Artists who have adapted to technology have been able to speed up their work process to improve faster and do more tattoos. Artists who have not, however, have ended up falling behind in the industry.This is why it’s so important for new tattoo artists to know what technology is out there for them – and how to use it.

What’s New in Tattooing: iPads, Machines, Marketing, and More

The following list will break down the biggest advances in tech that tattooing has seen in the past several years. We’ll also include resources to help you get started with that technology yourself.

iPad + Procreate

The Procreate App on the iPad is the biggest game changer tattooing has seen from technology. This is because it can save artists several hours of work each week.

Social Media

Before social media, tattoo artists would have to wait for walk-in clients to get work. Overtime, as their work got better, those walk-in clients might come back and get more tattoos from that artist. However, building a client list and becoming an appointment-only artist this way took years.

Today, artists use Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more to build a following, which makes it easier to reach more people and get more clients. Because those people are familiar with their work, they’ll become clients, even if they are a new artist without much experience.

Because of this, many new artists are getting popular online, which means they are getting the same type of clientele (and income) of much more experienced artists. Additionally, if they have followers across the country or worldwide, they can have work waiting on them whenever they want to travel.

Because of technology, “going viral” in a single day can lead to months of work and a stable career.

Online Booking

In the past, clients would have to come into the shop to book an appointment with their artist.

Today, you can connect your calendar to an online booking tool, and customers can book in with you without messaging back and forth trying to find a time that works.

You can also collect deposits online, and even have clients sign waivers electronically in the shop. These automated processes not only save you time, but it allows you to have all your documents in one place without having to keep a ton of papers around.

Rotaries and Pen Machines

For decades, coil machines were the only tattoo machines artists used. While some artists still prefer to use them, coil machines need a lot of tuning. To be able to use one properly, you need to be a bit of a machine builder on top of being an artist.

However, in the last ten years, rotary machines and pen machines have become incredibly popular. Instead of having to manually tune the machine, rotaries and pen machines have made it easy to get set up and start tattooing right away.

Additionally, because these machines are easier to use, they’re very beginner-friendly. This allows new artists to get to tattooing faster without having to worry about many settings.

Cartridges

Most artists today use cartridges and disposable grips while they tattoo. This saves artists hours of time. When they’re done with a tattoo, they can simply drop the used cartridges into a biohazard container.

Before cartridges were available, tattoo artists would have to clean their tubes before running an autoclave every night to sterilize them.

On top of that, many artists would have to solder their own needles. This is a dangerous and time-consuming process, and it’s no longer recommended that artists make their own needles.

Online Ordering

Before artists could order supplies online, they’d have to order over the phone. Supply companies would send books of their products to tattoo shops, and artists would call in with a list of what they needed.

Today, online ordering has made this process much simpler. It’s also now much easier for beginners to get supplies if they aren’t learning in a traditional shop setting.

Online Learning

Technology has made tattooing much more accessible. In the past, the only way to learn to tattoo was in a traditional apprenticeship. However, this meant that aspiring artists who couldn’t work fulltime in the shop had no way to learn.

Nowadays, artists are turning to online platforms to learn how to tattoo at home, on their own time.