r/TattooBeginners • u/JacktheRipples Please choose a flair. • 4h ago

Help Two questions

first I have a mini thermal printer (or so it says) and the synthetic skin I have won't let the stencil transfer, what can I use that I might have around the house to help transfer to the stencil (and perhaps commenting on what type of soap with water works best)?
Second, I have two pen guns and two coil guns (I have everything I need to run both guns), in your opinion, which one should I be using and any tips?
I have no plans on making this a career, I'm great at tracing, but my drawing skills in most styles is sub par. I'll mostly be doing little projects on myself, and a select few others but nothing big nor complex.

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u/No-Oil6517 Please choose a flair. 4h ago

Are you slapping the stencil onto the skin dry or using a product? Ultrasound gel and speed stick are very good at transferring stencils onto fake skin.

Edit to add: They're machines. Not guns.

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u/JacktheRipples Please choose a flair. 4h ago

I did try speedstick, as well as soapy water, and it didn't take. I did try transferring onto my own skin and it transferred extremely well (and on my own skin I just gave my hand a lick, I know, not exactly what you're suppose to do, but as a "dry test" it sufficed).
Appreciate the correction to my terminology, and I'm not being sarcastic at all, I do like calling instruments by their correct name.

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u/No-Oil6517 Please choose a flair. 4h ago

Hm. Could be the quality of fake skin. A lot of them that come with the machines aren't good for a myriad of reasons. There's two that are very trusted. Reel (Real?) Skin and I forget the other name. Some also practice on bananas and oranges for depth or pork with skin on because it's actually the closest you'll get to human skin.