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Pay attention to the correct technique and speed of the tattoo machine

Pay Attention to the Correct Tattoo Machine Technique and Speed

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned artist, mastering the right machine speed, hand technique, and needle depth is crucial for producing high-quality tattoos, minimizing trauma to the skin, and ensuring long-lasting, vibrant results after healing. Every tattoo style, skin type, and machine setup requires a slightly different approach. Let’s break down the essentials and include some pro tips from top artists in the industry.

1. Tattoo Machine Speed (SPS – Strokes Per Second)

The speed of the tattoo machine—measured in strokes per second (SPS)—directly affects the outcome of your tattoo. The speed is determined primarily by the voltage setting on your power supply (or directly on your wireless machine). Setting the correct voltage and speed ensures:

  • Proper ink saturation

  • Minimal trauma to the skin

  • Smooth, even healing

What happens with improper machine speed?

  • Overly high speed/voltage can cause excessive bleeding, blowouts (ink spreading beneath the skin), scarring, and bruising.

  • Too low speed/voltage might result in poor ink saturation and faded lines after healing.

Never exceed 10 volts! Anything above that can cause serious skin damage.

General voltage settings by style:

  • Lining: 7–9 volts

    • Always test on practice skin first. Every machine responds differently, so get familiar with how yours performs before tattooing on real skin.

  • Shading & Color Packing: 4–7 volts

    • Many artists, including Guy Aitchison, recommend lower voltages for shading, as this allows the ink to settle gently into the skin, creating smoother gradients and less trauma.

2. Hand Speed (Coordination with Machine Speed)

Hand speed is just as important as machine speed. Tattooing is about balancing the speed of your machine with the motion of your hand. If your hand moves too slowly with a fast-running machine, you risk oversaturating the skin, leading to scarring or blowouts. If your hand moves too quickly with a slow machine, the ink might not deposit properly, leading to patchy lines or shading.

  • Slower hand movements: Thicker lines, deeper saturation (but risk of overworking the skin)

  • Faster hand movements: Finer lines, lighter shading

Nikko Hurtado advises new artists to practice finding a rhythm between machine speed and hand movement on practice skin before working on clients.

3. Needle Depth (Penetration Depth)

The needle depth is critical for ink retention and skin health. The goal is to deposit ink into the dermis layer, which is stable enough to hold the ink long-term without causing trauma.

  • Fine lines: 1–2 mm penetration

  • Shading & color packing: 2–3 mm penetration

If the needle penetrates too shallow, the ink may quickly fade or fall out. If it penetrates too deep, it can cause:

  • Blowouts (ink spreading under the skin)

  • Scarring

  • Prolonged healing times

Carlos Torres emphasizes that you should learn to read the skin’s response rather than rely solely on a fixed needle depth. Pay attention to resistance and ink flow—these will tell you if you’re at the right depth.

4. Practice Makes Perfect

There’s no universal machine setting that works for every tattoo. Your style, the machine you use, cartridges, pigments, and client skin type all play a role.

Consistent practice, experimentation, and learning from more experienced artists will help you refine your technique and develop your unique style.

5. Health and Safety Always Come First

Even with the perfect machine setup, hygiene and safety are non-negotiable. Make sure you:

  • Use sterile, single-use equipment

  • Wear proper PPE (gloves, eye protection)

  • Disinfect your workspace thoroughly

  • Follow all local health regulations

Final Thoughts: Every Artist, Every Client, and Every Machine is Different

There’s no magical machine setting that works for everyone. Continuous practice, experimentation, and listening to how the skin reacts are key to becoming a better artist.

As Guy Aitchison often says, "Your technique should evolve with every piece you create."

If you’d like to dive deeper into specific topics like stroke length adjustments, needle configurations, or machine tuning, feel free to ask! 

Tagy
Pay attention to the correct technique and speed of the tattoo machine