Por Vida LA Round Shader Tattoo Needle Cartridges

Smooth shading. Strong ink delivery. Consistent performance.

Por Vida LA Round Shader Tattoo Needle Cartridges are designed for artists who want smooth shading, controlled color application, and dependable ink delivery.

Our Round Shaders feature the signature Por Vida LA red cartridge housing along with our color-coded membrane system, making it easier to distinguish Round Shaders from Round Liners, Straight Magnums, and Curved Magnums during your setup.

Each cartridge also comes individually packaged in our pre-cut, easy-open packaging, designed to be easier to grab, open, and handle while keeping your workstation organized and efficient.

Round Shader Sizes

Available in:

3RS • 5RS • 7RS • 9RS • 13RS • 15RS • 18RS

Round Shader needles are arranged in a circular grouping similar to Round Liners, but the individual needles are spaced farther apart. This allows the grouping to distribute ink across a wider area, making Round Shaders ideal for:

• Smooth shading
• Small-area color packing
• Color blending
• Gradients
• Soft transitions
• Filling smaller areas
• Certain bold-line techniques depending on artist preference

Choosing Your Round Shader Size

3RS – 5RS
Great for smaller areas, detailed shading, tight spaces, and controlled color application.

7RS – 9RS
Versatile sizes for general shading, blending, and filling medium-sized areas.

13RS – 15RS
Designed for broader shading and stronger color coverage while maintaining the control of a round needle grouping.

18RS
Our largest Round Shader option, providing greater coverage for artists working on larger areas, heavier shading, or color application.

#12 Gauge — 0.35 mm

Por Vida LA Round Shaders use a #12 needle gauge, equivalent to a 0.35 mm needle diameter.

The larger 0.35 mm diameter is a popular choice for shading and color work because it provides stronger ink delivery and saturation compared with finer-gauge needles.

Why We Chose #12 Gauge

The #12 / 0.35 mm diameter provides a strong balance of:

• Consistent ink flow
• Good color saturation
• Efficient pigment delivery
• Smooth shading
• Reliable coverage
• Versatility across different tattoo styles

Rather than offering several gauges for our Round Shaders, we selected #12 as our preferred gauge because Round Shaders are primarily designed for shading, blending, and filling — applications where dependable ink delivery is especially important.

This also keeps the Por Vida LA Round Shader lineup simple: artists choose the grouping size they need, while the needle diameter remains consistent throughout the collection.

3.5 mm Medium Taper

Every Por Vida LA Round Shader cartridge features our preferred 3.5 mm Medium Taper.

The taper refers to how gradually the needle narrows toward its point. Compared with an extra-long taper, a medium taper reaches its point over a shorter distance, creating a different balance between ink delivery and precision.

Why We Chose a 3.5 mm Medium Taper for Round Shaders

For Round Shaders, we wanted a taper that complements their primary purpose: shading and pigment delivery.

The 3.5 mm Medium Taper is well suited for:

• Strong ink delivery
• Smooth shading
• Color packing
• Consistent saturation
• Blending
• Efficient coverage

A medium taper generally allows the needle grouping to carry and deposit pigment efficiently, which makes it a practical choice for Round Shader configurations.

While our Round Liners use a 6.5 mm Extra Long Taper for increased precision, our Round Shaders use a 3.5 mm Medium Taper to place greater emphasis on ink delivery and coverage.

This gives each Por Vida LA cartridge category a taper selected around its intended purpose.

Designed for an Easier Workflow

Por Vida LA cartridges combine performance with visual organization to make your setup easier.

Signature Red Cartridge Housing
A consistent and recognizable Por Vida LA design.

Color-Coded Membrane System
Different membrane colors make it easier to quickly identify Round Liners, Round Shaders, Straight Magnums, and Curved Magnums.

Pre-Cut Easy-Open Packaging
Individual packaging is pre-cut and designed to be easy to grab and open during setup.

Seven Round Shader Sizes
Choose from 3RS through 18RS depending on the amount of coverage and control needed.

Consistent #12 / 0.35 mm Gauge
Selected to provide strong pigment delivery and dependable performance throughout the Round Shader collection.

3.5 mm Medium Taper
Chosen to complement shading, blending, and color application.

Quick Round Shader Guide

Cartridge Specifications

Configuration: Round Shader
Available Sizes: 3RS, 5RS, 7RS, 9RS, 13RS, 15RS, 18RS
Needle Gauge: #12 / 0.35 mm
Taper: 3.5 mm Medium Taper
Housing: Signature Por Vida LA Red
Membrane: Color-coded for easy configuration identification
Packaging: Individually packaged with pre-cut easy-open design

Por Vida LA

Different configurations. Easy identification. Built around the artist’s workflow.