If you've scrolled through the Fenris range, you've probably noticed the same needle groupings show up twice — once as a Long Taper (LT) and once as a Medium Taper (MT). It's not a duplicate listing. The taper length is one of the biggest factors in how a cartridge actually behaves on skin, and picking the wrong one for the job makes even a good needle feel wrong in the hand.
What "taper" actually means
Taper refers to the length of the grind on the needle shaft — the tapered section that narrows down to the tip. A long taper has a longer, more gradual grind. A medium taper has a shorter, steeper grind. That single difference changes how the needle group flexes, how it releases ink, and how the line or shade sits in the skin.
Long Taper (LT): control and softness
Because the grind narrows gradually, long taper needles flex more and release ink more gradually. That makes them the natural choice for:
- Fine and bold lining — our RLLT 06/0.20mm and RLLT 12/0.35mm cover the full range from hair-fine detail to confident bold outlines.
- Realism and soft blending — the RMLT 12/0.35mm and RMLT 10/0.30mm are built for seamless gradients where you don't want any visible texture in the transition.
- Smooth shading with soft edges — the RSLT 12/0.35mm Round Shader gives soft, seamless colour transitions rather than a hard-packed block of tone.
The trade-off: long taper needles pack ink more slowly, so if you're trying to lay down solid colour fast, they can feel like they're working against you.
Medium Taper (MT): speed and saturation
A shorter, steeper grind means the needle group stays rigid closer to the tip, packing ink into the skin faster and more aggressively. That's what you want for:
- Bold colour packing and coverage — the RMMT 12/0.35mm is built to cover ground fast without sacrificing saturation, which is exactly what large blackout or colour-fill sections need.
- Efficient shading with defined edges — the RSMT 12/0.35mm Round Shader packs colour quickly with a slightly more controlled, defined transition than its long taper counterpart.
The trade-off: because the needles are stiffer near the tip, medium taper cartridges give you less finesse for ultra-soft gradient work.
Quick decision guide
If you're staring at two otherwise identical configurations and can't decide, ask what the piece needs more of:
- Soft, gradual, blended — reach for Long Taper.
- Fast, bold, saturated — reach for Medium Taper.
Most working artists end up running both in rotation — long taper for the linework and blending, medium taper for the fills and coverage — rather than picking one as a permanent favourite. Every Fenris cartridge ships EO gas sterilised and ready to use, so switching between grinds mid-session costs you nothing but a cartridge change.
Not sure where to start? Our Sample Box includes a mix of configurations across both tapers so you can feel the difference yourself before committing to a full box.
