July 17, 2026 - 2 weeks ago

Choosing the right tattoo cartridge has a direct impact on line quality, shading consistency, ink flow, and overall efficiency throughout a session. While your machine setup and technique are essential, selecting the correct cartridge configuration ensures your equipment performs exactly as intended for the style of work you are producing.

The Magnum Gen 2 Tattoo Cartridge range has been developed for professional tattoo artists who require consistent needle performance across a wide variety of tattooing techniques. Every cartridge in the Gen 2 range is engineered with a medical-grade polycarbonate housing, a protective silicone safety membrane to prevent fluid backflow, and a triple stabilisation system that drastically reduces needle play for smoother, more controlled strokes. They also feature an integrated comfort finger ledge to give you additional grip width during long sessions.

But with multiple variations available, which configurations do you need on your workstation? Let’s break down every single cartridge type available in the Magnum Gen 2 range, explaining their technical setups, ink flow characteristics, and ideal use cases.

1. Round Liner (RL)

Round Liners feature needles soldered in a tight circular formation, concentrating pigment into a narrow point for highly controlled ink implantation. Within the Gen 2 range, these are highly flexible tools that can transition from micro-details to structural borders.

• Best For: Crisp outlines, fine details, script work, geometric designs, and bold traditional linework.

• Ink Flow & Behaviour: Concentrated and precise. The clear housing offers complete visibility of your reservoir, ensuring you know exactly how much ink you have left before dipping.

• Technical Specifications:

• Needle Sizes: 01–18

• Needle Gauges / Diameters: #06 (0.20mm), #08 (0.25mm), #10 (0.30mm), #12 (0.35mm)

• Needle Tapers: Short (2.5mm), Medium (3.5mm), Long (6.5mm), Extra Long (8mm)

• Needle Finish: Polished and textured options available

Recommended Product: Magnum Gen 2 Tattoo Cartridges - Round Liners (10PCS)

2. Hollow Round Liner (HRL)

In a Hollow Round Liner configuration, the needles are grouped in a circular arrangement but feature an empty centre core where the middle pins are omitted. This hollow space acts as a built-in reservoir, pulling a much larger volume of ink up into the cartridge tip housing.

• Best For: Long-drawn-out linework, heavy-gauge script, bold outlines, and traditional tattooing without constant pausing.

• Ink Flow & Behaviour: High-volume, continuous delivery. It allows you to pull exceptionally long lines without running dry mid-stroke.

• Technical Specifications:

• Needle Sizes: 06–10

• Needle Gauge / Diameter: #12 (0.35mm)

• Needle Taper: Long (6.5mm)

• Needle Finish: Polished

Recommended Product: Magnum Gen 2 Tattoo Cartridges - Hollow Round Liners (10PCS)

3. Traditional Round Liner (TRL)

Unlike modern standard liners that feature long tapers pinched tightly at the tip, Traditional Round Liners are built with a Short Taper. This naturally allows the 0.35mm pins to sit in a slightly more relaxed, open circular configuration, replicating classic, time-tested lining methods.

• Best For: Bold American Traditional outlines, Neo-Traditional frameworks, high-visibility structural lines, and heavy illustration styles.

• Ink Flow & Behaviour: Maximum ink flow that lays down a robust, highly visible line that holds its weight permanently over time without looking "pinched".

• Technical Specifications:

• Needle Sizes: 09–18

• Needle Gauge / Diameter: #12 (0.35mm)

• Needle Taper: Short (2.5mm)

• Needle Finish: Polished

Recommended Product: Magnum Gen 2 Tattoo Cartridges - Traditional Round Liners (10PCS)

4. Round Shader (RS)

Round Shaders use a loose circular needle arrangement. Rather than concentrating pigment into a tight point, they distribute ink across a slightly wider area, making them highly versatile for soft transitions and filling tighter spaces.

• Best For: Small shading transitions, solid colour packing, whip shading, softer outlines, and smaller fill areas.

• Ink Flow & Behaviour: Softer ink distribution with smooth spread, preventing the skin from being overworked in tight zones compared to standard magnums.

• Technical Specifications:

• Needle Sizes: 03–25

• Needle Gauges / Diameters: #08 (0.25mm), #10 (0.30mm), #12 (0.35mm)

• Needle Tapers: Medium (3.5mm), Long (6.5mm)

• Needle Finish: Polished

Recommended Product: Magnum Gen 2 Tattoo Cartridges - Round Shaders (10PCS)

5. Curved Magnum (RM)

Also known as round magnums or soft-edge magnums, Curved Magnums feature a gently arched needle configuration where the outer needles sit slightly shorter than those in the centre. This allows the configuration to conform naturally to the contours of the skin.

• Best For: Black and grey realism, portrait tattoos, smooth shading, colour blending, and soft gradient transitions.

• Ink Flow & Behaviour: Exceptionally smooth blending. The arched profile reduces the likelihood of harsh edge lines or side trauma during application.

• Technical Specifications:

• Needle Sizes: 05–27

• Needle Gauges / Diameters: #08 (0.25mm), #10 (0.30mm), #12 (0.35mm)

• Needle Tapers: Medium (3.5mm), Long (6.5mm)

• Needle Finish: Polished

Recommended Product: Magnum Gen 2 Tattoo Cartridges - Curved Magnums (10PCS)

6. Straight Magnum (M1)

Straight Magnums feature two staggered rows of needles arranged in a completely flat configuration. This structure applies uniform force across a broad surface area, driving maximum pigment into the skin with every pass.

• Best For: Heavy colour packing, large solid black fills, Japanese backgrounds, and solid Neo-Traditional saturation.

• Ink Flow & Behaviour: Rapid, highly efficient saturation. It covers massive areas quickly, reducing working time during large-scale sessions.

• Technical Specifications:

• Needle Sizes: 05–27

• Needle Gauges / Diameters: #08 (0.25mm), #10 (0.30mm), #12 (0.35mm)

• Needle Taper: Long (6.5mm)

• Needle Finish: Polished

Recommended Product: Magnum Gen 2 Tattoo Cartridges - Straight Magnums (10PCS)

7. Whip Shading Magnum (WSM)

Also referred to as stipple mags, these highly specialised cartridges swap out the traditional flat magnum needle formation for grouped round liner clusters arranged in multi-row grids.

• Best For: Effortless whip shading, pepper stippling effects, dotwork realism, and illustrative blackwork textures.

• Ink Flow & Behaviour: Instead of creating a solid blend of colour, the intentionally spaced pin drops deposit clean, distinctly separated micro-dots when swinging or "whipping" your hand, completely eliminating the need to manually stipple with a single liner.

• Available Layouts:

• 3x3 Configuration (3 Rows of 3RL): Provides tight control and extreme precision for intricate stippling spaces or micro-realism textures.

• 3x6 Configuration (6 Rows of 3RL): Expands your coverage across larger areas while maintaining the same beautifully peppered gradient effect.

• Technical Specifications:

• Needle Gauges / Diameters: #10 (0.30mm), #12 (0.35mm)

• Needle Tapers: Long (6.5mm), Extra Long (8mm)

• Needle Finish: Polished

Recommended Product: Magnum Gen 2 Tattoo Cartridges - Whip Shading Magnums (10PCS)

Comprehensive Tattoo Cartridge Comparison Chart

By understanding the unique mechanical strengths of each configuration, you can choose a setup tailored specifically to the project at hand, improving your efficiency, minimising client skin trauma, and executing your art with absolute consistency.

Universal Machine & Grip Compatibility

One of the major logistical advantages of the Magnum Gen 2 range is its universal cartridge connection. You do not need a brand-specific machine to experience the triple-stabilised performance. These cartridges are precision-engineered to click securely into all standard universal cartridge grips and popular professional rotary pen setups, including:

• Bishop Power Wand

• Dragonhawk Fold 2 Pro

• AVA EP7+

Studio Note: Every cartridge configuration comes packed in a box of 10, individually blister-packaged and EO gas sterilised for absolute professional hygiene compliance. The housings are transparent and clear for ultimate ink monitoring and are subtly colour-coded with the needle sizing stamped directly onto the plastic for quick identification during a busy setup.

How to Choose the Right Cartridge Type

The right cartridge depends on the tattoo you're creating rather than simply choosing the largest or smallest needle. Consider:

• The style of tattoo

• The amount of skin coverage

• Whether you're outlining, shading or packing colour

• The finish you're trying to achieve

• Your preferred needle diameter and taper

Many professional artists use several cartridge types during a single tattoo to achieve different effects across outlines, shading and colour work.

What Makes Magnum Gen 2 Cartridges Different?

Although every configuration is designed for a different application, the Magnum Gen 2 range shares several features across all cartridge types. Every cartridge includes:

• Triple stabilisation system to help minimise unwanted needle movement

• Medical-grade 304 stainless steel needles

• Silicone safety membrane

• Transparent medical-grade polycarbonate housing

• Comfort finger ledge for improved grip and control

• Colour-coded housings with printed needle sizing

• EO gas sterilisation and individual blister packaging

• Universal cartridge compatibility with compatible rotary machines and grips

• Boxes of 10 sterile cartridges

These shared features provide consistency regardless of which configuration you choose.

Final Thoughts

The Magnum Gen 2 range offers a comprehensive selection of cartridge configurations to suit virtually every tattooing technique. Whether you're producing fine line tattoos, bold traditional work, smooth realism or large-scale colour packing, choosing the correct cartridge type helps improve consistency, efficiency and control throughout the tattooing process. With shared features such as triple needle stabilisation, medical-grade 304 stainless steel needles, silicone safety membranes, transparent housings and universal compatibility, every Magnum Gen 2 cartridge is built around the same core design principles while giving artists the flexibility to choose the configuration that best matches their workflow.

Understanding the differences between Round Liners, Hollow Round Liners, Traditional Round Liners, Round Shaders, Curved Magnums, Straight Magnums and Whip Shading Magnums will help you build a cartridge selection tailored to your preferred tattooing style and studio requirements.

Ready to experience triple-stabilised precision without breaking the bank? Head over to Magnum Tattoo Supplies to explore our complete technical range, compare advanced configurations, and find the perfect cartridge collection for your tattooing style! 

FAQs

What's the difference between a Round Liner and a Round Shader?

Round Liners are designed for creating crisp outlines and detailed linework, while Round Shaders use a looser grouping that produces softer shading and smoother colour transitions.

Are Hollow Round Liners better than standard Round Liners?

Neither is better; they simply serve different purposes. Hollow Round Liners provide increased ink flow for bold, saturated outlines, while standard Round Liners offer greater versatility across different line weights.

Why choose a Curved Magnum instead of a Straight Magnum?

Curved Magnums create softer shading and smoother gradients, making them ideal for realism. Straight Magnums provide faster coverage and are generally preferred for colour packing and larger fills.

What are Whip Shading Magnums used for?

Whip Shading Magnums are designed for textured shading techniques, including whip shading, stippling, pepper shading and layered black and grey work.

Are Magnum Gen 2 cartridges sterile?

Yes. Every cartridge is individually blister-packed and EO gas sterilised before packaging.