PRO-

FESSIONAL
METHODO-
LOGY
MASTERCOURSE: REALISTIC TATTOOING

COREH LÓPEZ

ALWAYS LEARNINK
SEMINARIO ONLINE
MASTERCOURSE: REALISTIC
DE TATUAJE
TATTOOING
REALISTA
WITH
CONCOREH
COREHLÓPEZ
LÓPEZ

ALWAYS LEARNINK
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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the course! 10 Masters is an online training system that
offers you all kinds of elements to facilitate learning, and through
which you will be able to navigate in an intuitive way. This is how the
course you are about to start works.

MY ACCOUNT Before you begin, remember that on your user page you will find
your completed and pending courses, as well as your participation
certificates, a document that validates that you have successfully
completed each course and that you will receive upon successful
completion of a minimum number of questions. You can leave your
courses halfway at any time; when you log in again, our system will
indicate the last topic you completed so that you can continue with
your training.
COURSE CONTENT
Our system allows you to view the table of contents of each course
the moment you access them, and you can also see which lessons
you have taken and which you have not. You can move through each
lesson and check your progress at any time.
When you access the course, you will find a series of videos where the
artist or professional will explain, lesson by lesson, their technique,
methodology, tricks and secrets. Within each video you will be able to
see on-screen resources that will help you during your training. What
is it all about? Let us tell you about it:

‒ QUOTES
Each time the artist says something noteworthy or important for
the evaluation, the highlighted sentence will appear on the screen.

‒ IMAGES AND VIDEO

Forget about the search engine. We’ll show you everything we
think you should see; product photos, reference images, inks,
machines... And, of course, tattoos.

‒ DATA AND STATISTICS

Tables, graphs, diagrams... Whatever statistical data needs to be
highlighted, you will see it in the video together with the source of
the information.
‒ REAL-TIME CAPTIONS
In the videos where the artist can be seen tattooing you will find, on
the top left of the screen, a legend detailing the type of machine,
needle, ink and voltage that is being used at all times.

ALWAYS LEARNINK
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INTRODUCTION

PRIVATE If you have questions during the training, our platform offers a private
QUESTION SYSTEM question system. It consists of a box that will appear when you pause
the video and where you can enter your questions. The 10 Masters team
will try to answer your questions as quickly as possible together with
the course teacher. You will receive the answer in your inbox on the “My
account” page and you will also receive a notification in your email.

UPDATABLE CONTENT At the end of each course, you will find the “Frequently Asked Ques-
tions” section. This lesson is updateable, which means that if you have
purchased a course, every time a new FAQ is answered you will receive
a notification to check it at no extra cost. What is the basis for adding
updates? If a question is regularly asked in the private question system,
we will address it by adding it to this lesson.

EVALUATION At the end of the course, you will find an assessment to test your
knowledge. If you do not pass it, we will mark the lessons you need to
revise in the table of contents. When repeating the test, the questions
will be different. At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate
of completion that can be printed out, if you wish.

WORKBOOK Now that you know how the course works, we welcome you to the
Workbook, a help book that will serve as a guide throughout the
courses. Here you will find interesting information such as lists of
materials, summaries of each lesson, links of interest, review of the
lessons, extra exercises and practical suggestions. This document
is ideal to group all the important concepts in a single file and avoid
having to watch the videos every time you have a question.

ALWAYS LEARNINK
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COREH LÓPEZ
BIO

Cristian López López (Barcelona,

1986), also known as Coreh
López, is a professional tattoo
artist who specialises in Black
& Grey Realism, with more than
9 years of experience.
At the age of 16, he became known
in the world of urban art, starting
his career with graffiti under the
name of ‘Dashout’. This, which
started out as a hobby, became his
first form of artistic expression.
As a child, Coreh was amazed
by his father’s oil paintings and
realistic drawings. This shaped
his career as an artist.
From graffiti, he moved on to
airbrushing, and from there to
graphic design, working for the
Kaotiko BCN clothing brand for
7 years.

B&G of Tokyo Ghoul Fangirl

Coreh López, 2019/ @corehlopez.
 05

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COREH LÓPEZ
MY CORE VALUES: Realism is an artistic expression that is simple to understand and,
more importantly, easy to interpret. Its basis is to imitate. Therefore,
THE 3 PILLARS it is essential to have the ability to not get frustrated when things
don’t work out at first. Only those with patience, self-confidence, and
willingness to fail on paper - and sometimes also on skin - can master
the technique of Realism.
Below, I will explain my main principles in order to strengthen the
tools that will allow you to move forward: patience, good taste, and
drawing. I will explain why these three things are, for me, fundamental to
reach your goal as quickly and efficiently as possible:

1. PATIENCE

“That which enables human beings to overcome the

strong emotions generated by misfortunes”

‒ Aristotle

It may sound abstract - but consider it carefully. It is a virtue, a skill

Bust of Aristotle in marble
Lysippos, 303 BC/ Wikipedia.
that can be worked on, because it will help you deal with frustration.
Patience is something we all have, whether a lot or a little, and your
goal now is to expand it.
A person without patience is unlikely to succeed in the world of realistic
tattooing. Why is that? Because it’s necessary to work in phases, to
dedicate effort to each one of them, and if you fail in one, it is possible
that all the work will be ruined. Everything is important, and even if there
are things you like more than others, you should invest the same effort
in all of them.
There came a point in my tattooing career when I realised that I was
failing because of this, and that I could squeeze my skills in other
ways, so I decided to train my patience. I started talking to my clients
more and, although some pieces I could do in one session, I would tell
them I needed two sessions. Even with simple tattoos, just in case.
Later, I realised that when my clients learnt that I was tattooing in two
or three sessions, they didn’t mind. Because clients always want a
good result. If they must pay more to make it look better, they want to
know in advance so they can make up their mind. And it makes sense.
When you can be patient, you can take decisions that delay processes,
and you might be able to see that this has benefits in your life, profession,
and prestige. If you are impatient and you decide to start in the world of
tattooing, I wish you luck because, believe me, you’re going to need it.
 06

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COREH LÓPEZ 2. GOOD TASTE

MY CORE VALUES:
THE 3 PILLARS
B&G of a portrait of Andrea Nogueira
Coreh López, 2019/ @corehlopez.
Let us talk about good taste. What do I mean by good taste? What is it,
really? Obviously, we are talking about good artistic taste. And, in part,
good artisanal taste, in terms of how well something is made. We are
talking about knowing how to tell when something is good and when it is
not. When something is aesthetically beautiful and when it is not, from
an objective point of view.
Some things are subjective. If we talk about a tattoo, for some people it
may be well placed and for others it may not, for some the size may be
excessive and for others it may be fine... But there are answers that will
always be correct: aesthetic decisions that most people, whether they
are tattoo artists or not, would choose as correct. We are talking about
the universal aesthetic sense.
If we have good taste to appreciate the work of others, we can refine
our good taste to appreciate our own work and thus practice something
important in this field: self-criticism, that is, knowing how to appreciate
your work by being critical.
I consider myself a person with good taste. I have been training it since I
was a child and I think of my previous job with the clothing brand ‘Kaotiko’
in Barcelona as also partly implying being a “technician of good taste”,
beyond graphic design. It sounds easy, but it’s not. Because you’re trying
to sell the same T-shirt to 4 million people, and you know you’re not going
to succeed, but you must work on it.
With this I learnt to understand people’s preferences, to know what
good taste is on a broad scale. I realised that in tattooing I was doing the
same preliminary work but changing the technique and the final result. I
went from selling T-shirts to selling tattoos, but the mental exercise was
the same.
In short, if you practice good taste, you will be artistically awake. If you
value the work of others on a daily basis, you will know how to value
your own and when to improve; or when you fail, you will appreciate
the positive and negative qualities of each job. Remember you are in
charge of valuing yourself.

B&G of a Thomas Shelby portrait B&G of a Freddie Mercury portrait

Coreh López, 2019/ @corehlopez. Coreh López, 2019/ @corehlopez.
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COREH LÓPEZ
MY CORE VALUES: 3. THE DRAWING

THE 3 PILLARS “To tattoo, you have to draw well”. It seems obvious. We have all known
people who have said this sentence. However, it isn’t entirely true.
There are tattooists, even well-known ones, who don’t draw well. This
will never be the case for a tattooist with a realistic style. No Realism
tattoo artist draws badly: it is impossible.
In styles such as traditional tattooing or lettering, for instance, when
I talk about being “good”, I mean finishing the tattoo and making sure
it is of high quality and it has an impeccable healing process. It may
or may not have merit, we may or may not think it’s artistic, but it is
possible for the tattoo to be technically flawless and to heal perfectly
without the tattooist knowing how to draw. This is a reality that we
must accept without engaging in ethics.
And what about realistic tattooing? Does anybody know anyone who
can tattoo a perfect picture on skin, but has no idea how to begin on
paper? Whose drawings are horrible, but whose tattoos are impeccable?
Not likely.
When we tattoo Realism, what we do is make a realistic drawing, but
with a different technique. We go from pencil to needle, but the result
will be similar. Therefore, if you don’t know how to draw a nose, you
won’t be able to tattoo it. There are many benefits in knowing how to
draw, in all styles, but in Realism it is essential.

“Good taste is a human being’s ability to perceive and

discern things by their aesthetics”

‒ Coreh López

If you already tattoo Realism well and want to improve your technique,
the best way to do so is to draw. If you don’t like your results, the first thing
you should do is revise your drawing.
And if you haven’t started tattooing yet or you are just starting, the
first thing you should do is to learn how to draw.
Feel free to make mistakes, because when you do it on skin, there will
be much more working against you. Making mistakes is how you will
learn and improve.
It’s important not to push yourself at the beginning. When you have
done 10 perfect portraits you might feel that you cannot go wrong. The
client will expect you to do what they have seen successfully tattooed
on other people. But before you get there, avoid that pressure – and allow
yourself to make mistakes.
B&G of Dragonball Fangirl
Finally, be sure of one thing: all Realism tattoo artists have made
Coreh López, 2018/ @corehlopez.
mistakes at some time or another. You will be no different.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 08

01
METHODOLOGY
PRESENTATION

WELCOME!
NOTES: Tattoo methodology is all the knowledge that you should know and,
above all, study before tattooing.

In this block, you will find all the information that Coreh has collected
during his 11 years of career: his strategy before, during and after a
tattoo process.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 09

02
WHAT DO I NEED
TO TATTOO
REALISM?
IN SEARCH OF PERFECTION IN SEARCH OF PERFECTION
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
One of the most difficult parts of realistic tattooing is durability. We are
THE 3 PILLARS used to seeing very well done pieces that, over the years, end up losing
CONTROL YOUR EGO sharpness and quality.
MY EXPERIENCE AS Coreh will talk to us about his obsession for perfection and the main
A TATTOO ARTIST
goal of a successful tattoo: that it lasts over time.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ A good realistic tattoo should be long-lasting.

RECAP ‒ Good customer experience will make you a prestigious

tattoo artist.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 10

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WHAT DO I NEED
TO TATTOO
REALISM?
IN SEARCH OF PERFECTION QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
When we get into the world of tattooing, it is very common that we waste
THE 3 PILLARS time trying to find the perfect machine, ink or voltage for the style we
CONTROL YOUR EGO want to work with.
MY EXPERIENCE AS And the reality is that all these questions will be answered by time
A TATTOO ARTIST
and experience.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ In Realism, it is easier to start with a rotary machine.

RECAP
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 11

02
WHAT DO I NEED
TO TATTOO
REALISM?
IN SEARCH OF PERFECTION THE 3 PILLARS
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
According to Coreh López, the basic kit of a good tattooist should in-
THE 3 PILLARS clude 3 things:
CONTROL YOUR EGO ‒ Patience
MY EXPERIENCE AS ‒ Good taste
A TATTOO ARTIST
‒ Drawing

For him, these are fundamental aspects that you must take into
account if you want to become a Realism tattoo artist.
NOTES:
In this section, he explains why. To find out more about his 3 pillars,
check out pages 5-7: “My values: the 3 pillars”.

Melissa Eisler. 7 Strategies to Build Your Patience Muscles

https://bit.ly/3wka7TR

LESSON ‒ New technologies are useful, not essential.

RECAP
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 12

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WHAT DO I NEED
TO TATTOO
REALISM?
IN SEARCH OF PERFECTION CONTROL YOUR EGO
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
As with all styles, many tattooers forget to control their ego. In Realism
THE 3 PILLARS especially: admiration from others is something that can sometimes
CONTROL YOUR EGO make us become vain.
MY EXPERIENCE AS For Coreh, it is important not to underestimate other styles, but to be
A TATTOO ARTIST
humble, listen, and always keep your feet on the ground.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ Being a Realism tattoo artist comes with great responsibility.

RECAP ‒ You should not start tattooing Realism until you are ready.

‒ Nobody tattoos better than they draw.

PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 13

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WHAT DO I NEED
TO TATTOO
REALISM?
IN SEARCH OF PERFECTION MY EXPERIENCE AS
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF A TATTOO ARTIST
THE 3 PILLARS
Being a Realism tattooist is challenging: it’s not an overnight task
CONTROL YOUR EGO and, of course, it has its ups and downs.
MY EXPERIENCE AS
A TATTOO ARTIST In this chapter, Coreh talks about, among other things, what he calls
“dying of success”; a risk that many Realism tattooers face and that
could make you give up.

However, he also talks to us about all the good things that have come
NOTES: out of being a realist tattoo artist.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 14

03
HOW IS REALISM
TATTOOED?

WORK METHODOLOGY WORK METHODOLOGY

MY 3 METHODS Your work as a Realism tattooist is not only about having a good
HAVING YOUR OWN METHOD technique: a good organisation of your sessions will also make
AND STYLE
everything run smoothly or, otherwise, it will be a real disaster.

Your work methodology affects everything: the speed at which you

tattoo, the number of sessions you need to finish a piece, your schedule...
You must take it into account.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ My method is to press all tones equally.

RECAP
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 15

03
HOW IS REALISM
TATTOOED?

WORK METHODOLOGY MY 3 METHODS

MY 3 METHODS Coreh talks about his methodology, which consists of always working in
HAVING YOUR OWN METHOD double sessions. He uses 3 different methods depending on the situation
AND STYLE at hand.
He chooses each one depending on multiple factors: the design of the
tattoo, the reference image, the quality of the client’s skin, if any part
needs to be reworked, the machine... In this topic, he will explain when
and why he chooses each of these methods.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ A short-stroke machine produces more punctures

per second than a long stroke machine.
RECAP
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 16

03
HOW IS REALISM
TATTOOED?

WORK METHODOLOGY HAVING YOUR OWN METHOD

MY 3 METHODS AND STYLE
HAVING YOUR OWN METHOD
AND STYLE Whatever working methods your favourite artists use, it is important
that you develop your own, because it will work best for you. Do your
research, try it, make mistakes - until you discover your ideal method.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ Working superficially and Organic Realism are incompatible.

RECAP ‒ Working by areas allows you to tattoo the maximum detail

of
Mi amétodo
piece without having to simplify
todos it.
REPASO DE ‒ consiste en apretar los tonos por igual.
‒ Semi-Realism tattooing is a good way to get started in Realism.
LA LECCIÓN
‒ Semi-Realism allows you to do large pieces in fewer sessions.

‒ Until you have been tattooing a particular style for a while,

you will not be able to develop a personal working method.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 17

04
BASIC
MATERIALS

NEEDLES NEEDLES
THE PERFECT MACHINE Tattoo needles are such a wide world that there are no perfect needles
INKS AND GREYWASH for a particular style. You should not just rely on using the same needles
that other artists use, but ask yourself many questions before choosing
POWER SUPPLY
the right one for you and the piece you are doing at the time.
HYGIENIC SUPPLIES
AND ACCESSORIES What is the reference image like? What is the design like? What is the
OTHER ACCESSORIES client’s skin like? This will define what the diameter, taper, arrangement
and grouping of your needles should be like.

NOTES:
Number Milimetres
#06 0.20mm
#08 0.25mm
#10 0.30mm
#12 0.35mm
#14 0.40mm
#16 0.45mm
Needle number (diameter) equivalence table.

Blue Bird Needles catalogue

http://bit.ly/2QargzG
Kwadron needles catalogue
http://bit.ly/38KLNkO
Cheyenne Tattoo cartridges catalogue
http://bit.ly/3rVLyuA

LESSON ‒ The thinner a needle is, the smaller its diameter and the less
damage it does to the skin.
RECAP
‒ Choose a brand of needle that offers several configurations.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 18

04
BASIC
MATERIALS

NEEDLES THE PERFECT MACHINE

THE PERFECT MACHINE As with needles, the perfect machine for Realism does not exist. Coreh,
INKS AND GREYWASH after many years of experience, continues to test different machines,
POWER SUPPLY each with different characteristics.

HYGIENIC SUPPLIES In this section, he gives you some recommendations to guide you
AND ACCESSORIES when choosing a tattoo machine, although he assures you that over
OTHER ACCESSORIES time you will have to experiment.

NOTES:

Cheyenne SOL Luna tattoo machine

https://bit.ly/3paFA6W
Cheyenne SOL Nova tattoo machine
https://bit.ly/3cZEFnm
Dan Kubin official website
http://bit.ly/3tjyVty
Micky Sharpz official website
https://bit.ly/2OnBVq3
Howcast.com. How to Tune & Work a Tattoo Machine
https://bit.ly/3v4hbnB

LESSON ‒ If you have less experience tattooing Realism, opt for multi-
purpose tattoo machines.
RECAP
‒ A soft machine allows you to go over the same area several
times without damaging the skin too much.

‒ When in doubt, always choose a tattoo machine with an

intermediate hardness.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 19

04
BASIC
MATERIALS

NEEDLES INKS AND GREYWASH

THE PERFECT MACHINE One of the most popular questions in the world of realistic tattooing is:
INKS AND GREYWASH “What ink do you use?”.
POWER SUPPLY In this section, Coreh talks about the importance of black ink in Realism,
the different types of greywash, his tricks for creating them, and solid
HYGIENIC SUPPLIES
AND ACCESSORIES grey inks, among other things.

OTHER ACCESSORIES

NOTES:

Ultra black Triple Black Tattoo Ink by Dynamic

http://bit.ly/3r0DEyM
Ultra black Zuper Black Tattoo Ink by Intenze
http://bit.ly/3czyRPP
Aloe Tattoo rose water
http://bit.ly/3vDF0Dt
Aloe Tattoo Witch Hazel distillate water
http://bit.ly/3vwzbr1
Premier Greywash Grey Inks by Premier Tattoo Supplies
http://bit.ly/3bRe374
Neutral Gray 40 ink by Eternal Ink
http://bit.ly/3tkwruY

LESSON ‒ A black ink for tattooing Realism should be very pure, very
black and as liquid as possible.
RECAP
‒ Ultra black inks are designed to cover large black areas.

‒ Tip: prepare two cups of pure black for tattoos with large
black areas or for long sessions.

‒ Be careful with the last cup: it is the lightest shade and gets
contaminated with the darker shades.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 20

04
BASIC
MATERIALS

NEEDLES POWER SUPPLY

THE PERFECT MACHINE Amperage (A) is the most important value when it comes to power
INKS AND GREYWASH supplies. In addition, Coreh shows us some of his favourite power
supplies depending on the machine he uses.
POWER SUPPLY

HYGIENIC SUPPLIES Each power supply is useful for a specific type of machine, so it is
AND ACCESSORIES always best to check with the manufacturer.
OTHER ACCESSORIES

NOTES:

Official Hard Craft Company website

http://bit.ly/30KWLSL
Cheyenne Tattoo Accessories Catalogue
http://bit.ly/397VpX4
Official Eikon Meter website
http://bit.ly/2PgJqzc

LESSON ‒ Check which power supply will work for you with
your machine’s manufacturer.
RECAP
‒ A power supply does not require you to use more or
less voltage.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 21

04
BASIC
MATERIALS

NEEDLES HYGIENIC SUPPLIES

THE PERFECT MACHINE AND ACCESSORIES
INKS AND GREYWASH
There are plenty of products to ensure hygiene during a tattoo session. It
POWER SUPPLY is important to avoid cross-contamination and to create a sterile space
HYGIENIC SUPPLIES in your work area.
AND ACCESSORIES That’s why, in this topic, Coreh will show you his favourite products and
OTHER ACCESSORIES explain what they are used for.

NOTES:

Aloe Tattoo Cleansing Foam Tattoo Solution (Green Soap)

http://bit.ly/38JV3FS
Aloe Tattoo’s Cursed Skull Bioactive Tattoo Vaseline
http://bit.ly/3vubMXr
Katrin Paper Napkins
https://bit.ly/2OVa3cQ

LESSON ‒ Paper towels should be soft and should not release any
paper debris.
RECAP
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 22

04
BASIC
MATERIALS

NEEDLES OTHER ACCESSORIES

THE PERFECT MACHINE In addition to the basic materials for tattooing - needles, machines, inks,
INKS AND GREYWASH supplies... - there are other tools that can make the session easier. Do you
POWER SUPPLY
want to know which ones Coreh uses? Press play!

HYGIENIC SUPPLIES
AND ACCESSORIES

OTHER ACCESSORIES

NOTES:

Veka articulated magnifying lamp with magnifying glass

https://amzn.to/30R08Yk
Amzdeal Softbox LED lighting kit
https://amzn.to/38KLmXE
Quirumed stools catalogue
https://bit.ly/2Nt0bH2
UGREEN articulated mobile phone and tablet stand
https://amzn.to/3rYoX0M
Elephant cartridge holder
http://bit.ly/38JEvxQ
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 23

05
REALISTIC
TATTOO
COMPOSITION
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
TATTOO PLACEMENT It’s not all about creating a design, transferring it to the skin, tattooing
SKIN ACCORDING it, and that’s it. Not studying all the key elements before you start could
TO BODY AREA
ruin a perfect piece of work during the session.
In this section, Coreh López explains everything you need to consider
before setting up your machine.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ The tattoo must be adapted to the shape of the area of the body
to be tattooed.
RECAP
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 24

05
REALISTIC
TATTOO
COMPOSITION

INTRODUCTION
TATTOO PLACEMENT
TATTOO PLACEMENT We must know what the design requires of us, as it is not suitable for
any part of the body.
SKIN ACCORDING
TO BODY AREA
It is a mistake to place our piece in an area that is not suitable for it
because, even if your tattoo is technically perfect, a poorly chosen location
will distort our work completely from the angle from which we see it.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ Never tattoo a frontal portrait on a very curved or flexible area.

RECAP ‒ The best areas for tattooing are flat, not very mobile,
do not deform much over time and have fairly resistant skin.

‒ As a rule, portrait tattoos should always face forwards.

PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 25

05
REALISTIC
TATTOO
COMPOSITION
INTRODUCTION SKIN ACCORDING
TATTOO PLACEMENT TO BODY AREA
SKIN ACCORDING
TO BODY AREA The skin on your elbow is not the same as the skin on your hand, is it?
You have to pay attention and look carefully at the skin you are dealing
with and act accordingly because once you start tattooing, there is no
turning back.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ Ink must be placed in the dermis.

RECAP ‒ If you come across thinner skin, you must work in a more
superficial way.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 26

06
THE STENCIL

WHAT DOES A REALISM TATTOO

WHAT DOES A REALISM TATTOO
STENCIL LOOK LIKE?
STENCIL LOOK LIKE?
WORKSHOP: HOW TO CREATE A
HAND-DRAWN STENCIL The stencil is the reference that will guide us during the session and, as
such, when tattooing Realism, a good stencil is essential. If we design it
poorly, we could ruin everything when it comes to tattooing.

What needs to be traced, and what doesn’t? How do I highlight shadows?

And lines? Pay attention - Coreh tells you all about it.

NOTES:

Repro FX Spirit classic hectograph (purple) paper

https://bit.ly/2P1pWyh
Repro FX Spirit Green Thermal hectograph paper
https://bit.ly/2OT5Whr
S8 Red Series Stencil Kit red hectograph paper
https://bit.ly/3vssFBH

LESSON ‒ We usually indicate shadows and saturations on the stencil

with dots or thin lines.
RECAP
‒ Take your time and spend as much time as you need to make
the stencil.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 27

06
THE STENCIL

WHAT DOES A REALISM TATTOO

WORKSHOP: HOW TO CREATE A
STENCIL LOOK LIKE?
HAND-DRAWN STENCIL
WORKSHOP: HOW TO CREATE A
HAND-DRAWN STENCIL Once you have learnt the theory, you will be able to see, step by step,
how Coreh designs the manual stencil - without a thermocopier - of the
tattoo featured in the course.

NOTES:

MATERIALS:
‒ Smooth, rigid work surface
‒ Hectograph paper (transfer)
‒ Printout of the reference image (black and white)
‒ Round-tip pens (BiC Cristal, blue)
‒ 0.4 mm fine-tip pen (Pilot G-TEC-C4, red)

Repro FX Spirit classic hectograph (purple) paper

https://bit.ly/2P1pWyh
BiC Cristal blue biros pack
https://amzn.to/3rlGyhQ
Pilot G-TEC-C4 red biros
https://amzn.to/3vXEKyW
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 28

07
FIRST STEPS
WITH THE CLIENT

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
THE IDEA What happens from the moment the client thinks of getting a tattoo until
THE IMAGE you have them in front of you, ready for the session?
CHECKING IT WORKS OUT As a professional, you are in charge of capturing the idea they have in
THE DESIGN mind on their skin; and doing it well is not easy, it requires a previous
THE BUDGET preparation that many tattooists forget.

SCHEDULE THE SESSION Bear in mind that you are also responsible for deciding if something can
be done - or if the client’s idea is impossible.
CARE PRIOR TO THE SESSION

NOTES:
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 29

07
FIRST STEPS
WITH THE CLIENT

INTRODUCTION THE IDEA

THE IDEA If you want your client to go home with a big smile on their face, you
THE IMAGE must learn to ask them the right questions.
CHECKING IT WORKS OUT Their initial idea is probably fine and they know for sure what they
THE DESIGN want, but by talking to them you can take their idea to the next level
and exceed their expectations.
THE BUDGET

SCHEDULE THE SESSION

CARE PRIOR TO THE SESSION

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ The conversation you have with your client is the first
important step.
RECAP
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 30

07
FIRST STEPS
WITH THE CLIENT

INTRODUCTION THE IMAGE

THE IDEA Sometimes your preferences clash with what the client wants. It is
THE IMAGE important to find a middle ground and choose the perfect reference
image so that it can be viable for you to tattoo it, and the client likes it.
CHECKING IT WORKS OUT

THE DESIGN

THE BUDGET

SCHEDULE THE SESSION

CARE PRIOR TO THE SESSION

NOTES:
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 31

07
FIRST STEPS
WITH THE CLIENT

INTRODUCTION CHECKING IT WORKS OUT

THE IDEA A very common problem, before a session, is to choose the reference
THE IMAGE image and when the time comes to tattoo it, it does not fit well in the
CHECKING IT WORKS OUT part of the body that the client had chosen; either due to a lack of
resolution if the area is very large, or because it is very curved and
THE DESIGN
the image is deformed, or due to other mishaps.
THE BUDGET
You should always verify this with enough time to avoid possible
SCHEDULE THE SESSION drawbacks. In this chapter, Coreh gives you the tools to achieve this.
CARE PRIOR TO THE SESSION

NOTES:

TinEye reverse image finder

http://bit.ly/3vOzON4
Image enlarger bigjpg.com
https://bit.ly/3cGzpEM

LESSON ‒ It is important to check that the tattoo works properly before

the session.
RECAP
‒ If TinEye does not find an image, it does not exist.

‒ It is best to check the shape and orientation (of the tattoo

before the session).

‒ If you draw the stencil by hand, meet with the client and check
if it fits.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 32

07
FIRST STEPS
WITH THE CLIENT

INTRODUCTION THE DESIGN

THE IDEA Sometimes, the image by itself doesn’t convince us: sometimes it
THE IMAGE needs a background or a lettering, other times an object needs to be
CHECKING IT WORKS OUT removed... And sometimes the image needs to be tweaked to make it
work better.
THE DESIGN
The design process is one of the most crucial stages of any tattoo -
THE BUDGET
Coreh tells you about his process throughout this section.
SCHEDULE THE SESSION

CARE PRIOR TO THE SESSION

NOTES:
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 33

07
FIRST STEPS
WITH THE CLIENT

INTRODUCTION THE BUDGET

THE IDEA As a professional, it is your job to decide how much you should charge for
THE IMAGE what you do. There are different methods: setting a fixed price, regardless
CHECKING IT WORKS OUT
of the time it takes to do a piece, or putting a price on your session.

THE DESIGN Whatever your method, Coreh is clear that the most important thing is to
be honest with the client when budgeting for your tattoos.
THE BUDGET

SCHEDULE THE SESSION

CARE PRIOR TO THE SESSION

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ It is essential to budget the hours before tattooing.

RECAP
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 34

07
FIRST STEPS
WITH THE CLIENT

INTRODUCTION SCHEDULE THE SESSION

THE IDEA Working in a hurry is always going to be a bad decision. Coreh recommends
THE IMAGE that our client has the whole day available for us, in case unforeseen
CHECKING IT WORKS OUT
circumstances arise.

THE DESIGN
This is essential, especially if we are involved in realistic tattooing; a
THE BUDGET style in which it is very difficult to determine how many hours a piece
SCHEDULE THE SESSION can take.

CARE PRIOR TO THE SESSION

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ It is advisable that the client has a whole day off (to schedule
the session).
RECAP
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 35

07
FIRST STEPS
WITH THE CLIENT

INTRODUCTION CARE PRIOR TO THE SESSION

THE IDEA
Whether your client’s skin, body and attitude are ready for the day
THE IMAGE of the session depends, to a large extent, on the instructions you
CHECKING IT WORKS OUT have given them beforehand. As a good tattooist, you must guide
them before, during and after the session so that everything turns
THE DESIGN
out perfect.
THE BUDGET

SCHEDULE THE SESSION

CARE PRIOR TO THE SESSION

NOTES:

Nivea Crème body lotion

https://amzn.to/30S2SF8
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 36

08
THE DAY BEFORE

WORKSHOP: IMAGE ANALYSIS WORKSHOP: IMAGE ANALYSIS

WORKSHOP: REFERENCE To get a good final result you should study the image carefully so that
PHOTO EDITING BASICS
you don’t miss any details when tattooing. Coreh even advises you to
WORKSHOP: HOW TO CREATE practice drawing it. It’s a good way to analyse all the problem areas of
A STENCIL ON AN IPAD
the image - and Coreh shows you how he does it.
PRACTICAL PROPOSAL

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ You will have to pay full attention to the most focused area
(of the tattoo).
RECAP
‒ If the tattoo is very dark, it is advisable to use two cups
of black.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY

08
THE DAY BEFORE

WORKSHOP: IMAGE ANALYSIS WORKSHOP: REFERENCE

WORKSHOP: REFERENCE
PHOTO EDITING BASICS
PHOTO EDITING BASICS
WORKSHOP: HOW TO CREATE Not only does your client need to be ready for the session, it is also
A STENCIL ON AN IPAD
important that you and the image you are going to tattoo are ready.
PRACTICAL PROPOSAL
In this workshop, you will see how Coreh edits the reference image
before creating the stencil.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ If a photograph needs a lot of editing, it is advisable to do it a few

days in advance.
RECAP
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 38

08
THE DAY BEFORE

WORKSHOP: IMAGE ANALYSIS WORKSHOP: HOW TO CREATE

WORKSHOP: REFERENCE
PHOTO EDITING BASICS
A STENCIL ON AN IPAD
WORKSHOP: HOW TO CREATE Once you have the image ready, it’s now time to prepare the stencil.
A STENCIL ON AN IPAD You can do it manually or digitally. In this topic, you can see Coreh
PRACTICAL PROPOSAL making the stencil digitally using an iPad.

NOTES:

BIOMASER Thermocopier
https://amzn.to/3lzpGmr
Procreate App
http://bit.ly/2NlQbiA
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 39

08
THE DAY BEFORE

WORKSHOP: IMAGE ANALYSIS PRACTICAL PROPOSAL

WORKSHOP: REFERENCE
PHOTO EDITING BASICS Coreh already has his stencils ready; now it’s your turn. For this practice,
he has prepared 4 files in PSD format in which you will find 3 layers: the
WORKSHOP: HOW TO CREATE
A STENCIL ON AN IPAD first one, with the reference image; the second one, with the stencil and,
PRACTICAL PROPOSAL
finally, the third one, for you to create your own version.

To create the stencil digitally, you can open the PSD format with
Procreate, using the ‘Import’ option, or directly with Photoshop. If
you prefer to do it manually, you will only need a light table or a window

NOTES: ;). When you open the file, you will see that Coreh has drawn crosses in
the corners of all the layers. These will be a great help if you decide to
print them out, to make sure they all match.

Once you have finished your digital stencil - without looking at Coreh’s,
no cheating - remove the layer from the reference image and compare
your version with Coreh’s. This way, you will be able to see which parts
of it match.

Oh, and remember: a Realism stencil should always be as simple as

possible - we look forward to seeing your result on the forum!

PRACTICE 1 PRACTICE 2
https://bit.ly/3f8j2lV https://bit.ly/3rhC6kh

PRACTICE 3 PRACTICE 4
https://bit.ly/39c6shK https://bit.ly/2QvkyEp
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 40

09
THE DAY
OF THE SESSION

WELCOMING THE CLIENT WELCOMING THE CLIENT

WORKTABLE AND If you are a great professional, your goal is to make the client feel
WORKSPACE SETUP
comfortable and at ease with you from the moment they walk in the
APPLYING THE STENCIL door until they leave with their freshly done tattoo.

Explaining the dynamics of the session and having good communication

will make everything easier for both of you.

NOTES:

LESSON ‒ On the day of the tattoo, your main goal is to make the client
feel comfortable.
RECAP
‒ Explain the session to the client.

‒ All aspects of the session should promote the client’s comfort.

PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 41

09
THE DAY
OF THE SESSION

WELCOMING THE CLIENT WORKTABLE AND

WORKTABLE AND
WORKSPACE SETUP
WORKSPACE SETUP
APPLYING THE STENCIL
Remember that the client must always be present during the preparation
of the workplace.

Coreh López shows us how the worktable should be divided (sterile area
and non-sterile area), and how to maintain good hygiene at all times.

NOTES: Alcohol-based CR-36 disinfectant

https://amzn.to/2NvrtMV
Dynamic Color (Premium Tattoo Ink)
http://bit.ly/3r62Wfe
Viking-Ink Gloom Clear thinner
https://bit.ly/2ODgFgn
Ralf Nonnweiler Smooth Set by Panthera Ink
https://bit.ly/371vv65
AIESI Sterile wooden depressors
https://amzn.to/3eZ7txo
Disposable ink tray by Cheyenne Ink
https://bit.ly/2OPm3Nc
Devils Needle tattoo wash bottle
https://amzn.to/3s4bhkD
UGREEN articulated mobile and tablet stand
https://amzn.to/3rYoX0M
Elephant cartridge holder
http://bit.ly/38JEvxQ

LESSON ‒ The workspace must be properly sterilised.

RECAP ‒ The client must be present while you prepare the space.

‒ The worktable should be placed on the right if you are right-

handed, and on the left if you are left-handed.
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 42

09
THE DAY
OF THE SESSION

WELCOMING THE CLIENT APPLYING THE STENCIL

WORKTABLE AND Finally, Coreh tells us how the stencil should be applied: from how
WORKSPACE SETUP
to prepare the skin beforehand, to how to transfer it successfully.
APPLYING THE STENCIL Everything about the stencil can be found in this section.

NOTES:

Wilkinson Sword disposable razor blades

https://amzn.to/3eUEzyj
Aloe Tattoo Tattoo Cleansing Foam (Green Soap)
http://bit.ly/38JV3FS
Aloe Tattoo Stencil Plus Spray quick drying tattoo transfer solution
http://bit.ly/3bYFj3J
Aloe Tattoo Tattoo Stencil Eraser solution
http://bit.ly/3rZeemI
PROFESSIONAL METHODOLOGY 43

10
AFTERCARE
ADVICE

Tattoo care varies depending on the artist and the style. In the case of
Realism, the healing period will determine the final result of the tattoo:
NOTES: whether all the details are lost or, on the contrary, last over time.

In this lesson, Coreh Lopez will share with you his tips for achieving
the best healing.

LESSON ‒ A tattoo artist must understand the skin’s regeneration process.

RECAP
‒ Do not just tell the client how the tattoo should be taken care of,
but rather why it should be done.

‒ Taking care of a realistic tattoo is not the same as taking care

of a traditional style tattoo.

‒ Temperature and climate affect the tattoo’s healing process.

‒ Applying ointment and wrapping the tattoo with plastic wrap

is a big mistake.

‒ Ointment should be applied when we notice dryness,

and in thin layers.

‒ Protective ointment is pointless once the wound has healed.

‒ Chlorine and chemicals have a negative effect on the healing

of a tattoo.