Cut Out + Keep | Project » Stencilling Tutorial

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Stencilling Tutorial

Here is a quick and simple tutorial for making your own stencils.

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The first step is to pick and image with relatively simple shapes that will look good as a stencil.
Using photoshop, or a similar image editing program, adjust the levels until there is a strong of a contrast between the light and dark areas of the image.
Remove the background and any complex areas of the image that you don't want.
De-saturate the image so that it is black and white and then play with the levels until the image is mostly pure black and pure white.
Print out the image on to a thick card.
Cut out the black areas using a stanley knife. Use discretion if the black area will cut out a white area.
Use acrylic, or fabric paint, to paint the stencil on to a flat piece of fabric.

People who love this project (90)

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Cat Morley

Dec 22, 2005 12:11am

Yay, it's good to see that this is coming in handy. x

Jeanne

Dec 22, 2005 12:57am ago

thanks a lot I really want to try making stencils but I was stuck on how to begin ie what to remove and what not to.

laura

Dec 22, 2005 2:13pm ago

someone on craftster suggeststed using a foam brush, and i've found that works really well. :)

Cat Morley

Dec 31, 2005 3:15pm

That's probably a good idea. I just need to buy one now. :)

esther l.

Dec 31, 2005 4:16pm

:) tee hee, finally u post this tutorial! thanks!

Clashical

Apr 14, 2006 11:32pm ago

Nice tutorial. Brian from Placebo?

Cat Morley

Apr 18, 2006 7:48pm

Yeah it is Brian Malko from Placebo. :)

nat

May 21, 2006 7:32pm ago

thanks Heeps Yo i really need some1 2 help me out an that was U sso thankss!!

DIANA

Aug 5, 2006 5:41pm ago

un beso a brian malko, que voz, que ojos, que talento!!!!!

Patricia

Aug 21, 2006 1:15pm ago

Gosh so simple. And to think i was gonna do it the hard way =D

Cat Morley

Dec 27, 2006 12:18pm

Hmm, I'm not really sure. I guess you could do it in reverse or use the highlights of the skin.

irving

Dec 27, 2006 12:44pm ago

hi! this might seem like a weird question but...

what do i do if the person that i want to stencil is well... black?

Jadeygirl

Sep 27, 2007 4:52am

Hi Cat,

I have just discovered your website and you are an amazing person. Thank you for inspiring me.

I thought a helpful suggestion would be to print out two of the same image on step 5, one on card, and one on plain A4 size paper for a reference image, while you cut out the one on card.