You can create a spray paint stencil with a simple heart or circle, or even a realistic, complex cityscape or portrait. Spray paint stencils are used to brighten up old furniture or create a divider in a room. Artists are usually more interested in making stencils that embody the thoughts or ideas they have.
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Part 1 of 3: Planning a Stencil
Step 1. Think about your overall design plan
Determine the use of your stencil, for example as a small decoration on a box or a pattern on a wall. How will the use of stencils affect the design used? Here are some points to note:
- Don't use paper. Determine the size of the stencil needed. If the size is large, you can add small details. You should use a simple design if the stencil is small.
- Know the number of colors in the image to be stenciled. You can use multiple stencils and one stencil will be used for one color. This factor will affect the amount of materials needed and the number of stencils that need to be made.
Step 2. Draw a preliminary sketch of the design (if possible)
Right now, you're just trying to develop an image that will become a stencil. You can experiment or try to improve on an existing design from scratch.
Step 3. Select the type of stencil material you want to use
There are a variety of materials to choose from for making stencils, but you should consider the frequency of use and ease of use of the stencil so that you can determine the most suitable material.
- Cardboard or corkboard are ideal for large, simple stencils on flat surfaces.
- Paper ideal for single-use stencils on flat or round surfaces.
- Poster board is stronger than paper and can be used on flat or slightly rounded surfaces.
- Clear plastic or acetate is ideal if you are making stencils that can be reused on a flat or round surface.
- Frisket film, which is a clear film with a slightly sticky back, is ideal for flat and round surfaces.
Part 2 of 3: Making Stencils
Step 1. Make the final image with clear lines and good contrast
The image must be clear so that it is easy to cut.
- If you are drawing your own design, define the outline to be cut for the stencil. Don't forget that you'll need to emphasize the edges and details of your image so that they're visible on the stencil.
- If you are using a photo or image from the internet, use an image manipulation program to adjust the contrast and brightness of the image so that the dark and light areas are clearly visible. It might be easier if you convert the design to a black and white image.
- Make sure that your current design is stencilable. If you're trying to create a complex image with textures and shadows, make sure you don't have to cut out all of the stencil. Change your drawing so that the stencil remains one piece.
- Photos can also be used if you remove the background first. This is probably the most time consuming part of the process.
Step 2. Print the final image on a sheet of printer paper (if possible)
After all the images are printed, it is better to thicken the outlines that are still not clear. The image must be perfectly clear to be made into a stencil.
Step 3. Attach the paper with your design to the stencil material
There are several ways to attach a drawing to a stencil material:
- Glue it with paper tape or clear tape. Make sure you glue near the edges of the paper, but it's a good idea to glue in the middle to stabilize the paper.
- Otherwise, you can apply the paper with adhesive spray. Simply spray the adhesive onto the stencil material and glue the illustrated paper on top.
- You can also transfer the image onto the stencil using tracing paper. This method is ideal if the stencil material used is cardboard or poster board.
Step 4. Cut out the area in the image that will show the paint in the finished product
Use a sharp utility knife to carefully cut out the parts of the design on the stencil that you don't need. If your design has more than one color, you'll need to create multiple stencils for each color.
Part 3 of 3: Using Stencils
Step 1. Attach the stencil to the surface to be painted
The stencil MUST lie flat on the surface when you start spraying the paint. If any of the parts stick out, the paint can seep down and ruin your design. There are several ways that can be applied, including:
- The tape is ideal for simple stencils. Complex stencils with lots of detail can be difficult to hold with just tape.
- Non-permanent adhesive sprays can be purchased at craft stores and are ideal for more detailed stencils because they can glue each part of the design close to the surface to be painted.
- If you are using frisket film, simply peel off the back of the material and apply it to the painted surface.
Step 2. Use spray paint
Do not spray too much paint until it pools. Too much paint will seep under the stencil. It's best to spray paint quickly and don't keep the paint nozzle in one place for too long.
Step 3. Take a stencil and check your work
Usually a little paint will seep over the edges of the stencil (even if you've worked as carefully as you can), and check how your design looks. Maybe you need to add a touch up where it wasn't painted well.
Maybe you should try the stencil elsewhere before using it in real life. You'll be able to gauge the appearance of the finished product, and check if the paint is seeping off the edges of the stencil. If so, glue the stencil well before using it where you want it
Tips
- If you're using a photo or image, it's a good idea to convert it first so it can be stenciled. Sometimes it is necessary to create an outer border, or remove dark areas so that the stencil image can be as close to the original image as possible.
- Make sure you use an all-purpose knife in a safe place, such as a cutting board.
