Tattoo Glossary — S
Stencil
A transfer of the tattoo design onto the skin, created from thermal paper, used as a guide during tattooing.
In detail
Stencils allow accurate placement and sizing before the permanent ink is applied. The client should approve the stencil placement before tattooing begins. Adjustments can be made by removing and repositioning the stencil.
See also
Freehand
Drawing a tattoo design directly onto the skin with a marker pen before tattooing, without a printed stencil. Allows compositions to be customised to the body's contours in real time.
Placement
The location on the body where a tattoo is positioned. Placement affects visibility, pain level, healing time, and how the tattoo interacts with the body's contours.