How to design a tattoo

This article involves designing Tattoo flash.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A Light Box(or any light source you can draw on top of)
• A Ballpoint Pen
• Transfer Paper

1. First lay whatever type of paper you wish to use down onto the light source.

2. Now begin by doing all of the outlines (no shading, no detail.)

3. Lay another piece of paper over the image so that you can see your original outlines on the top page.

4. On this top sheet, retrace the outline. It is preferred to use bolder lines than the original, so try using a thicker pen.

5. Now just shade in all of the details until the image looks the way you would want it to appear on the skin. Depending on preference, you can either use your ballpoint pen or a thicker marker for the shading.

6. You now have two layers, one outline and one final result. When you go to actually tattoo this, trace out the first page (outline) on the transfer paper's top sheet. I think Spirit is the best brand, but any kind of transfer paper will work.

7. Once your basic outline is on the top sheet (tracing paper), remove the beige protective sheet (right under the top sheet)and trace the outline again with your trusty ballpoint.

8. Carefully remove the top sheet (the one with your image on it). Now apply the image to the location you want the tattoo in. You put the sheet face up because the carbon is absorbed on the backside.

9. You can either hold the design in place or use surgical tape to keep it from moving. Now rub non-scented deodorant (old spice is good) over the top of the design. Don't over do this or your stencil will not come out good, just go over the actual image about twice.

10. Now simply peel off the piece of paper and you will see your artwork on someone's skin! The next step is to tattoo over this outline. Once you tat your whole outline, use your other sheet (the one with the details) as a reference for when you're shading and coloring.

11. If you want to mount your Flash, first you should color it. Use watercolors to color each layer separately. Now you line up the images and tape the top layer over the bottom. You can mount this, or scan it to a computer and print the image out so that it's all on one sheet.

Tips & Warnings

• Ballpoint Pens work the best for this type of art. Even if you don't like using ballpoint, you at least need one for transferring your art to a stencil.
• Spirit brand transfer paper is my favorite.
• Don't move the stencil around if you don't want it to get smeared.
• You must be sterile when applying the stencil.
• Don't use deodorant that someone's already used.
• Wear gloves when applying the stencil.
• Don't put very much detail or shading into the actual stencil (top layer) because it will be too confusing when you actually tattoo it.

[keroro489]

on 7/27/2009 cool, now, how do i never mind.

[kasperjames]

on 10/16/2007 would this work on leather? or perhaps plastic materials?

[robertsloan2]

on 10/3/2007 This is great. I didn't know the processes involved for creating tattoo flash, though I've done celtic knotwork drawings that clients and friends brought to tattoo parlors and had done. Thank you for explaining the process my artwork goes through when tattoo artists use it!