Tattoo stencils are very useful for beginner and professional tattoo artists. It basically transfers the design onto the skin and then the artist can trace it to make a tattoo. The tattoo stencil prevents you from making any mistakes and speeds up the tattooing process. But if you hand draw all your stencil it will consume quite a bit of your time. To make it even more convenient tattoo artists use a tattoo stencil printer. By using these printers, you can make a copy of your stencil or print any desirable design from the internet.
Not every artist can afford to purchase these printers. Especially artists who just started their careers may not have the budget to get tattoo stencil printers. So it is obvious to think can you use a regular printer for tattoo stencils or not? I will elaborate on the topic below.
Key Takeaways
- You can use an inkjet printer or laser printer for tattoo stencils.
- Regular paper is not appropriate to use for stencils on a regular printer, so use carbon paper or transfer paper instead.
- To use a regular printer for tattoo stencils connect it to a computer, insert transfer paper, print a design, and apply it on your skin with deodorant to transfer the design.
- The main difference between a regular printer and a thermal printer is regular printers are heavier, cheaper, uses a different type of ink, etc.
- The benefit of using a printer for tattoo stencils are it saves time, saves paper, make precise design without any mistake, is more affordable, etc.
Using A Regular Printer for Tattoo Stencils
Stencil printers are smaller in size compared to your regular printer. And most stencil printers are travel-friendly so you can carry them where ever you go. Despite having differences in size can you use a regular printer for tattoo stencils?
Yes, you can use a regular printer to create tattoo stencils. Even though a tattoo stencil printer provides all the essentials required to make perfect stencils, a regular printer can do a good job if you just use the right type of paper. So does not matter if it’s a regular inkjet printer or a laser printer, you can create desired tattoo stencils as long as you use the right paper.
Types of regular printers
There are two types of regular printers, which are:
- Inkjet printer
- Laser printer
Inkjet Printer
Inkjet printers are the most commonly used printers as they are more affordable. The machine basically sprays very small droplets of ink onto the paper and creates the desired result. You can use an inkjet printer to print both images and text. Being affordable and small in size makes it one of the most popular printers of this era.
Laser Printer
Even though laser printers are more expensive but in the long term these printers may cost you less than inkjet printers. Laser printers basically melt toner powder and create an image or text on paper. They can print at a much faster pace compared to inkjet printers.
You can use either of these printers to create tattoo stencils as long as you use the right type of paper. Regular paper won’t work for making tattoo stencils. So exactly what type of paper you need?
You will need hectograph paper/carbon paper or transfer paper/thermal paper. Now bear in mind not all regular printers will be able to print on transfer paper or carbon paper. Any regular printer that does not work on these papers won’t be able to create tattoo stencils for you.
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How to Use Regular Printer for Tattoo Stencils?
The process of using a regular printer for tattoo stencils is a bit different than using a thermal tattoo stencil printer.
Follow the step-by-step guide below to use a regular printer for tattoo stencils properly:
- Connect to computer
First, connect the printer to your computer. Because you will print a design that is on your computer into the transfer paper. - Insert the paper into the printer
Now insert your transfer paper or carbon paper into the printer. Ensure the white layer faces the head of the printer. - Select design & print
Select a design from your computer and print it onto the transfer paper. - Cut the design out
Now use a scissor to cut out the design from the paper. Cutting is not necessary, it is recommended to cut it to make it more convenient to apply to your skin. While cutting be careful not to cut the design as it will be ruined, just try to stay close to the edge of the design. - Apply stick deodorant
- Store-bought tattoo stencils or thermal tattoo stencils do not require deodorant as they get easily transferred to your skin. But because you are using a regular printer you will need a substance to make the transfer, and deodorant is highly recommended as the transfer helper. Apply clear deodorant on the area of the skin where you want to transfer the tattoo.
- Transfer the design to skin
Now your design is ready to apply! Place the stencil over the skin where you applied deodorant. While placing, ensure you place the design side on the skin so that it can be transferred. After placing the stencil apply some pressure over it for about a minute or so and then peel the stencil off your skin. That’s it, you made a tattoo stencil using a regular printer and applied it successfully!
Tattoo Stencil Printers
A tattoo stencil printer makes a copy or prints designs onto transfer paper and creates tattoo stencils. Before these printers came to be, tattoo artists had to draw all the stencils by hand. It is a time-consuming process and there is always a chance to make mistakes when you freehand design stencils. Nowadays you won’t see any professional tattoo artist who does not use tattoo stencil printers. And they tend to go for expensive and quality stencil printers as they can provide precise and perfect designs on transfer papers.
Because of the budget issue, many newbie artists use regular printers instead of special tattoo stencil printers. There is nothing wrong with it, as long as you use the right type of paper you can get perfect tattoo stencils by using regular printers.
5 Differences Between Regular Printer & Tattoo Stencil Printer
You can use either to create quality tattoo stencils but that does not mean they are the same type of printer.
There are many differences between them and I will explain them below:
1. Ink
A regular printer uses regular ink computer ink to print your stencil designs. If you ever touched computer ink you know it transfers onto the skin but not so easily. On the other hand, a thermal tattoo stencil printer uses special carbon tattoo ink. This carbon tattoo ink is specially formulated so that it can be easily transferred to your skin. It is very similar to black tattoo ink.
2. Precision
Precise design is crucial when making a tattoo stencil. Thermal printer is designed to give you precise designs but regular printer may lack the precision. You have to understand regular printers were not designed to provide such precision when printing. Computer ink may get smudged or appear to be missing on some parts which may ruin the stencil design.
3. Size
Thermal printers are small, light, and travel-friendly. You can carry these printers anywhere you want. Some thermal printers come with wireless technology so not only you can carry them anywhere, but also you can also make stencils on the fly! On the other hand, regular printers are heavier and bigger in size. They are not travel friendly.
4. Price
Thermal tattoo printers are relatively pricier compared to regular printers. A thermal tattoo stencil printer may cost more than 100$ on the other hand you can get yourself a regular printer for only 50$.
5. Ease of process
Regular printers were not designed to print on transfer paper. Because transfer papers are very thin so they may get crinkled when used on a regular printer. So you may have to try a few times to get it right. On the other hand, thermal tattoo stencil printers work perfectly on transfer or carbon paper.
6 Reasons to Use Printer for Tattoo Stencils
There are many reasons why you should use a printer instead of freehand drawing tattoo stencils. Even if you do not have a thermal tattoo stencil printer, you should use a regular printer which would still provide more benefit than drawing by hand. I have listed 6 reasons below why you should use a printer for tattoo stencils.
1. Fast process
Drawing by hand takes team even if you are an expert when it comes to drawing stencils. Using a printer, you can literally make stencils in a minute.
2. Making copy
You can make a copy of the dyeing by hand but again it would take a lot of time. Let’s say you want to make 10 copies; just imagine how much time it would cost you to draw all 10 stencils by hand. But when you use a stencil printer you can make 10 copies within minutes and all of them would have the same precision.
3. No mistake
Using a printer erases any chance of mistakes that you could have made while drawing by hand.
4. Does not make the Clients wait
If you draw by hand for each client, it will be a lengthy process. People do not like to wait, so many clients would just leave because of the long waiting time. But there will be no waste of time making stencils if you use a printer. You could say using a printer would help you keep your clients from leaving.
5. Less wastage of paper
If you draw, then surely you will make mistakes and will have to use a new paper to draw again. It can create a waste of paper. But when you use a printer there will be no wastage of paper as it will make precise design every time you use it without making any mistake.
6. Affordable
If you decide to go for a thermal tattoo stencil printer it can cost, you a lot. And you may not have a budget for that. On the other hand, a printer is a much more affordable option to print stencils.
FAQs
Can I use an inkjet printer to print tattoo stencils?
Yes, you can use an inkjet printer to print tattoo stencils.
Can I use a laser printer to print tattoo stencils?
Yes, you can use a laser printer to print tattoo stencils.
What type of ink regular printer use?
Regular printers use computer ink or dye-based ink.
Which one is more expensive regular tattoo printer or a thermal tattoo stencil printer?
Thermal tattoo stencil printer is more expensive as it provides everything an artist needs to make precise tattoo stencils.
Final Thoughts
Drawing stencils by hand is so old school that you won’t see any professional artists drawing stencils by hand these days. As it is a time-consuming and lengthy process. Instead, professional artists use quality tattoo stencil printers that provide precise tattoo stencils without any mistakes within minutes. And if you are just getting started on tattooing or want to try making stencils at home you can use your regular printer to make perfect stencils. An inkjet printer or laser printer can print stencils just fine as long as you use transfer paper or carbon paper instead of regular paper.
That said not all regular printers can print tattoo stencils. Any printer that does not work on carbon paper or transfer paper won’t be able to print tattoo stencils for you.
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