Tattoo stencil app for iPad
The iPad is where most artists already draw, so the stencil question on iPad is really two questions: what converts a reference into a stencil, and how it fits next to Procreate. Stencil AI converts in three styles, retouches with Apple Pencil pressure, warps to the body and prints at true size via AirPrint. Procreate draws. Most artists use both.
Stencil apps on iPad
| App | On iPad? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Stencil AI | Yes | Converter · Outline, Standard, Hatching · Apple Pencil retouch · true-size print |
| Procreate | Yes | Drawing app, $12.99 one-time; no stencil conversion |
| Ghostline | Yes | Converter, $5.99 / month |
| TattooStencilPro | Yes | Converter, iPad-first, price not published |
| Stencify | Yes | Converter plus text-to-tattoo, $4.99 per week |
Competitor details from each app's own App Store listing, checked on 2026-10-01. Stencil AI for iPad is on the App Store.
The Procreate plus Stencil AI workflow
Design in Procreate, or start from a photo
Convert in Stencil AI
Retouch with Apple Pencil
Size, warp, print
Why not just Procreate
Procreate is a drawing app and a very good one. It has no stencil conversion: turning a photo into line work there means tracing by hand or stacking adjustment layers, and neither reads the image for structure, so mid-tones flatten or blur. Stencil AI exists for that one step. The full comparison is at Stencil AI vs Procreate.
iPad-specific details
- Apple Pencil pressure in the retouch editor, on any iPad that supports Pencil.
- Split View with Procreate or the client's reference in Photos.
- AirPrint to thermal stencil printers and inkjets, at exact millimetre sizes.
- LiDAR measuring on iPad Pro models with the sensor; everything else works on every iPad running iOS/iPadOS 16.4 or later.
- Tattoo Mode turns the iPad into the reference screen at the chair: stays awake, flips stencil, photo and overlay with one hand.
Common questions
What is the best tattoo stencil app for iPad?
For converting a reference into a transfer-ready stencil, Stencil AI: three styles including Hatching for realism, Apple Pencil retouch with pressure, true-to-size printing via AirPrint, and Warp for curved placements. For drawing a design from scratch, Procreate. Many artists use both: Procreate to design, Stencil AI for the stencil.
Can I use Procreate and Stencil AI together on iPad?
Yes. Export the design from Procreate as a PNG or JPG, open it in Stencil AI, pick a style, and print. In Split View the two sit side by side. Procreate has no stencil conversion of its own; it is a drawing app.
Does Stencil AI support Apple Pencil on iPad?
Yes. The retouch editor uses Apple Pencil pressure for the brushes, so erasing, redrawing and darkening lines responds to how hard you press.
Can I print a stencil at true size from an iPad?
Yes, via AirPrint to any AirPrint printer, including thermal stencil printers with AirPrint and inkjets like the Epson EcoTank. Or export a size-accurate PDF and print it from a Mac or PC.
Does LiDAR measuring work on iPad?
On iPad Pro models with a LiDAR sensor, yes. On other iPads the rest of the app is identical and you enter the print size by hand or from a measurement.
Related
- Tattoo stencil app for iPhone
- Tattoo stencil app for Android
- Stencil AI vs Procreate
- Stencil AI vs Ghostline
- All comparisons
Get Stencil AI for iPad
Three stencil styles, Apple Pencil retouch, and true-to-size AirPrint.
Open the App Store