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You Will Need

30 minutes
Pretty Easy

Stencilling Tutorial

  • Completed Project: Stencilling Tutorial Picture #1

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

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  1. Step 1

    Step 1

    The first step is to pick and image with relatively simple shapes that will look good as a stencil.

  2. Step 2

    Step 2

    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.


  3. Step 3

    Step 3

    Remove the background and any complex areas of the image that you don't want.

  4. Step 4

    Step 4

    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.


  5. Step 5

    Step 5

    Print out the image on to a thick card.

  6. Step 6

    Step 6

    Cut out the black areas using a stanley knife. Use discretion if the black area will cut out a white area.

  7. Step 7

    Step 7

    Use acrylic, or fabric paint, to paint the stencil on to a flat piece of fabric.

Versions (1)

Version Stencilling Tutorial By Janiboni

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People who love this project (261)See All »

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Cat Morley

Cat Morley

22 Dec 00:11

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

Jeanne

22 Dec 00:57

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

22 Dec 14:13

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

Cat Morley

Cat Morley

31 Dec 15:15

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

esjelly

esjelly

31 Dec 16:16

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

Clashical

14 Apr 23:32

Nice tutorial. Brian from Placebo?

Cat Morley

Cat Morley

18 Apr 19:48

Yeah it is Brian Malko from Placebo. :)

nat

21 May 19:32

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

DIANA

05 Aug 17:41

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

Patricia

21 Aug 13:15

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

Cat Morley

Cat Morley

27 Dec 12:18

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

irving

27 Dec 12:44

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

Jadeygirl

27 Sep 04:52

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.

Cat Morley

Cat Morley

27 Sep 11:24

Thanks for the tip and thanks for the lovely compliments.

EbonyMae.

EbonyMae.

28 Oct 17:19

i can't do this tut because:
a) i con't Photoshop to work on my Mac
b) I can't work Photoshop! lol

LaKore

LaKore

23 Nov 02:03

well it's simple enough if you have photoshop but I don't ::Sigh::

Cat Morley

Cat Morley

23 Nov 02:08

Aww, let me think of a way without!

cat c.

cat c.

07 Jan 22:27

try downloading gimp shop, the same as photoshop pretty much but free! Google it.

Poppa

Poppa

29 Jan 21:50

Brian looks awesome as a stencil. :O
How cleanly did the finished result turn out?

Nice job!

ʎǝɔɐɹƃ

ʎǝɔɐɹƃ

17 Feb 13:12

Ohh yay-I doing a project on Bansky and going to do his logo as a stencil thank you for the great idea Cat!!
Grace xx

Riechan

Riechan

17 Jun 12:19

what's discretion, I looked it up but the're telling me something about crime and justice ...

thanks for the tut !!

JennJennJenn

JennJennJenn

05 Aug 07:25

Is that avi?

Smiles

Smiles

15 Jan 06:48

Wow where does it ever end! I know it won't and I think that is why I and others just love crafting. I never come here and not see something new to learn. Really nice work! Loved it all! I am pretty new! I am looking for friends. Would you please be my friend? Later, Lisa

EmoxiTa [♥]

EmoxiTa [♥]

06 Apr 03:50

yu dnt need photoshop or gimp..
picnik has this effect and its for free on tha internet

dominic d.

dominic d.

19 Sep 01:50

Brian Molko from Placebo! <3 How did the desing end up?

Cat Morley Posted By:
Cat Morley »
December 21, 2005 19:05
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