Tattoo Shading Basics

[@kjen124]

They guys got me started tattooing, after 3 years I am now owner of unknown ink in Dallas, wi and finish my hands on apprentice as of yesterday! Thank you for everything

[@laloh504]

After getting my first tattoo last week, i was so intrigued on how the artists do their work so diligently and this looks amusing

[@BeReal971]

These guys really come up with the best tutorial for the beginners,, Tattoo 101 helps me a lot and have a urge to move further in life as a tattoo artist .. thank you Tattoo 101 for guiding us becoming a better version in tattoo field..

[@davidsykes2377]

I know this comment probably won't reach you, but my bru, your tutorials are GOLDMINES of useful tips, you can't believe how much your videos have helped me🎉 thank you bud, hope u do MANY more 😊

[@Tattooing101]

Thank you so much for the support this is the reason I do what I do!

[@fasterthanyou1000]

Awesome description to the shade work I started 20 years ago and I'm still learning I was self taught but picked up tricks from other artists, I have got to say some of the tattoo advise wasnt the best and they were supposed to be "professionals" but just seeing your videos and techniques you know your stuff great to watch ma man , I started on a cheap kit from China but these days I find spending a bit on the kit really makes the difference , but great videos buddy nice to see you care to share with us all from novice to pro I'm sure you've helped both

[@gachagamer4200]

What do you use now?

[@LifeasAryes]

Man... you are giving us free tattoo course? Thats fucking awesome

[@TheDeaconGamez]

I’m glad to have subscribed to you guys. I’m not licensed etc, nor do I have equipment. But this inspired me to finally get to doing tattoos (of course on fake skin/myself) You guys are awesome for teaching people for absolutely free!

[@kevinstrosnider1545]

This is one the of best shading tutorials I've seen on KZbin! I often asked myself why not do smooth shading to trade work! After all the thought, my thoughts were correct. Looks better and sets it apart from regular trad! I don't see a link in the discription for the stencil? As always guys much much RESPECT and God bless!

[@jarrodserfass9356]

Ya'll have great info. Been tattooing non- professionally for almost 6 yrs. Still learning. This is my new favorite channel. Kudos 👏

[@jamarbrando2615]

Same here expalnation is clear direct to the point!❤ is he Australian?

[@klosetrx4903]

Lpl😅😅like

[@brianvasquez40]

Chock full of demystifying information. Thanks for sharing.

[@Tattooing101]

My pleasure

[@lorenzowilson9153]

Like the shade a me understand the work feel like am going to do this type if work

[@JS-dn2mm]

Is it possible to get this flash design so that I can follow along to the video and practice the same tattoo?

[@trentonclay1043]

Amazing I’m about to become a tattoo artist and your all the help thank you and i appreciate it 😊

[@jackiejackie168]

Just curious how it's all going?? I'm about to start soon aswell but I still have tons to learn!

[@maz-mo8lt]

Where you guys at now? Haha I’ve just started 🙈

[@MjRenteria]

Thank you

[@devintyffanicox5458]

The absolute most informative video for shading work. I was really hoping to see that Rose get shaded 😕. Can you do a tutorial on drawing & shading animals please. Like Bears or Lions. Thanks so much 😊. One on tattooing names in different fonts and designs with their needle sizes would be most helpful/beneficial as well. I love your videos keep them coming 💗

[@tusoknibidok]

I am spirant tattoo artist no experience t all thanks for your videos

[@Desicop007]

hi, thanks for the awesome video. one question to you, what voltage you were running at?

[@yobeenocreative6984]

Really appreciate these videos! Answers a stack of my questions. A question. When you say the tones will look lighter on human skin, do you mean 'after they have healed' they will look lighter, or, that while tattooing tones on human skin, ink looks lighter, so we need more ink to achieve the same dark tones of the ReelSkin? Just wondering - I've noticed that some healed tattoos can lose a percentage of the lighter tones - probably because the ink is not very deep - does that sound about right? I got some of the ReelSkin to practice, that stuff is great. Anyways, Cheers man!

[@Tattooing101]

Your shades will look darker on fake skin then they will fresh on human skin.

[@yobeenocreative6984]

@@Tattooing101 Thanks for clarifying. 👍😁

[@elenakryemadhi2024]

You the best

[@christellallers6819]

I'm new to tattooing, I'm still working on tattooing fake skin. When do you know you need to quit and let the skin heal before going back in? Is it that everyone is different in how much they can take, is it the skin, is it the time they have been on the table? Just more curious. Love the videos. I find you and Brandon have the best knowledge. If I ever have questions I can always find answers in both of your guys' videos. Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

[@Aubsty]

still working on fake skin too but i've heard that if you come back to the area you've tattooed after a "little healing break" it will actually be more sensible and painfull for the client, so it's better to do the maximum on one area (except lines) before the break

[@chiarafurlanetto2117]

Hi!! Thanks for these awesome videos, I’m learning a lot! You said in the video there was gonna be a link for the stencil, to kinda do it “with you”, but I can’t find it!

[@Daggerpathtattoo]

Awesome video, thanks for uploading. Where did you get the practice skin?

[@brandonsolanes9217]

What tattoo gun are you using please let me know it looks very cool

[@KatieLenore-m7y]

What size needle are you using in this

[@aatamirikollinen]

10

[@ktearoo]

THANKS NATHAN! Would you go over real skin the same amount as on the reelskin here?

[@jimmyraines-gv1ne]

Perfection

[@raw_yamaguchi1017]

Thank You 🙏🏾

[@michaelwarden6775]

this is exactly what i needed brother. thank you so much. and phenomenal work btw

[@michaelwarden6775]

i just need to get more confident w the mag shaders tbh. i know exactly how to do it, i just gotta do it lmao

[@needlesyndrometattoo]

respect boss

[@GQ3MindSpeaks]

I am starting out. I have a rotary gun. 1) how would I put a rubber band on it like you suggested in one of your other videos. 2) have you ever used a rotary gun? 3) which gun do you prefer?

[@alexc3155]

Hey, noticed the guy hasn’t replied. I think it totally depends on the machine. i run with 2 rotary’s, the one with cartridges doesn’t accommodate rubber bands. Personally I’m not familiar with any cartridge machines requiring rubber bands. Any machine which takes a band would do so near the top of the needle bar.

[@GQ3MindSpeaks]

@@alexc3155 Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

[@uservolgan]

Thank you sir!

[@CameronDC-Grimes]

How do you make pastel colors from primary's(Red, Blue, Yellow), Green, Purple, white and black? Or how do you make good colorful water colors?

[@elise666ify]

Add white

[@tonydavey9084]

very good what cam are u useing on your inkjecta? 3.5

[@Tattooing101]

yes a 3.5 is a great starting point whenever you are first starting out and when you know the stye you want to get into you can change it to beter suit that.

[@tonyruyters5736]

@@Tattooing101 thanku u are a good teacher.also what carts do u use pls

[@Vero9ca1979]

Can you do colloring with the same as shadow needles?

[@Tattooing101]

Yes but usually I'd use 10gauge needles for shading and 12gauge for color

[@kehoe210]

For beginner what volts for liner and volts for shader got Chinese kit did few pieces but what I find you can never learn refresh enough

[@freedomfighters1236]

For a beginner and for everybody using a new machine you always always always start slow and work your way up china machines are usually cheaper and wont give you the best hits but i started out with them and very good for practice I've been doing them for about 20 years and i still love to see different techniques people use

[@Tattooing101]

Agreed

[@kehoe210]

@@freedomfighters1236 I've been using them throughout lockdown already done few fake skin pieces , the set came with liner , shader , liner shader, I've been lining around 8.1 v, and shading around 5 to 6 cause well google , mostly using 7 9 rl, and tried RS and bit of shading , so far loving it have gone back over some skins with new learnings ,

[@freedomfighters1236]

@@kehoe210 sounds like your doing good a lot of times using different groupings helps for the piece at hand thank of it like a paint brush larger piece's needs larger mags i will tend to run my mags or my wide liners a bit higher and work a bit slower to give the needles a chance to do the job hope you stick with it it can get a bit discouraging

[@CameronDC-Grimes]

My biggest problem is getting even gradients on actual skin, but on cheap practice skins it's easier to not add to much black or get patchiness. I also don't like mags, I have a very hard time judging the point of needle to edge of lines and for whatever reason do far better with round shaders. But I do have a 50ct box of #10/07-15CM from CNC Police Cartridges for my Ambition soldier 4.2mm Stroke and my Mast Archer 5 Star Edition 3.5mm stroke. Any tips on getting lighter shades evenly when wanting gradients and when wanting to fill certain areas with different shades of grey's maybe adding a light color behind the grey shading. Also how do you make your medium to dark grey's do you use tripple white by Dynamic with witch hazel as dilution to 1-8 drops of Dynamic black? If I just use witch hazel and black drops I can never tell the difference between the different shades in caps and even sometimes until it's healed. I put some white in with the black and dilution to help me see the color difference.

[@Alexcetherockandroll]

I need to learn to how to shade 🤝

[@SuperLuka1985]

Perfect mate many thanks. Can you make a video how to do saturation please.👍👍👍

[@borjarosasruiz1605]

Hi, great videos. Thanks for sharing with all people interested on learning. Could u share the stencil design so we can practice with it?

[@jonbour7739]

Where can I find quality fake skins such as these? I checked the link in the description but you guys don’t ship to where I live. So can anyone recommend me a good brand? Cheers

[@Auggmister]

What does an Arrow shot through hand symbolize ?

[@j.b.glasshousemusic2683]

How do I get the design. I don't see the link?

[@bilalcalskan2730]

Yumuşak gölgeleri yaparken de iğneyi dermis e kadar sokuyormusun ?

[@dezthedrilla7234]

What ink do you use?

[@wikska]

hi! nice video! I have one question though: why do you use a rubber in inkjecta? i have the same machine and thought that the bar is stable by itself

[@estneae4771]

Thank You.

[@MR_CABLEMAN]

I have a quick question why is it when I'm shading or lining on fake skin and then I wipe most of my ink wipes away?

[@melvinsheppard279]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@leightonwilliams9516]

why doest my ink wanna take on my skin number 2 pls explain why I have to go over a tattoo a few times number 3 how deep should I really go, what should I feel like sometimes my machine feels a slightly chopppy

[@downsyndromehitler5697]

Ive been tattooing myself a few days now after a long time on fake skin, it made so much apparant and tought alot of lessons, i found about 2 mil hit the dermis while any more caused blowouts from going too deep. I would say your lining too fast or your voltage is a little low for your handspeed. Theres a feeling and slight noise from breaking the skin, a slight crinkle noise thats the sweet spot. Also aftercare is most important to retain colour and saturation, theres many products about but you shouldnt need them unless you have skin problems, vasaline and cling film the first day then bebanthem is ok, gentle and cheap once its scabed over but no bandages or baths for a week. Hope it helps.

[@leightonwilliams9516]

@@downsyndromehitler5697 I'll try later thanks bro 🙌🏾

[@freedomfighters1236]

@@downsyndromehitler5697 hey bro never use vasaline on your tattoos it will pull more ink out then needed never use any petroleum jelly only use A and D ointment or hustle butter or aquaphor is really good i use that on the daily hope this helps

[@downsyndromehitler5697]

@@freedomfighters1236 thanks i appreciate it

[@freedomfighters1236]

@@downsyndromehitler5697 no problem

[@Davey.est1998]

what voltage do you prefer when shading??

[@eliogotti2948]

Well well just cut your KZbin channel curious on where you get your supplies straight down to the piece of tat on I was curious where did you get that I don't know where to start I'm just a beginner so just curious where you get all your supplies to the canvas to

[@whoshiloh]

when i shade it comes out as ugly dots but when ur doing it it just comes out so smooth, i’ve used a 7rs, 5rs, and 5mag and i can’t find a way to make my shading look smooth.

[@Tattooing101]

Use bug pin curved mags. Will make it way easier.

[@tesco_midget_gemwalters4606]

Yes curve mag 100 percent

[@justinbird7455]

What kind of machine are you using

[@Tattooing101]

Inkjecta flite nano lite

[@randyholliday5454]

What brand needles you use?

[@Tattooing101]

Kwadrons

[@josueortizflores5195]

What’s a curve mag

[@Tattooing101]

It is a mag that you can buy that has a curve I made a video (how to choose your needles) that will show you and explain them in detail.

[@CHAOS3RDEYE]

Cheyenne Needles has a good way to visualize all needle kinds on their packaging and their site. I suggest you checkout their site or buy some needles to understand the needle kinds out there

[@jakelandpollard9123]

What rs or rl did you use to line that tattoo??

[@DB-LittleBill]

What needle plz?

[@janethall109]

what kind of tattoo gun and power box does he have?

[@lonelyadventurer670]

That is exactly my hand, after changing a flat tire 😁

[@dshanbutler2807]

The best way you hold your machine

[@renardabooker]

How to know where shading is suppose to go😊

[@Tattooing101]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaXLdKKjbK2Ai6s

[@sebas9879]

Hey mate, which practice skin is that? I live in Melbourne so would be great if you could tell me where you got it from 🤙🏽

[@henryfarazi7943]

how to mix the ink gradations?

[@rd9games259]

what brand of fake skin are you using here? thanks

[@Tattooing101]

ReelSkin

[@rd9games259]

@@Tattooing101 thanks bro 🙏

[@Tatsumaru269]

Why did you put Vaseline on the fake skin? And is that the same thing you would do with real skin?

[@charlotteberentzen7573]

Im wondering this too, and how can you strecth the skin well enough if its slippery from the vaseline?

[@michalkramosz8738]

What needle size is it 0.25mm long taper

[@MM-jw4um]

What machine speed?

[@its.esawirawan]

What’s a size mug needle do you used?

[@Tattooing101]

1023CMLT I think, pretty much the only needles I use for Black and grey are 1007CMLT 1015CMLT 1023CMLT

[@Hum5977]

​@@Tattooing101 .

[@fireinoureyes]

I am trying to find these exact ones and can’t find them anywhere!! Plz help!!!

[@locdnloadeddd]

where can I get fake skin like that from?

[@Tattooing101]

Hey Adonis, you can purchase ReelSkin using this link: www.reelskin.co.uk?aff=142

[@RuudRaneberg]

in all the video,s i cant discover any cleaning suply and thats key in tattoing world

[@Tattooing101]

We've made about 3 videos talking about sanitation, and hygiene.

[@amberlopez5595]

WHAT TYPE OF PRACTICE SKIN ARE YOU USING?

[@FloridaManJack561]

Looks like reelskin

[@samuelmejia943]

The Most Dominate Thing Too Do Is Laugh At Nzambi

[@nickthayer1420]

No offense and I don’t know anything about tattoo work but it seems like there is too much shading. The hand looks like it was playing with charcoal or something. It still looks really cool I just wonder if anyone else feels this way. I know that this is the art style but still…

[@popsme11]

This! The shading was terrible, I was shocked more people weren't calling it out.

[@samuelmejia943]

Sodoku WOODOKU Gum Cancer

[@bfc2155]

Is everyone now a tattooist?

[@Inkrebelnz]

Not him.. giving wrong info he is

[@mariemeow9757]

@@Inkrebelnz you Yoda?

[@raphaelnavarrette8156]

It’s shaded alright, but those shadows make no sense….

[@robertflores2021]

Thats how traditional tatts are buddy

[@raphaelnavarrette8156]

@@robertflores2021 then traditional kinda sucks

[@tryagainx900]

What’s called American Traditional tattoo style is basically a folk art. The shading is based in what’s behind/overlapped/receding, or what could use emphasis/contrast, rather than on light source. It’s not realistic but that’s part of its charm. As a person with previous art training I love realistic shading so I know what you mean, but I’ve come to appreciate this folk aesthetic in its own right after looking at some of the better trad tattoo artists’ work.

[@moonrocksito9306]

traditional shade isbt shadowing

[@user-zk4bl5zq7y]

@@raphaelnavarrette8156that’s the beauty of having personal preferences bud

[@Inkrebelnz]

Wtf.. 4mm for lining and 2 for shading? Its 2-2.5 for lining and 3.5 for black n grey. "Softness" as you call it comes from the rear spring tension if its a coil not the stroke bro. If its a direct drive there is none and nano etc has various bars that can be changed to suit its use.

[@Tattooing101]

For coil machines shorter stroke is for lining. Rotary’s it’s different. We have an entire article on our site explaining this tattooing101.com/learn/tattoo-equipment/machine-stroke/

[@Tattooing101]

And it’s 3mm for shading not 2

[@Inkrebelnz]

@@Tattooing101 yeah u said it was 2mm for shading not me... i corrected u. Also 3mm on a rotary for lining dosent get the same result as a shorter stroke in my experience

[@CCGDude]

@@Inkrebelnz what’s a good setup for a rotary machine? I was doing shading with a 9RL on a low vault mummy machine from Amazon and it wasn’t that bad