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Round Liner vs Bugpin Cartridges: Which Should You Choose?

Round Liner vs Bugpin Cartridges: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing the right cartridge needle is one of the most impactful decisions you'll make at the machine — and the round liner vs bugpin debate comes up constantly, especially among artists moving from traditional coil setups to cartridge systems.

This guide breaks down the key differences, when to use each, and how gauge and taper affect your results.

What Is a Round Liner Cartridge?

A round liner (RL) cartridge arranges needles in a tight circular cluster, designed specifically for creating clean, solid lines. The needles are soldered together at the tip and taper to a point, allowing ink to flow consistently as you pull the machine through the skin.

Round liners are the workhorse of black-and-grey linework, script, and fine detail. They come in a range of counts — from a single needle (1RL) up to 18RL or beyond — and in different gauges.

Standard gauge for round liners: .35mm

The EZ SELECT RL CARTS .35 is a solid starting point for most linework. The .35 gauge hits the sweet spot between ink flow and precision — enough body to pack ink efficiently without sacrificing control on tighter curves.

Best for:

  • Outlines and bold linework
  • Script and lettering
  • Black-and-grey realism detail passes
  • Traditional and neo-traditional styles

What Is a Bugpin Cartridge?

Bugpin refers to a finer gauge needle — typically .25mm or .30mm — rather than a different needle configuration. You can get bugpin round liners, bugpin curved mags, and bugpin round shaders.

The thinner gauge means:

  • Less trauma to the skin per pass
  • Finer detail capability, especially on tight linework
  • Slower ink saturation — you may need more passes
  • More forgiveness on delicate areas (hands, face, ribs)

The EZ SELECT BUGPIN RL and EZ SELECT BUG PIN ROUND SHADERS .30 are popular choices for artists who want that extra finesse without switching needle configurations entirely.

Best for:

  • Hyper-realism and micro-detail
  • Portraits and fine texture work
  • Sensitive skin areas
  • PMU (permanent make-up) applications

Key Differences at a Glance

Round Liner .35 Bugpin .25–.30
Gauge Standard (.35mm) Fine (.25–.30mm)
Line quality Bold, saturated Fine, precise
Skin trauma Moderate Lower
Ink flow Fast Slower
Passes needed Fewer More
Best styles Traditional, script, B&G Realism, PMU, micro

What About Fine Line Cartridges?

Fine line cartridges are a distinct category — they use a long taper and tight grouping to produce hairline-thin strokes. If you're working in the fine line or single-needle style, the Ez Fine Line Select Carts are purpose-built for that aesthetic, with a taper profile optimised for minimal scarring and maximum definition.

Which Should You Start With?

  • New to cartridges? Start with a standard .35 RL. It's forgiving, consistent, and works across most machines and power supplies.
  • Doing realism or portraits? Add a bugpin RL or bugpin round shader to your kit for detail passes.
  • Fine line or PMU work? Go straight to a dedicated fine line or PMU cartridge — the taper geometry is purpose-built for it.

Most working artists carry both. The .35 RL handles the bulk of linework; bugpins come out for detail, sensitive areas, or when the client's skin calls for a lighter touch.

Final Thoughts

There's no universal "best" cartridge — it depends on your style, your machine's voltage range, and the skin you're working on. The good news is that cartridge systems make it easy to switch mid-session without losing your setup.

Browse the full EZ SELECT cartridge range to find the configurations that suit your work.

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