newbie too. I need all the practice I can get. I use spirit-masters and trace all my stuff. By the time Im ready to actually ink the design, I know all the lines and am so much more comfotable.

Hell, when I do practice skins, I even do all my lines twice. The more practice the better. The idea of go slow, walk before you run is so true when it comes to tattoing. Ive forced myself to slow down, and Im starting to see results.

Good luck

[Inkster]

Ive forced myself to slow down, and Im starting to see results.One of my problems was my hand speed was too fast for my own ability and I was creating bad lines that could of been avoided, just creating more work for myself by going back to repair bad lines.

[timmy]

Hi all,very good subject.I to have been tracing my stencils and really does help by the time you get to dipping into some ink.I also had myself slow down and get nothing but better results,its really worth it and there is so much more to gain from it.Everyone here seems to be really heading down the right path and im glad we are all pretty much on the same one.It only gets better and the tattoos in the gallery are all looking really good.Keep at it...

[tjh]

hi guys .ive been doin my stencils by hand now for around13-14 yrs.,so ill probably keep right on doin it that way.no big deal really. would just love to have the thermal but ,i dont know man, it kinda takes somethin away from the feel of it fer me!dont wanna lose my groove dudes :twisted:

[desertcowboy96]

can i get Spirit master paper ant the local wlamart or office depot? i have some old paper that my x mother in law gave me but im not shure where to get new stuff.. the less stuff i have to buy off the net the better.

[voodoo]

i have some carbon paper from office depot/max,it dosant work so hot.so i got s/m to use.

[odisius]

i use both myself trace and therm but i like tracing it allows me to tweak and alter as im making the stencil. Also it seems to make darker stencils that last longer.