EZ TATTOO OFFICIAL
With over 15,000 orders
2025 Tattoo Cartridge Guide – Learn How to Choose the Right Configuration
What Do the Letters and Numbers on Tattoo Cartridges Represent: Using RC1203RLT as an Example
We need to break down this code into five parts: RC, 12, 03, RL, and T.
- RC represents the Product Series: EZTATTOO Tattoo Cartridge Revolution Series.
- 12 represents the Tattoo Cartridge Diameter Size: This cartridge has a diameter of 0.35mm.
- 03 represents the Tattoo Needle Count: This cartridge contains 3 needles.
- RL represents the Tattoo Configuration: RL stands for Round Liner.
- T represents the Tightness: The T after RL indicates a tighter configuration than the regular RL cartridges.
What You Need to Know About Tattoo Cartridge Series
The product series is the least important part of the cartridge configuration. It is usually a code used by the brand to distinguish and manage different cartridge series.
For example, in EZTATTOO, RC represents the Revolution Cartridge Needles series, VC represents the V-Select series, and FC represents the Filter series.
Choosing the Right Tattoo Needle Diameter
What is Needle Diameter? The diameter refers to the gauge or thickness of the individual needles. It influences how much ink is deposited and how smoothly the ink is applied.
The needle's diameter affects:
- Ink Flow:Thicker needles deposit more ink, while thinner needles deposit less.
- Skin Trauma:Larger needles can cause more trauma, while thinner needles reduce skin damage.
- Speed and Detail:Thinner needles are slower but provide finer details; thicker needles speed up the process but may result in less detail.
The different tattoo needle diameters and their characteristics：
| Needle Size | Diameter | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| #14 | 0.40mm | Large areas, quick fills | Fast ink saturation, larger trauma, ideal for bold lines and heavy shading |
| #12 | 0.35mm | Solid color fills, tribal tattoos, shading | Standard size, fast color application, moderate trauma |
| #10 | 0.30mm | Soft shading, smoother gradients | Balance between speed and detail, smoother transitions |
| #08 | 0.25mm | Fine details, portraits, black & gray shading | Precision work, slow application, minimizes skin trauma |
| #06 | 0.20mm | Very fine details, intricate work | Ideal for detailed line work and subtle shading, very slow |
| #04 | 0.18mm | Extremely fine details, ultra-fine line work | Ultra-fine details, slow application, minimal ink distribution |
Comparison of Different Tattoo Needle Counts: 1203RL, 1205RL, 1207RL
The number of needles in a tattoo cartridge affects the thickness of the lines. You can clearly see the difference in line thickness with the following comparison:
7RL > 5RL > 3RL.
What Are the Different Tattoo Cartridge Configurations?
Tattoo cartridge configurations refer to the arrangement and layout of the tattoo needles. Different configurations are suited for different types of work. Here are the most common and special types of cartridge configurations available:
The Four Most Common Tattoo Cartridge Configurations:
- Round Liner (RL)
- Round Shader (RS)
- Magnum (M)
- Curved Magnum (CM, RM, M1C)
In practice, these four configurations can handle over 99% of tattooing tasks.
Special Tattoo Cartridge Configurations:
- Flats (F)
- Hollow Round Liner (HRL)
- Flats + RS (FRS)
These configurations are mostly used for special shading, filling, or based on individual tattoo artist preferences.
How to Choose Tattoo Cartridge Configurations
| Needle Configuration | Suitable For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Round Liner (RL) | Clear-cut lines, delicate details, script, dot work, small shading | Tightly grouped needles, precise lines, can cause more discomfort due to "pinching" effect. |
| Round Shader (RS) | Soft-edge lines, small shading, color packing | Wider spacing between needles, softer lines, less trauma. Ideal for highlighting and filling small areas. |
| Flat (F) | Precise shading, packing ink, color blending | Allows precise shading, can deliver a lot of ink, but requires careful angling to avoid cutting the skin. |
| Magnum (M) | Packing black/color, tribal designs, color blends, black & gray | All-rounder, larger surface area, smooth gradients, fewer passes, but requires caution for skin cutting. |
| Curved Magnum (M1C, RM, CM) | Portraits, realism, soft shading, color gradients | Arched shape for seamless blending, ideal for soft shading and backgrounds, minimizes skin trauma. |
| Hollow Round Liner (HRL) | Shadow filling, shading, tattoo artist’s personal preference | Used for shading and filling with less ink distribution, popular for artists’ unique techniques or preferences. |
The Difference Between RL and RLT Tattoo Cartridges
The main difference between RL and RLT tattoo cartridges lies in the tightness of the needle arrangement. RLT cartridges have a tighter needle configuration than RL, which results in finer lines even with the same needle count. This makes RLT cartridges ideal for creating finer details and thinner lines.
Note: Many tattoo cartridge brands do not distinguish between RL and RLT models and may label RL cartridges as RLT.