Category 1: Hardware & Apple/Google ID Management
Q: Can I run the TRF app on an iPhone or an Android tablet, or do I need an iPad?
A: The TRF app is built exclusively for Apple iPad (iPadOS) FOR NOW! TRF and PRF apps are built and ready for the Google Play Store. We await approval from Google! (Written here, September 2026).
Meanwhile, the iPad gives your clients a spacious, comfortable canvas for reading legal clauses, completing medical history, and signing their digital tattoo waiver. Running legal waivers on small phone screens leads to misclicks, unread legal text, and awkward client intake. You can download TRF from the Apple App Store on any modern iPad.
Q: Can I use the same Apple ID and subscription across multiple iPads in my studio?
A: Yes! A Basic Subscription covers up to 2 iPads, while a Pro Subscription unlocks up to 5 iPads under a single account. To keep settings, artist lists, and waiver allowances perfectly synced across all counter iPads, make sure each device uses the exact same email address in the TRF App Login field inside Settings > STUDIO Tab. Read more here.
Q: Can I run Cosmetic Release Forms (CRF) for permanent makeup on the same iPad as my standard tattoo waivers?
A: Absolutely. You don't need a separate iPad or a second app for PMU artists. Inside Settings > CRF Tab, toggle on Enable Cosmetic Release Forms. This automatically adds a dedicated NEW CLIENT (COSMETIC) button to your Welcome Screen right next to your standard tattoo intake button, giving your microblading and PMU artists a specialized workflow for facial skin history, beauty routines, and blade tracking. Read more here.
Q: What happens if a client spills green soap on our iPad and destroys it—are our waivers lost?
A: Not a single waiver is lost. TRF generates signed PDF waivers instantly and uploads them directly to your personal cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box)—waivers are never stored exclusively on the iPad hardware and never live on third-party servers. If an iPad breaks, simply grab a replacement iPad, download TRF from the App Store, log into your master account, and your settings will download automatically while all historical waivers remain 100% safe in your cloud storage. Read more here.
Q: Why do I see a blank, brand-new setup when I log into TRF on a replacement iPad?
A: 99% of "lost settings" panics occur because the user logged in with the wrong email address. Think of TRF like Gmail: if you log in with sicktattoos@gmail.com instead of radtattoos@gmail.com, you open a brand-new, empty account. To prevent this, always write down your official master email address listed in the TRF App Login field under Settings > STUDIO Tab. Logging in with your exact master email instantly pulls down your shop profile, logo, artist list, and custom legal clauses. Read more here.
Q: How does the iPad camera scan pigment lot numbers and needle packaging?
A: Version 3.2+ features built-in camera supply tools inside the Artist Notes Pane (and Specialist Notes Pane for CRF). Tap SCAN BARCODE/QR to point your iPad camera at needle blister packs or pigment bottles to capture batch numbers in seconds. For supplies lacking barcodes, tap READ PRINTED NUMBER (OCR Text Reader) to capture printed lot codes and expiration dates via camera text recognition—ensuring effortless health department compliance and MoCRA alignment.
And for CRF features and setup, read here.
Category 2: Multi-Shop & Solo Artist Operations
Q: I’m a solo tattooer running a one-chair studio. Is TRF overkill for me?
A: Absolutely not. TRF was created by active tattooers Conan and Brandon Lea, whose mothership studio, Voluta Tattoo, runs as a cozy three-person shop. For solo artists, guest tattooers, and traveling convention artists, TRF offers Pay-As-You-Go Bundles (100 digital waivers for a flat fee). Bundles don't expire, require no monthly commitment, and ensure single-chair artists get the same bulletproof legal protection and cloud backup as enterprise chains. Read more here.
Q: We operate two tattoo shop locations. Can we share one TRF subscription across both studios?
A: Apple limits each App Store account to one active TRF subscription. To manage multiple studio locations cleanly, Apple requires each shop location to use its own Apple ID and a distinct TRF App Login email. This prevents Shop A's client rosters, artist lists, and financial exports from mixing with Shop B's. However, studio owners can link multiple Apple IDs to a single master business credit card for easy accounting. Read more here.
Q: If a client gets tattooed at Shop A, will their info pull up automatically if they walk into Shop B?
A: No. The Returning Client search utility queries the specific TRF master account active on that device. Because each shop location runs on its own master account to keep legal entities and health department records separated, a client visiting Shop B for the first time will complete a quick "New Client" intake to establish their record for that specific location. Read more here.
Q: How does TRF organize completed waivers and reports in our cloud storage?
A: With your very first submitted waiver, TRF automatically builds a root directory inside your connected cloud account named Beluga Digital App [year] Tattoo Release Forms. On New Year's Eve at midnight, the app automatically creates a fresh annual folder. Inside each annual folder, TRF creates two organized subfolders:
↳ Waivers: Searchable, printable PDF consent forms containing full-color captured ID photos, client health answers, artist notes, and digital signatures.
↳ Reports: Timestamped CSV spreadsheets exported from your REPORTS tab for financial bookkeeping and client list backups.
Q: Can guest artists use their own iPads at our shop without messing up studio settings?
A: Yes! If your shop runs on a Basic (up to 2 devices) or Pro Subscription (up to 5 devices), a guest artist can download TRF onto their personal iPad Pro and log into your shop’s TRF App Login email during their residency. Their device will instantly pull down your studio's logo, legal clauses, and artist drop-downs. When their guest spot ends, simply log out from Settings > MORE Tab. Read more here.
Q: How do returning clients check in for multi-session tattoos or touch-ups?
A: From the Welcome Screen, tap RETURNING CLIENT and enter your passcode. Type the client's name into the search bar and select their previous waiver. Hand the iPad to the client—a "Welcome Back!" window confirms their details are saved and automatically updates today's date. The client reviews their pre-filled bio and health disclosures, signs for today's session, and hands the iPad back. The artist logs fresh needle and pigment lot numbers for today's session, signs, and resubmits. A brand-new, timestamped PDF iteration uploads straight to your cloud! Read more here.
Category 3: Legal, Security & Health Department Compliance
Q: What is the legal process for tattooing minors using the TRF app?
A: TRF makes digital parental consent and minor legal compliance simple and airtight. When a minor enters their birthdate during intake, TRF’s backend automatically calculates their age (< 18) and swaps the standard adult contract for your studio’s custom Minor Legal Clause (configured in Settings > EDITORS Tab ).
When the artist unlocks the session, the app displays a Minor Health & Age Alert prompting staff to verify parental presence. In the Artist Notes Pane, the artist uses the iPad camera under SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS to capture clear photos of both the parent/guardian’s government ID and proof of legal guardianship (State Birth Certificate, Adoption Papers, or Court Order). The parent signs the dedicated Guardian Signature Pad, and TRF compiles everything into a single, permanent PDF and uploads it to your private cloud folder.
READ MORE HERE: For full configuration details and step-by-step instructions, read our complete guide: Tattooing Minors Using TRF App: Complete Step-by-Step Guide.
Q: How do I quickly show a health inspector all minor waivers signed at our shop?
A: While you can always log into your connected cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) on a desktop Mac or PC to navigate to your:
Beluga Digital App [year] Tattoo Release Forms / Waivers folder,
PRO Subscribers can also pull them up instantly on their iPads.
From the Welcome Screen, tap RETURNING CLIENT, enter your passcode, tap the search filter icon next to the search bar, and select Minors (Under 18). TRF will instantly display every minor waiver on file, complete with attached parent/guardian ID photos and proof of legal guardianship. Studio owners report that this live iPad demonstration thoroughly impresses health inspectors during audits!
READ MORE HERE: For the complete step-by-step breakdown on configuring minor legal clauses, parent/guardian ID photo capture, and legal guardianship proof, check out our featured guide: Tattooing Minors Using TRF App: Complete Step-by-Step Guide.
Q: Do you store our clients' sensitive legal waivers and health information on your servers?
A: Zero client data lives on our servers. TRF connects directly to your studio's personal cloud storage—Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box. When a client signs a waiver, the PDF compiles instantly and uploads straight to your private cloud folder. We cannot see, read, sell, or access your clients' medical history, ID photos, or contact information. Read more here.
Q: What is the difference between the Artist Passcode and the Master Passcode?
A: TRF uses a Dual-Passcode Vault System to protect studio owners from data theft and unauthorized tampering:
Artist Passcode (Default: 1234): Designed for floor access. Allows artists to search returning clients, review health alerts, log pigment/needle lot numbers, and sign completed waivers. It strictly blocks access to backend studio configurations, cloud destination rerouting, and financial exports.
Master Passcode (Default: 1234): Owner-only administrative clearance required to edit legal clauses, manage subscriptions, alter cloud connections, export CSV spreadsheets, or reset PINs.
Q: How do I recover or reset our Master Passcode if management forgets it?
A: Tap Forgot Passcode? on any passcode screen across the app. To prevent unauthorized code resets, recovery requires authenticating with the master Google account used during initial setup. Tap VERIFY WITH Google, sign in to your master email, enter a new Master Passcode, and tap RESET PASSCODES. Read more here.
Q: Does TRF support capturing photos of both sides of a government ID?
A: Yes! In Settings > FORM Tab, toggle on Require photos of both sides of Gov't ID. This is critical in jurisdictions where essential endorsement data, optical barcodes, or birth dates sit on the back of state driver's licenses. Both high-resolution ID photos render directly onto the client's final PDF waiver in your cloud. If you operate in regions like the UK where ID photography isn't standard, you can toggle ID capture off entirely. Read more here.
Q: What is "ID Verify" during the client intake flow?
A: ID Verify is a quick client-facing clarity check right after taking an ID photo. It lets the client review their snapshot to ensure it is clear, well-framed, and not blurry before submitting. On this screen, the client also selects the specific type of government ID they are submitting (Driver's License, State ID, Passport, or Government ID). Our apps NEVER run crazy 'who are you' data checks, and never ever send IDs anywhere but to your waivers on your clouds. That is creepy and too end-of-days for us. Read more here.
Q: I want to use TattooNOW software to manage my studio. Will it learn client health data from TRF app?
A: NO and NEVER. TRF maintains strict boundaries between medical disclosures and CRM marketing data. When linked to TattooNOW, TRF automatically feeds non-health contact data (client full name, phone number, email, and booking timestamps) directly into your marketing engine. Sensitive medical answers, allergies, and health history are never transmitted to marketing CRMs and remain strictly isolated inside your private cloud PDF waivers. Further, if you know the people behind TattooNOW as we do (20+ years), you know they stand hard against misuse of client data! Read more here.
Q: How do I prove to my local health department inspector that our digital waivers comply with health codes?
A: When an inspector arrives, don't hand them a stack of paper. Open your cloud storage on an iPad or laptop, open your Beluga Digital App [year] Tattoo Release Forms folder, and invite them to navigate your Waivers subfolder. Show them clean, full-color PDF waivers complete with captured ID photos, timestamped digital signatures, specific needle/pigment selections, and scanned sterilization lot codes. You can also go to Main Menu > TRF Example Waiver, tap the green share icon, and instantly AirDrop or email a sample waiver to their official inbox.
Q: Can TRF handle tattooing minor waivers with parent/guardian legal requirements?
A: Yes. TRF automatically reads the client's birthdate entered during intake. If the client is under 18, the app dynamically swaps the standard adult contract for your custom Minor Clause. The flow prompts the parent or legal guardian to provide proof of legal guardianship, take photos of their government ID, enter their legal name, and provide a digital signature.
Category 4: Subscriptions, Pricing & Billing
Q: What is the difference between Basic Subscriptions, Pro Subscriptions, and Bundles?
A: TRF offers three scalable pricing structures tailored to your studio's volume:
Pay-As-You-Go Bundles: $20 for 100 digital waivers. Waivers never expire and carry no recurring monthly bill. Ideal for solo tattooers, guest artists, and low-volume shops.
Basic Subscription: 100 digital waivers per month shared across up to 2 iPads. Includes automated cloud syncing, returning client lookup, and Save for Later queueing.
Pro Subscription: Unlimited waivers per month shared across up to 5 iPads. Unlocks advanced CSV financial exports, client database downloads, and advanced returning client search filters (search by artist, date range, or minor status). Read more here.
Q: If I delete the TRF app from our iPad, does it automatically cancel my monthly subscription?
A: NO. Because TRF is downloaded and billed through the Apple App Store, Apple manages 100% of payment transactions and recurring subscriptions. Deleting the app from your iPad does not stop Apple from billing your Apple ID. You must officially cancel future renewals inside your iPad's Apple ID settings.
Q: How do I officially cancel my TRF subscription or request a refund from Apple?
A: To cancel on your iPad, open your device Settings App > tap your Apple ID Name > Subscriptions > tap TRF App > tap Cancel Subscription. Your premium features remain fully active until your current paid billing cycle ends. To request a refund for an accidental purchase, visit reportaproblem.apple.com in any web browser, sign in with your Apple ID, select Request a refund, choose TRF App, and submit. Apple reviews requests within 48 hours. Read more here.
Q: What happens to my remaining Bundle waivers if I decide to upgrade to a monthly subscription?
A: You never lose unused bundle waivers. Bundle waivers and subscription allowances live together on your account. If you subscribe while you still have bundle waivers remaining, those bundle forms pause and wait safely in the background. If you pause or cancel your monthly subscription later, your remaining bundle waivers instantly reactivate so you can keep signing clients without interruption. Read more here.
Q: Can I export financial CSV reports and client lists on a Basic Subscription or Bundle?
A: Background data collection starts the moment you activate a Basic or Pro subscription. However, exporting compiled CSV spreadsheets from the REPORTS tab requires a Pro subscription. If you are on a Basic Plan, TRF continues collecting financial totals and non-health client data in case you decide to upgrade to PRO. Upgrading to Pro instantly unlocks full exports to your entire historical database. Read more here.
Category 5: Cosmetic Release Forms (CRF) & Permanent Makeup (PMU)
Q: How do Cosmetic Release Forms (CRF) work for permanent makeup and microblading in the TRF app?
A: TRF includes a dedicated Cosmetic Release Forms (CRF) module built specifically for permanent makeup (PMU) artists, microblading techs, and cosmetic tattooers. Once enabled in Settings > CRF Tab, a dedicated NEW CLIENT (COSMETIC) button pops up on your iPad Welcome Screen. This launches a specialized 5-step client intake flow tailored to facial skin history, beauty routines (like recent Botox, chemical peels, or Accutane), PMU legal clauses, and artist tracking for microblades, PMU cartridges, and pigment lot numbers.
Q: How do PMU artists handle touch-ups and returning cosmetic clients in TRF?
A: For touch-ups, annual color refreshes, or multi-session PMU work on the same area, tap RETURNING CLIENT on the Welcome Screen and enter your passcode. Search the client's name and grab their record tagged CRF. The client reviews their pre-filled bio and skin history, signs for today's session, and hands the iPad back so you can log today's fresh blade lot numbers and pigment batch codes. If an existing client comes back for a completely new service (like getting Lip Blushing after previously getting Powder Brows), they tap NEW CLIENT (COSMETIC) to complete a new release form.
Q: How does TRF help cosmetic studios prove health department and MoCRA compliance during audits?
A: TRF keeps your shop audit-proof by locking client medical disclosures, timestamped digital signatures, photo IDs, and supply lot numbers into a single searchable PDF waiver. Using the iPad camera inside the Specialist Notes Pane, you can use the built-in Barcode/QR Scanner or OCR Text Reader to snap needle blister pack lot codes, pigment batch numbers, and autoclave load data right off the packaging. When a health inspector walks in, open your connected cloud folder (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box) on an iPad or laptop to instantly show clean, full-color paperless records.
Q: Can I set up separate artist lists and service menus specifically for permanent makeup?
A: Absolutely. Inside Settings > CRF Tab, studio owners can keep a dedicated list of PMU specialists separate from traditional tattooers, plus set up custom service menus across four main categories: Brows, Lips, Eyes, and Other (like freckles or scar camo). You can also build custom PMU health screening questions (tracking last facial treatment dates or skin history) and tailor unique cosmetic legal clauses that clients initial during intake.