PLACEMENT VARIATIONS
Course by Ella Rose
Supplemental Resources
One factor which affects the difficulty of a
tattoo is the placement you choose. The
texture, quality and thickness of skin varies
across the body, and you will need to adjust
the speed of your machine and the pressure
of your hand to allow for this. Some areas of
skin are more elastic and will need to be
stretched more. When you tattoo a more
difficult area, like the ribs for example, you
also have to consider that the client’s torso
will move as they’re breathing or talking, the
skin is much more elastic and difficult to work
with, and the client will experience more pain
since it’s a sensitive area on the body. So
given that you already have to contend with
learning a whole new skill applied to human
skin, you want to at first choose the easiest
areas of the body to work with.
Beginner placements
Arms and legs are by far the easiest body parts to tattoo. The skin has a more consistent
texture compared to other areas of the body, and the surface is relatively flat. Limbs are
also much easier to access, being extremities of the body, so you will be able to remain
relatively comfortable while working. The knees and elbows however are slightly tricker as
the skin quality is different, and these areas are more sensitive to pain.
Intermediate placements
Areas such as the torso, shoulders and hips are slightly more difficult to tattoo, as access to
them isn’t straight forward. The position you will need to sit or stand in will be less
comfortable since you may need to reach over further to tattoo these placements. The
shoulder in particular requires you to work around a curve which further increases the
difficulty. These areas may also be more painful for the client.
Advanced placements
I would consider advanced placements to be areas that should only be tattooed by
experienced tattoo artists, or specialists in that particular placement. A good example of this
is the palm of the hand. The skin here is very tough and requires many months of practice
to ensure the ink is placed at the correct pressure and depth.
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