Printing Perfect Tattoo Stencils

Once your printer is set up, every stencil follows the same path: start with a clean design, mirror it if needed, size it to the tattoo, and print with the right settings. Get these four things right and your stencils come out dark, sharp and true to size every time.

Start with a clean design

InkJet Stencils® works with any app that can print or export an image. Many artists use one of these:

• Procreate for drawing and tracing on iPad.
• Photoshop for fine control over contrast, especially photo-based and realism work.
• Stencil creation apps, which convert art or photos into contours in seconds and often include sizing and multi-page printing.

Use whatever you already design in. We'll be adding app-specific guides soon.

The printer lays down exactly what you send it. To get great results, consider the following in your design.

• Lines versus Shading. Our printing systems also support shading, which can visualize the design on the skin.  However, to maximize the design's staying power, many artists simplify their design into solid black lines.  
• Lines thickness. Our system can print much finer lines than a thermal printer.  Thicken lines that you need the line to stay on the skin though a long session.
• High-resolution files. Export JPG, PNG or PDF at 300 ppi or higher

Mirror when needed

The stencil goes on skin face-down, so the design flips when it transfers. Anything that isn't symmetric needs to be mirrored before printing.

Most design apps can flip the canvas, and many print and stencil apps have a mirror option. Otherwise, the standard photo viewer on iPads/iPhones can be used.  

Size it to the tattoo

The Epson iPrint app allows you to scale your design, but you will need to estimate it and it may take a few tries.  If you need precision, we recommend the following: 

1. Measure the placement on the client with a flexible tape. Curved areas like forearms and calves need a little extra width to wrap.
2. Crop tight. Trim empty space around the design so its dimensions match the artwork itself.
3. Set the final size before printing. Apps like Print to Size let you enter exact inches or centimeters and print true to size from your iPad or phone.
4. Turn off "fit to page." Many print dialogs scale your image to fill the sheet by default. Set scale to 100% or Actual Size.

Print a few sizes. It's cheap.

With thermal paper, every extra print costs real money. With InkJet Stencils®, a 4 oz bottle of ink prints about 3,000 stencils and our paper costs a fraction of thermal paper, so an extra size costs pennies.

Put the same design on one sheet at two or three sizes, for example 90%, 100% and 110%. Hold them up on the client and choose together. No reprinting mid-appointment, and no guessing.

Depending on your sizing method, it can be hard to replicate the exact size.   When you get the right size, print another copy, in case you drop the sheet or need to fix placement.    

Use the right print settings

These settings decide whether a stencil comes out dark and sharp or pale and patchy.

• Paper type: Presentation Paper Matte. Set this on the printer. It tells the printer to lay down more ink.
• Print quality: Best (or High). Set this in your print app for the finest detail.
• Print mode: Monochrome will default to Black.  For color printers, black is best for most uses.  .

Printing from an iPad or phone. The Epson app gives the most reliable connection and shows the paper type and quality settings. AirPrint works for quick prints but can be less reliable on some printers and networks.

Stencil printing light? Most issues come down to economy mode, print mode or a low-contrast design. Call 408-891-8181 or email support@inkjetstencils.com and we'll work it out.