Understanding Your Tattoo Machine: Stroke, Hz and Voltage Made Easy
Understanding Your Tattoo Machine: Stroke, Hz & Voltage Made Easy
Think of your tattoo machine like a car - it has different settings that work together to get the job done right.
Stroke = How Far (the distance)
- This is how far the needle travels up and down
- Short stroke (2.5-3.5mm): Small movements, great for lines and details. Gentle on skin.
- Long stroke (3.5-4.5mm+): Bigger movements, perfect for shading and coloring. Gets more ink in.
- Think of it like writing - short strokes for fine print, long strokes for filling in.
Hz = How Fast (the speed)
- This is how many times the needle hits per second
- Low Hz (100-120): Slower, controlled - best for clean lines
- High Hz (130-150): Faster, smoother - best for shading and color
- Like tapping your finger - slow taps for precision, fast taps for coverage.
Voltage = How Hard (the power)
- This is the strength behind each hit
- Low voltage: Gentle touch - for sensitive areas and fine work
- High voltage: Strong punch - for thick skin and deep color
- Like knocking on a door - soft knock or firm knock.
How They Work as a Team:
- Lining: Short stroke + low Hz + medium voltage = precise, clean lines
- Shading: Long stroke + high Hz + medium-high voltage = smooth, even coverage
- Color packing: Long stroke + high Hz + higher voltage = deep, saturated color