Tattoo Transfer Paper

Tattoo transfer paper is a bit of a misnomer, there is no such thing as paper that can actually transfer a tattoo. It is more of a name which people have come to use in order to describe one of two processes. One is for placing temporary tattoos and the other for assisting in the application of real tattoos; both versions are printed in the negative of the desired finished look. The least likely usage of these words is going to be the waterslide decal paper used in applying temporary tattoos and adding printed material to objects.

You can buy this paper readymade for printers and print out your own temporary tattoos or decals. There is no real “transfer” taking place, it’s just the act of taking artwork mounted on the waterslide paper and remounting it on a new surface. The process is fairly simple; the paper has a film of adhesive on one side and is made in such a way that when the artwork is placed against the skin or object, and the paper is moistened from behind, the water then releases the artwork from the paper so that it “slides” off.

At the same time an adhesive on the art side becomes tacky and binds with whatever surface it has been mounted onto. In this way, the printed negative on the paper is then bound to the new surface and released from the paper.

Once the paper is slid off, the now positive image is revealed on the surface it was transferred onto. There are various names for these kinds of products depending on the company offering them and the manner in which they are used.

Permanent decals have a vinyl backing, whereas temporary tattoos adhere similarly to the way adhesive bandages do. Non-water slide papers require no moistening and the adhesive is on the same side as the paper. These types of decals appear positive; they are peeled off the paper and placed onto the receiving surface in the same positive position. The more likely usage of the term “transfer paper” is used for actual tattoos.

When a tattoo artist is preparing to place a tattoo, a thermal tattoo transfer paper printer is used to create a negative copy of the black outline of the desired tattoo.

Once the design is printed onto the paper the negative design is then transferred from the paper to the skin by placing the paper on the skin and moistening it. When the paper is removed a purplish positive outline of the artwork will stay in place. Once the outline is in place the customer can check it in a mirror to see if its size, placement, and orientation are all correct.

Once the customer approves the temporary outline, the tattoo artist can then use it as a guide to lay in the actual outline with tattoo needles and ink. If the placement is not approved, the temporary outline can be wiped off with alcohol, adjusted, and reapplied until the customer is happy. The process referring to tattoo transfer paper is a great new tool for tattoo artists who used to have to either freehand the artwork on the skin or make plastic stencils.