Technical support

Scale Forge support

Complete help for drawing, scale flow, trace images, exports, exact-size printing, permissions and problem reports. Scale Forge requires an iPad running iPadOS 17 or later.

iPadOS 17+

On-device workflow

PNG · JPG · PDF · SVG

Exact-size print

Start here

Update and restart

Install the latest Scale Forge and iPadOS updates. Close and reopen the app before reproducing an issue.

Isolate the step

Note whether the problem occurs while drawing, generating, importing, exporting, saving to Photos or printing.

Protect your work

Export any result you need to preserve and verify the file before changing settings or testing another output.

Drawing and scale flow

Guide input

Draw the body guide deliberately and avoid unnecessary self-intersections.
Apple Pencil and touch can behave differently; test both when diagnosing input.
Simplify the guide and generate again before adding local refinements.

Scale result

Review body shape, row direction, density, taper and local edits separately.
Zoom in for overlaps and transitions; zoom out to judge tattoo rhythm.
Always review anatomy, readability and tattoo suitability yourself.

Trace images and Photos

Import uses Apple’s system photo picker. Only the selected image is provided to Scale Forge. It is processed on the iPad and is not uploaded to MasterTattooing.

The selected trace image does not appear

Try a standard PNG or JPEG and ensure cloud-only originals have downloaded in Photos before selecting them again.

Save to Photos is unavailable

In iPad Settings, review Scale Forge Photos permission. The app requests add-only access. You can alternatively share to Files.

The trace is difficult to follow

Adjust trace-layer options and use a clear, high-contrast reference. Only use material you are permitted to use.

Export formats

PNG

Raster output

Line art, transparent, coloured and construction variants where selected.

JPG

Compact output

A widely compatible raster format without transparency.

PDF

Print workflow

Document/vector output and the preferred basis for controlled physical printing.

SVG

Vector workflow

Editable vector output for compatible design software.

PACK

Layered output

Separate PNG layers for workflows needing individual rendered parts.

The export differs from the preview

Confirm clean, coloured or construction mode, transparency and canvas bounds. Open the file in a second app before production.

SVG or PDF opens incorrectly elsewhere

Test another standards-compatible viewer. Tell support which receiving app and version produced the issue.

Exact-size printing

Set the intended physical width and height.
Generate the exact-size or tiled PDF.
Choose 100% or Actual Size.
Disable Fit to Page, automatic scaling and borderless enlargement.
Print and measure a calibration test with a physical ruler.
Only use production output after confirming its measured size.

Important: printer drivers, AirPrint and printable margins can alter scale. The artist must verify physical output before using it for a client.

Troubleshooting by symptom

The app slows down or stops responding

Export accessible work, close memory-intensive apps, restart the iPad and reproduce with simpler geometry.

Scale rows overlap unexpectedly

Review guide self-intersections, body width changes, row direction and local overrides. Simplify the path to isolate the cause.

Lines are clipped in the export

Check export bounds, edge edits and line weight. Generate a fresh preview and export again.

Nothing happens after export

Generate a fresh preview, verify free device storage and try a smaller or different format. Record any message shown.

Colours or transparency are unexpected

JPEG cannot preserve transparency. Choose transparent PNG and confirm the selected coloured or line-art variant.

An accessibility setting causes difficulty

Send the iPad setting, affected control and expected behaviour. Accessibility reports are treated as product issues.

Send a useful support report

Include

iPad model, iPadOS and app version
Exact reproduction steps
Expected and actual result
Export format and receiving app
Printer model and scaling settings where relevant

Protect client privacy

Do not send passwords, payment details or identifiable client artwork unless necessary and authorized. For security-sensitive reports, first send a description without exploit details.

Email technical support

We normally respond within two business days, excluding Dutch public holidays. App Store purchase, invoice or refund requests must use Apple’s purchase-support channels.

Workspace controls and recovery

Guide tools

Body presets: load a starting body gesture and refine it instead of beginning from an empty canvas.
Stabilize Guide: smooth an uneven guide when the intended flow is correct but the input is noisy.
Auto Stabilize: use automatic smoothing for faster iteration; disable it when you need closer control over the original stroke.
Undo: step back through guide or shape edits. Confirm the visible result before continuing.
Clear: removes the current construction. Export anything you need before clearing.
Hide Interface: temporarily reduce interface obstruction while inspecting the artwork; use Show Interface to restore controls.

Undo does not return to the state I expected

Stop editing and inspect which mode is active. Guide edits, shape-handle edits and local edits can have different histories. Export the current result before testing additional undo steps.

Stabilization changes the gesture too much

Undo the operation, disable Auto Stabilize and simplify or redraw the guide with fewer abrupt changes. Apply manual stabilization only after the overall gesture is correct.

Advanced body and scale controls

Body construction

Use body-profile presets to establish width distribution and tail behaviour.
Choose a cross-section preset to influence how the body volume is interpreted.
Add or remove shape handles only where the silhouette needs local control.
Use tangent handles to refine curve continuity without adding unnecessary body points.
Use roll handles to rotate the interpreted body orientation along the guide.

Overlap and local refinement

Use crossing over/under editing where the body intersects itself.
Check every crossing at close zoom and again in the full composition.
Use double body scale length only where the pattern rhythm requires it.
Apply local edits after the general scale system is stable.
Clear local edits when diagnosing whether an issue comes from global geometry or a local override.

The wrong section appears in front at a crossing

Open crossing over/under edit mode, select the intended crossing and set which segment belongs in front. Review nearby scales and body edges after changing the crossing order.

A curve has a kink near a shape handle

Reduce unnecessary handles, reposition the selected handle and refine its tangent direction. Smooth continuity first, then regenerate or inspect the scale result.

Body roll changes too abruptly

Use fewer, better-positioned roll controls and make smaller rotations. Inspect dorsal and belly flow around the transition before export.

Choose the right export

PNG

Transparent or raster

Choose transparent PNG for compositing; regular or coloured PNG for lossless raster output; construction PNG when guides are needed.

JPG

Compact sharing

Choose JPEG for a smaller, widely compatible preview when transparency is not required.

PDF

Print and documents

Choose PDF for controlled document output and exact-size printing workflows.

SVG

Vector editing

Choose SVG for compatible vector software; construction SVG includes the selected construction information.

PACK

Separated layers

Choose the layered PNG package when downstream work requires separate rendered components.

Which format should I send to a client for approval?

Use a flattened PNG or JPEG preview that is easy to open. Keep production PDF, SVG and layered files separate until the design and dimensions are approved.

Which format should I use in vector software?

Use SVG where the receiving application supports the exported structure. Always inspect curves, line weights and clipping after import because applications interpret SVG differently.

Which format preserves transparency?

Use transparent PNG. JPEG always creates an opaque raster result and cannot store transparency.

Professional tiled-print workflow

Choose the target dimension and enter the required physical measurement.
Select paper and overlap settings appropriate for the available printer.
Review the calculated artwork dimensions, rows, columns and tile-page count.
Enable the assembly map when a multi-page print needs an overview for positioning.
Generate the print PDF and keep the original file unchanged during transfer.
Print every tile at 100% or Actual Size—never Fit, Shrink or Scale to Printable Area.
Use the overlap guides and crop marks to align adjacent sheets.
Measure the assembled result in both directions before preparing a stencil or client application.

The tiled pages do not align

Confirm every page used the same paper, orientation and 100% scaling. Check that no page was independently fitted. Align crop marks first, then compare the printed overlap guides.

The assembly map is present but tiles are missing

Compare the map tile count with the generated PDF page count. Regenerate after confirming paper size, overlap and target dimensions. Verify that the sharing destination transferred the complete PDF.

The measurement is correct in one direction only

Printer drivers can apply non-uniform or borderless scaling. Disable borderless enlargement and automatic correction, then test another print route or calibrated printer.

Files, sharing, storage and compatibility

The share sheet does not show the app I need

The destination app controls which file types it accepts. Save to Files first, then import from the receiving app, or choose another export format supported by that app.

Export fails with a storage-related message

Free device storage, remove unnecessary temporary files, restart Scale Forge and generate a fresh preview. Try a smaller raster export before retrying a layered pack or complex print PDF.

A cloud destination shows an older file

Confirm the new export filename and timestamp, wait for synchronization and open the local file from Files before relying on the cloud copy.

A receiving application changes line weight

Import settings and unit conversion vary by application. Compare the same file in a neutral viewer, check document units and test a known measurement before production use.

The exported background is not what I expected

Confirm whether transparent, line-art, coloured or construction output was selected. JPEG cannot be transparent; use transparent PNG for compositing.

Accessibility, privacy and responsible use

Accessibility support

When reporting an accessibility problem, include the enabled iPad accessibility feature, the exact Scale Forge control, orientation and the result you expected. Screenshots without confidential artwork can help identify layout issues.

Privacy and imported references

Trace images selected through the system photo picker are processed on-device.
Only import references you own or are authorized to use.
Review the destination before sharing or saving an export.
Remove client-identifying information from support attachments whenever possible.
Do not email passwords, payment information or confidential health information.

Professional responsibility

Scale Forge assists construction and output; it does not replace artistic judgment, anatomical review, client consent, hygiene procedures, stencil verification or printer calibration. The artist remains responsible for the final design and its use.

Diagnostic checklist before contacting support

Record the iPad model, iPadOS version and Scale Forge version.
Describe the active drawing/edit mode and relevant presets.
List the smallest exact sequence that reproduces the problem.
State whether it occurs with Apple Pencil, touch or both.
For exports, include format, selected variant, destination app and available storage.
For printing, include target dimensions, paper, overlap, tile count, printer and scaling setting.
State whether restarting the app or using a simpler guide changes the result.
Attach non-confidential screenshots or files only when necessary and authorized.

Email advanced Scale Forge support. We normally respond within two business days, excluding Dutch public holidays.