How to ensure that shading is the best that it can possibly be
You may be beginning to think that we are banging on too much about shading here, but trust me it is that important. You are going to need to know all you can if you want to become a great tattoo artist. The following are a few more things to think about if you want to be the best you can be.
- When you begin your shading you should start at the top of the tattoo or the side. It is true to say though, that shading can be started at any area in the tattoo and that the most important thing is that it is the right area that you are shading.
- You want to begin with your needle against the outline that you have just completed and then make a sweeping motion in the direction of the area that is going to be lighter.
- You will need to ensure that your bridge is stable. This is so you can get the correct brushing and sweeping motion. The correct bridge will allow you the mobility to move around more easily. You might find that using some lubricant under your palm will make things easier.
You may have wondered why tattoo artists use Vaseline over areas that have been freshly tattooed. The reason why this is done is that it works like a seal on the skin pores and this allows you to work on the rest of the tattoo. This is because the seal will ensure that ink isn’t forced back out of the skin and healing can begin.
Sweep shading
When you use sweep shading it means that move the tip of the tattoo machine forward. You will put the tip more in contact with the skin and thus make the black darker. Flick the wrist upwards as you move forward. Less ink is deposited into the skin when you move up and forward. This type of shading is one of the most common and you are likely to use it a lot. Another popular shading method is the brush techniques, but this is far too advanced for us to discuss here. It is only when you are a complete master at shading that you will even consider the brush method.
Again, this will be another one of those techniques that you will need to practice in order to master. All the best shaders will have practiced the technique over many, many hours and there is no other way of doing it.
Black shading tips and tricks that will make you a great tattoo artist
- Choose a round shader because these are ideal for a large number of needles; don’t use a flat shader. The effect you get from a round shader will be different from what you get from a flat on. If you experiment a bit with the round shader you will be able to become more proficient.
- Keep in mind that your tattoo machine will run faster when shading then when outlining. They are doing different jobs so the speed needs to differ.
- If you want thin wispy lines then you should use single needles. A single liner is also good for doing dotted lines.
- You can make gray by mixing black with white or adding distilled water to black in order to dilute it; gray is becoming increasingly popular with customers.
Finally, just remember that black shading is going to be is going to be an important part of your career as a tattoo artist. If you want to get good at it you will just have to keep on practicing until you perfect your skill. Remember too that in this type of art there will always be room for improvement.
Color shading
Color shading is not much harder than black shading. Color shading is the same as black shading in that if you practice a few simple rules you will be able to master it with practice.
Color shading is really vital for those larger tattoos where you have a complex design and a lot of color. You will also need to understand how color shading works to highlight and how it is used in different effects like muscle shapes and creating different textures.
The biggest difference that you will find between color shading and black shading is that you use smaller circular motions when applying color over a larger area. Always be careful with your patches of color because they are often what really makes the tattoo come to life and creates the impression that you wanted your design to make.
