Fit the appropriate needles onto the end of your tattoo gun. The thicker the needles, the thicker the tattoo line will be. Determine exactly how thick each line will need to be before selecting the proper needles.
Dip the needles into black ink and let it absorb enough ink to make a continuous line, at least an inch or two.
Hold the gun at a slight and comfortable angle and apply pressure to the foot switch to start the machine. It is important that you are comfortable in your hand angle because it will have to be the same for the entire design's line work.
Tattoo a continuous line along the stencil of the skin, applying equal pressure the whole way.
Stop frequently to wipe away blood and excess ink with a paper towel doused in an alcohol solution. Every time you begin the line again, start on the end point of the previous line and apply less pressure so the line appears consistent with no visible breaks or joints.
Fit the proper needles onto the end of the tattoo gun.
Dip the needles in black, graywash or colored ink, depending on the shading style.
Hold the gun at an angle and press the foot switch.
Brush the needles across the skin applying more pressure at the top of the fade and less at the bottom. The change of pressure will alter the depth of the ink and cause a shading effect.
Wipe blood and excess ink away frequently and absorb more ink into the gun whenever necessary.
Connect the proper needles to the end of your tattoo gun.
Dip the needles in the chosen colored ink.
Hold the gun at a comfortable angle and initiate the foot switch.
Tattoo the skin in tight, concentric circles to achieve an even pressure and ensure the entire area is filled with ink.
Wipe away blood and excess ink as much as possible and tattoo over the same area as many times as is necessary to fill the entire area with ink.