How new technology is helping tattoo artists

Artists who adapted to technology were able to speed up their process, improve faster, and create more tattoos, but those who didn’t were left behind in the industry.

That’s why it’s so important for a new tattoo artist to know what technology is out there and how to use it.

In the list below, we’ll cover some of the biggest technological advancements the tattoo industry has seen over the past few years, as well as provide some resources to help you get started using the technology yourself.

The Procreate app on the iPad is the biggest technology revolution the tattoo industry has ever seen, saving artists hours of work each week.

Before social media, tattoo artists had to work with walk-in customers. Over time, as the quality of their work improved, those walk-in customers would return and ask the artist for more tattoos. But it took years to build up a client list like this and become an appointment-only artist.

Nowadays, artists are using Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc. to build their following, which makes it easier for them to reach more people and get more clients. These people are familiar with the artist’s work, so even new and inexperienced artists become clients.

Because of this, many new artists are gaining popularity online, garnering the same clientele (and income) as more experienced artists. Plus, if you have a following across the country or world, work is always waiting for you whenever you feel like traveling.

Thanks to technology, what takes just one day to “go viral” can translate into months of work and a stable career.

Previously, customers had to come into the store to schedule an appointment with an artist.

Now, you can connect your calendar to an online booking tool, allowing your customers to book without having to message back and forth to find a time that works for you.

You can also collect deposits online and have customers sign waivers electronically in-store. These automated processes not only save you time, but they also allow you to keep all your paperwork in one place instead of storing reams of paper.

For decades, coil machines were the only machines used by tattoo artists. Some artists still prefer to use coil machines, but they require a lot of tweaking. To use them properly, you have to be a machine builder to some degree in addition to being an artist.

But in the last decade, rotary and pen machines have skyrocketed in popularity. Instead of manually adjusting your machine, rotary and pen machines make it easy to set up and start tattooing right away.

Plus, these machines are super beginner-friendly because they’re easy to use, allowing new artists to get started tattooing faster without having to worry about a lot of settings.

Nowadays, most of the tattoo artists use cartridges and disposable grips when tattooing. This saves the artist hours of time. Once you are done with the tattoo, you simply throw away the used cartridge in a biohazard container.

Before cartridges were available, tattoo artists had to clean the tubes every night before sterilizing them in an autoclave.

Additionally, many artists must solder their own needles, a dangerous and time-consuming process, and it is no longer encouraged for artists to make their own needles.

Before artists could order materials online, they had to order over the phone: material companies would send tattoo shops books of products and artists would call with a list of what they needed.

Now, online ordering has made this process much easier, and it’s also much easier for beginners who aren’t trained in a traditional store environment to get their hands on the ingredients.

Thanks to technology, tattooing has become much more accessible. Back in the day, the only way to learn to tattoo was through a traditional apprenticeship. However, this meant that aspiring artists who couldn’t work full-time in a tattoo shop didn’t have the means to learn.

Recently, artists have been using online platforms to learn how to tattoo at home and in their own time.

Working as a tattoo artist is not only rewarding but also the most stable way to make a living as an artist. However, for decades, the process of becoming a tattoo artist has been known to be extremely difficult.

The apprenticeship process requires aspiring tattoo artists to work 50-60 hours a week unpaid for two to four years, which, combined with a toxic culture of mistreatment of apprentices, makes it nearly impossible for newcomers to break into the industry.

That’s why we created our Artist Accelerator program. Our online courses offer a simple, structured way to learn tattooing that’s proven to be effective with over 2,500 students, many of whom have gone on to open their own shops all over the world.

The program takes you through every step of the tattooing process in nine clear, easy-to-follow modules and supports you along the way within the Tattooing 101 Mastermind online community.

In Mastermind Groups you can collaborate with other students, get your questions answered, and receive personalized video feedback on your artwork and tattoos from professional tattoo artists. With this friendly community of new and experienced tattoo artists, you’ll never be stuck again.

When you join the Artist Accelerator program, you’ll get instant access to the full course and mastermind community, as well as a 30-day flash challenge and recorded interviews with tattoo artists from around the world.

For more information on the Artist Accelerator program, click here.