Stencil Maker
Turn a photo, logo or text into a stencil you can cut. Islands like the middle of an O, A or R get bridges automatically, sizes are in millimetres, and you can download SVG, DXF, PNG or a 3D-printable STL.
- 1Image or text
- 2Check bridges
- 3Download
1Image or text
Drop a photo or logo here, or choose a file. High-contrast images work best.
2Cut-out shape
Pixels darker than this are cut out.
Cuts and sheet strips thinner than this are removed, so the stencil doesn't tear.
Tiny holes and loose dots smaller than this are dropped.
3Bridges and size
4Preview and download
Your image and text stay in this browser tab. Nothing is uploaded.
How to make a stencil
Start with a high-contrast picture: a logo, a silhouette or bold text. Photos work too, but faces and shading turn into blobs, so raise the smoothing and the despeckle size until the shapes read clearly. Then pick the way you'll cut it.
- Cutting machine (Cricut, Silhouette, vinyl cutter). Download the SVG. It is sized in millimetres, so check the size after upload. Black areas are what you weed out. For adhesive stencil vinyl you can switch bridges off, because transfer tape holds the islands while you apply it.
- Laser cutter. Use the DXF (layer CUT for the holes, OUTLINE for the edge) or the SVG. Mylar, card and thin plywood all work. Cut the holes before the outline so the sheet doesn't shift.
- 3D printer. Download the STL. 1 to 1.5 mm thick is stiff enough for spray paint and still prints flat. Print it flat on the bed. A wide border makes it easier to hold and tape down.
- Craft knife. Download the PNG and print it at 100% (no "fit to page"). Glue or tape the print to card, acetate or a file folder and cut out the black areas with a sharp blade on a cutting mat.
To paint, tape the stencil flat, use thin coats held upright, and lift the stencil straight off. Spray adhesive or a stencil brush with very little paint stops bleed under the edges.
Tips for clean bridges
- Check "Before bridges". Red pieces are islands: parts of the sheet with no connection to the rest, which would drop out when you cut. The counter shows how many are left after bridging; it should be 0 for a reusable stencil.
- Width depends on the material. About 1 to 1.5 mm holds in vinyl and card, 1.5 to 2.5 mm suits 3D prints and spray paint. Thin bridges look cleaner; thick ones last longer.
- Two bridges per island stop a centre from swinging. Use one for small text, three or four for big islands.
- Fill the gaps after painting. Bridges leave thin unpainted lines. Touch them up with a brush, or paint a second pass with the stencil shifted by a bridge width.
- Stencil-friendly lettering has thick strokes and open shapes. The Block stroke font here is drawn with even strokes for that reason.
FAQ
How do I turn a picture into a stencil?
Choose Image, upload the picture and move the threshold until the shapes you want to paint are cut out (shown as the checkerboard). Raise smoothing and despeckle to clean up noise, check that "falling out after" is 0, then download the file for your cutting method.
What are bridges in a stencil?
Bridges are thin strips of the stencil sheet that hold a loose middle piece, such as the inside of an O, to the rest of the stencil. Without them those pieces fall out and the letter paints as a solid blob. This tool finds every loose piece and adds the shortest bridges it can.
How do you make a stencil with a Cricut?
Download the SVG and upload it to Cricut Design Space. Check the size there, since Design Space sometimes rescales files. Cut it from stencil vinyl or freezer paper, weed the black parts, and use transfer tape to move it onto your surface.
Can you 3D print a stencil?
Yes. Download the STL, which the tool checks for a closed, printable mesh before you get it. A thickness of 1 to 1.5 mm in PLA or PETG is a common choice. Keep bridges at least about 1.5 mm wide and two or three nozzle widths, or they may print weak.
How do I make a tattoo stencil from a photo?
Use Image mode, raise the threshold until you have clean dark shapes, and download the PNG. Print it at 100% and trace it, or print it on thermal transfer paper with a suitable printer. Switch bridges off for tattoo transfers, since nothing is cut. Mirror it only if your transfer method needs it.
What is the best material for a reusable stencil?
Mylar (polyester film) about 0.1 to 0.25 mm thick is the usual choice for cutting machines and lasers, because it is washable and flexible. 3D-printed PLA or PETG works well for rigid stencils. Card and freezer paper are fine for a few uses.