Understanding Tattoo Needle Cartridges
To truly understand the tools you are using, you need to know the needle cartridge configuration meanings!
Needle diameter and its impact on the skin
The diameter of the needle affects ink flow rate, skin trauma level, and detailing capabilities. Common sizes can include #8 (0.25mm), #10 (0.30mm) and #12 (0.35mm). Smaller diameters like 0.30mm are ideal for fine lines and detailed shading due to reduced trauma. Larger diameters such as 0.35mm are preferred for bold lines and solid fills because they deliver more ink per stroke.
Needle count and configuration types
The last numbers refer to how many needles are in the grouping. eg 1209RLT is a 9 round liner.
Tattoo needle cartridges come in various configurations:
*Round Liner (RL): Used for precise outlines.
*Hollow Round Liner (HRL): Round liner with a hollow centre which holds more ink, great for solid heavier lines.
*Round Shader (RS): Great for small area shading or color blending. Depending on their taper length, round shaders can also double as loose liners.
*Magnum (M): Ideal for larger shading work.
*Curved Magnum (CM): Offers smoother blends in shading and colour packing.
Taper length and its role in the skin
Taper refers to how long the needle point is ground down. Our options include medium, long, and extra-long tapers. Medium tapers (3.5mm) are generally used in magnums for solid colour or thicker pigments. Long tapers (5.5mm) are used in liners and also perfect for magnums for smooth gradients and soft transitions in realism or portrait work, as their sharpness allows for more efficient work with less trauma to the skin. Extra long tapers (7.5mm) are normally reserved for liners only and become a tighter grouping almost dropping a size compared to a long taper eg. 7rlxt is close to a 5rlt.
Ultimately it comes down to artist preference and technique. Experimenting with different configurations can really open up your eyes to they can make your job easier for you and the client.