Have you ever wondered how a tattoo artist turns their awesome design drawing into a tattoo? Well, they do it thanks to the transfer paper. The design is drawn onto the paper, the paper is then pressed onto your skin so the design transfers, and that’s it. Now, your tattoo artist has the exact outline of the design right there on your skin, which they can follow and execute the tattoo to the smallest, most complicated detail.

But, how does this actually work? How is it possible to transfer a drawing from paper onto the skin? And, of course, how can you use tattoo transfer paper? If these are the questions that have piqued your interest, then make sure to keep on reading. In the following paragraphs, we’ll talk about the tattoo transfer paper and attempt to answer all the questions regarding the way it works and the way you can use it! So, let’s get started!

Types of Tattoo Transfer Paper

Before we get into the use of tattoo transfer paper, we need to discuss the types of transfer paper you can use. There are two main types of transfer paper;

• Hectograph or Freehand tattoo transfer paper
• Thermographic tattoo transfer paper

Hectograph, also known as freehand transfer paper, is a manual transfer paper. It is similar to carbon copy sheets, or sheets used for the manual typewriter, and works in a similar design. The paper has three sheets, and you will draw your design on the top sheet. The middle, or second sheet, must be removed before drawing so that the design transfer to the bottom sheet.

The bottom sheet is then used to cut out the design and transfer it onto the skin. Before the paper is applied to the skin, the tattoo artist usually prepares the skin surface with a solution known as stencil stay, so that the stencil stays put and stable while the design transfers. Then, the paper is dampened with a damp sponge, so the design transfers fully. Once the design has transferred, the paper is removed, and that’s it.