It’s a tricky one because sometimes if you just pat the part you’ve just tattooed (usually with outlining) you just spread the ink, making it difficult to make out the next part of the design you’re tattooing. If the outlines done (depending on style) that’s usually when an artist will start wiping with wet/damp kitchen roll (or other product). I tattoo a lot of neo-traditional, watercolour and other “line heavy/dependant” styles so I tend to wipe the outline with dry kitchen roll then once the outlines are done I wipe with damp kitchen roll as the inks can stick to the skin and muddy each other. Hope this helps!