*Because I am a permanent makeup artist and my blogs are generally directed towards other permanent, make up artists, and we typically work with rotary machines, I will be referring to stroke settings on rotary machines only for the purpose of this blog.
What is tattoo machine stroke?
The stroke of a tattoo machine is the distance that the needle travels from its most inward position to his most outward position. It will essentially determine how hard the needle hits the skin. Imagine winding up a slingshot and letting it go. The stroke determines how hard “the sling shot” gets pulled back, and therefore determines the force on the receiving end. This is not to be confused with the needle depth, which is set by the artist easily with a click of the machine tip. A stroke setting will determine force, whereas the needle determines depth.
Some machines have stroke settings pre-set meaning you cannot adjust them; however, a high-quality machine will often allow you this versatility. This is something to consider when investing in your machine.
The primary mechanism that determines the machines stroke or “throw” is the wheel cam. The wheel cam is typically a small, flat, circular plate that spins when the machine is turned on. The size and weight of the wheel cam is typically what will determine the amount of force it will exert.
Why does the stroke setting matter?
Ultimately, your stroke setting should be determined by the area of skin you are working on and by the desired outcome of your artistry… For example, do you want your permanent to make up to look soft and airy with a more shaded look or do you want more colour packing?
Typically stroke settings come anywhere from 1.8mm to 4mm+.
A shorter stroke setting will hit skin softer. A stroke of 1.8mm to 2.5mm is generally great for soft shading. It will often allow you to do multiple passes without chewing up the skin due to the softer hit. However, due to the short stroke you would not want to use this setting for linear work or lining.
A medium stroke setting sits around 3.5 mm that is typically used for packing colour or blending. If you’re not sure of what your machine stroke setting is, many of them default around here.
A longer stroke of 4.0 mm or above is ideal for lining or linear work. This would not be good for blending as the longer strokes would most likely damage the skin as it would require more passes. You will also want to work quickly with this stroke setting to avoid overworking the skin.
If your machine can change different stroke settings, this is commonly done with changing out your wheel cam. You should be able to buy a variety of sizes from your tattoo machine manufacturer.
I recommend investing in a high-quality machine such as the Electrum Ergon Tattoo pen, which offers both wireless and power cord options and the ability to adjust your stroke setting. Available for purchase at www.electrumsupply.com