Hey Guys, Ive just bought a couple of tattoo machines and was wondering the difference between a liner and a shader. I know the difference between the needles but i dont know how to set the machines differently. I have spent the past few weeks or so tattooing bloody melons and Im probabley not going to tattoo anybody at the moment but I think in order for me to progress i should really know this. I am looking for an apprenticeship but its not going very well (If you live in the Dorset area of the UK you know where i am ;)!!!! ) so i figured it was probabley a good idea to ask you guys.

Basically,liners run faster than shaders, but there's a lot more to it than that. Prepare to be flamed by the tattoo elitists and go here.
www.eikondevice.com

Whatever, ive seen far too many horrible tattoos to feel bad for people going out of their way to sabotage their own chances at succeeding at being a tattoo artist. just like ive heard the same promise from all these people promising they wont tattoo a person till their ready, than a week or so later theyre back with a picture of some horrid tattoo theyve inflicted on another human being and asking for feedback only to be completely aghast when people tell them just how wonderful theyre work really is. If youre looking for an apprenticeship man, KEEP LOOKING, continue to work on a portfolio of artwork, NOT TATTOOS, that anyone would be a damn fool not to want to apprentice, but what i can absolutely gurantee you and all the other people whove posted your same story here countless times, is that there is no shop out there thats going to do anything other than laugh their asses of at you when you walk in there with a bunch of pictures of the tattoos youve done on grapefruit or melons, or god forbid people. So please do the entire industry and art of tattooing a favor and pleaaaaaaase drop the machines until the person your training under eventually instructs you to pick them back up.

im really tired of seeing stuff like this. i think that this would be a good rule to follow: if you dont know the difference of a liner and a shader, dont attempt to tattoo. if your not lisenced: dont tattoo. if you dont know how to properly sterilize your equipment: dont tattoo. see where im going with this? an apprenticeship would answer all your dumbass questions.

Believe me im not planning on tattooing anyone at the moment. I need to learn and i really cant get an apprenticeship. There are 2 tatooists in my town and one in the next, getting an apprenticeship is not going well at all.
I only use the fruit to give myself a feel for the machines not so i can take a bunch dumbass photos of inked melons to a tattooist to flash my skills. I need to start somewhere. I just wanted to know how to set the different needles.

honestly bro, if you have every intention on getting an apprenticeship there is no reason why you cant. before you start thinkin about tattooing, draw alot. and a lot of different things. and when you feel they are great, not good, go talk to these guys. even if they are the only ones around, they can teach you everything you need to know about tattooing. at least enough to get you to the point of being able to relocate and find better artists. as long as you dont ruin yourself, and you have artistic ability, and a strong desire to learn the right way, you will do good. but please dont ask for someone to tell you the difference between liners and shaders, to them you are a scratcher trying to figure out to hack people up. you wont get a damn thing from them. instead post a thread, asking advice for how to get an apprenticeship. there are lots of good artists who are willing to help aspiring artists(NOT SCRATCHERS) but be prepared to deal with the occasional assholes.

I don't see a harm in answering this question.
A liner is a machine that is set to run "round groups". There are different styles of setups to suit specific type of work and preference.
Usually this type of setup is ideal for "lining" but a liner can be the perfect setup for certain shading work.

A shader is a machine that is used to color in and layout transitions. This type of setup has many variations as well. Usually this machine runs slower than a liner.

A liner can easily be setup as shader and vice-versa.
Now ... to really understand the "why" of each setup, you need to start thinking about entering an apprenticeship unless you are willing to scar people with horrible wounds/ tattoos.

There is a reason behind the bitching. It's not just elitism like someone claimed it before.

well, my machine is both a liner an a shader combo. when i first started i asked the same question, why do some use 2 machines or more an my mentor told me so you dont have to swtich needles on your machine right in the middle of a tattoo. you just grab your shader an you can switch back an forth if you want to . but i only have one machine an have to do some planning because of it., when im done with lining i have to stop an carfully change needles which is no easy task because you can easily cros contaminate if your not. so if you have two machines ready to go think how easy it would be to use both , be like ohhh i wanna shade a little here , then ohhh i wanna add a line here grabbin both machines for this an that . instead of hasleing with changeing out needles

No artist at a shop will go through the hassle of changing needles back and forth in the middle of a session.
Usually when you do a tattoo you still switch back and forth between machines.
Some artists setup up to 5 machines per tattoo.

Imagine the waste of time in stopping in the middle of the session to change needles every time you need a specific setup.

If you are taking this serious you'll realize that you'll end up with several machines in your life time.

You don't want to make your suffering customer wait because now you pretty much need to set everything up again.
This doesn't mean that is not possible but in this business time=money.

i myself have become pretty fast at it, well due to nessesity, i have my shader needle waiting their an make sure all lining an small details are done. then i will looseing my tube dump old needle out an switch gloves, put new in an adjust an tighten. then ready to go. i keep a bag on my machine so less worry about anything touching the actual machine, an well tubes get claved anyway. i only maybe twice had to break out a new liner due to my own forgetfulness. now when we start talking about large pieces like say you do some lineing with a 3group an then you need to jump to a large mag. whoa now its tricky, now you need a mag tube also. so all this switching around gets complicated. an what if your liner only has 8 wrap coils? thats cant push no large grouping mag correctly. see how complicated it gets. but im still on small stuff so i can get away with my one machine

Give yourself a few years and post again.

a good machine with 8 wraps will push a large mag grouping.

Its really common for an artist to use multiple machines. I normally have three set up, generally two size liner and one size shader. But when I was apprenticeing my boss used I think like ten of them bitches. A few different liners and a bunch of shaders.

just throw in a 15 round mag in and do the whole damn thing. or.... just quit.


quitting's probably the better option.

ROFL

Pay no attention to the hooligans guy! I have seen his work on myspace and face to face because they have come into my shop to get them fixed. It is just funny to me to see someone say buy my machine when they are a amatuer tattoo artist. Although it is stupid that you are on here asking what shader to buy!

a note: justaprick is a fraud. he has never had an apprenticeship, and knows nothing of what he speaks.

just a heads up.

It's funny how some artists try to discourage people. I think they just feel threatened.
While there are many things to learn, its not rocket science. After learning all the technical stuff, good tattooing highly depends on the artistic talent of the individual behind the needle.
There is no harm in asking questions, its the response that can be damaging. When someone asks questions, it shows a desire to learn and do better.
If you really care about the victims of bad tattooing you should give some words of wisdom instead of destructive criticism that shows your fear of others learning the trade.

lol, it's funny that your email is clonspeak@yahoo.com since you seem to talk directly from your ass. haha

Erm, I meant colonspeak@yahoo.com