Don a pair of gloves. Insert the sterilized tube and needle into the tattoo machine. Attach the machine to the clip cord and power supply.
Place the number of disposable ink caps necessary for the tattoo on the barrier of your setup. Each color for the tattoo requires a separate ink cap. Fill the disposable ink caps with ink from the housing bottle. Avoid touching the inside or rim of the ink cap with the tip of the housing bottle to promote aseptic technique.
Dip the needle in the color for the outline. Press down on the foot switch of the machine to make the needle move in and out of the tube to remove any excess ink that may clog the tube.