How to Create & Print Custom Stencils

Create your own stencils to customize the type of drawing you want to create.

Stencils are used as templates to draw numbers, letters, shapes, symbols and patterns. Instead of using a free form method when drawing these items, stencils help to keep all of the items in an identical format. Stencils can be made from plastic, cardboard, metal, fabric or paper. You can use graphics software, such as Photoshop and Fireworks, to create and print your own stencils. After printing the stencils, you will cut them to use them as templates.

Things You'll Need

• Graphics software

Instructions

1. Open the graphics software by double-clicking on the icon from the desktop or by clicking on "Start," "All Programs" and then the folder for your program. For instance, if you are using Photoshop, it will be listed in the "Adobe" folder after clicking on "All Programs."

2. Open an image in the graphics program, if you are using a preexisting picture, symbol or other drawing for the basis of your stencil. Click on "File" and then "Open" or "Import" from inside the main screen of the graphics program. Navigate to the folder that contains the image in the "Open" or "Import" dialog box. Double-click on the file to finish opening it.

3. Draw the letters, numbers or symbols or create an image in the graphics software. Use the "Text Tool" in the toolbox to draw letters and numbers in the main document. Change the font size and style by selecting the text or numbers and changing the settings in the "Properties" box. Select the "Shapes" tool in the toolbox to draw shapes and symbols. Use the "Freeform" or "Line" tools if you want to create an image step-by-step, or line-by-line.

4. Duplicate the main layer after you have your image the way you want it. The "Layer" panel is usually on the right side of the screen in graphics software programs. If you do not see it, click on "View" or "Tools" in the main menu bar. Point to "Toolbars" and then click on "Layers." Select the main layer by clicking on its name in the "Layer" panel. Drag the layer name down to the bottom of the "Layer" panel to the "New Layer" button, or click on "Tools," "Layers" and then "Duplicate Layer."

5. Click on the "New Fill Layer" icon at the bottom of the "Layers" panel, a circle that has a white half and a black half, or you may have to click on the "Add Layer" icon above or below the "Layers" panel and then the "Color Fill" button for the new layer. Click on "Solid Color." Choose red or another bright color when the "Color Picker" window appears. Click "OK" to close the "Color Picker" window.

6. Click and drag the color-filled layer between the other two layers. This will tell the program to send the color layer behind the first layer, but before the duplicated layer. You will now see the picture with a background the same color as the color you chose for the color layer in the main document window. The duplicated layer should be the top layer.

7. Click on duplicated layer in the "Layer" panel (it should be listed with the word "Copy" in it) to select it. Click on the "Pen" tool from the toolbox and remove the unnatural glow around the outline of the main image, by clicking and dragging the Pen tool around the outline of the image and through the glow. The glow was created by putting a color-filled layer in between two identical layers.

8. Press the "Shift," "Ctrl" and "U" keys on your keyboard at the same time to de-saturate the duplicate, or top, layer.

9. Click on "Image," "Adjustments" and then "Threshold," or "Filters," "Sharpen" and then "Sharpen More" to adjust the threshold of the image. This is just sharpening the top layer. The "Threshold" dialog box appears or shows in the "Properties" box. Adjust the "Threshold" slider to "148" and then click "OK."

10. Click on "Filter," "Blur" and then "Gaussian Blur" to add the effect to the image. You may have to go through the "Tools" menu to get to the filters or in the "Properties" box.

11. Click on "Image" or "Tools" and then "Image." Point your mouse to "Adjustments" and then click on "Curves." The "Curves" dialog box appears. Click and drag on the different points in the box to turn the diagonally curved line to more of a "S" shape. Click "OK" when you are done.

12. Double-click on the fill color located in the color-filled layer in the "Layers" panel. This will open the "Color Picker" dialog box again for that layer. Change the bright color to either a white or black color depending on your image. This will produce more of a stencil image. Click on "File" and then "Print" to print out the stencil. Cut out either the white or black portions of the image to complete the creation of the stencil template.

References

• Adobe: Illustrator - Duplicate Objects by Using the Layers Panel
• Fireworks: Add and Remove Layers
• Fireworks: Sharpen an Image
• Layers Magazine: Creating a Layered Threshold Effect in Photoshop
• "Adobe Illustrator CS4 Classroom in a Book"; Adobe Creative Team; 2008
• "Teach Yourself Visually Fireworks 4"; Sue Plumley; 2001