Good day!
The stencil is special. film (cardboard, sheet of paper), on which there are through holes corresponding in shape to letters, figures, some simple images. They are usually used to apply the same letters and numbers (the same font and size) on a large number of surfaces.
It is not so difficult to create your own unique stencil today (of course, when we are not talking about some professional artwork). In this post I will give a couple of ways to create simple stencils at home (both from letters and from pictures).
Note: for our work, we need Microsoft Word (or its equivalent), a printer (preferably), nail scissors and some free time.
So...
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Step by step stencil creation
From letters / numbers
STEP 1: select and install a font
And so, this is perhaps the first thing to start with. By default, in Windows, on the one hand, there are quite a few fonts, on the other, there are a couple of stencil ones ...
You can find pretty good and beautiful fonts on specialized sites:
- //www.fonts-online.ru/ (important! for a stencil it is best to choose a special serif font, they are in a special heading)
- //allfont.ru/
These sites are good first of all because they have a lot of free fonts, plus when you download you get an OTF / TTF file, which you just need to right-click on - and you can immediately install it on the system. See screenshots below. Conveniently!
Loading
Install
To help!
How to add a new font to Windows - //ocomp.info/dobavit-novyiy-shrift-v-windows.html
STEP 2: print the template
Next, we type the necessary text (letters) in Word (or another text editor) and print it on a printer. Please note that it is highly advisable to choose a special. font (otherwise, with further cutting, you may face some problems ... 👌).
template (pay attention to the font - the letter "O" has special serifs)
STEP 3: clipping - creating a stencil
After that, there are dozens of ways to make a stencil:
- option 1: cut out the printed text with ordinary nail scissors (see the example in the photo below). Such a stencil is too "soft" and is suitable only in certain cases, for example, for applying text with a spray paint can;
- option 2: you can stick our template on cardboard, and then cut out the letters using a clerical knife. You will get a denser version of the stencil;
- Option 3: instead of gluing the template to cardboard (or plastic), you can use a carbon copy;
- Option 4: use a plotter (for relatively little money, your stencil can be "cut" from film or hard cardboard on a plotter).
Tenderloin ...
From picture / image
STEP 1: find the image
I want to warn you right away that the image for the stencil needs special. way to pick up. It is best if it will be a very simple, almost monochromatic figure (usually such figures are made using vector graphics). Below I have given a simple example to make it clear what is at stake ...
Left - good, right - not good
In any case, you can try with anyone, and if you are not satisfied with the result, look for a new one ... 👀
To search for pictures, you can use either Google (Yandex), or (which appeals to me more) special. services, such as pixabay (this site contains thousands of free images on a variety of topics). It is better to immediately upload 2-3 pictures (so that there is plenty to choose from)
Screenshot from pixabay
STEP 2: formatting the image
Next, start Word, go to the menu "Insert / Pictures" and add the uploaded images.
Insert - picture
Then we select the picture by clicking on it with the left mouse button - in the top menu it will be possible to open the tab "Format" , and in it change the color to black and white (50%).
Change the picture
As a result, you should get a monochromatic picture (like the one in the screenshot below).
What happened...
STEP 3: print and cut
Actually, then you need to adjust the size of the picture (change the width / height).
Resizing a picture
I also recommend changing the style of the picture (done in the same "Format" menu). For example, circled signs and logos are quite popular now (example below). Why not make such a stencil ?!
Change the drawing style
After the picture is finally ready, you can:
- print on a regular printer and cut out all the "black" on it with nail scissors. Such a stencil will quickly wear out, but if it is enough for you to use it 2-3 times, why not?
- print the sheet and glue it to the cardboard, then use scissors or a utility knife to cut the "black outlines". The stencil will turn out to be more rigid;
- make on a plotter (the scheme is something like this: you prepare a template, throw it off to a special office, and they will cut out your stencil on cardboard or film using a plotter for little money).
In general, the work is built similarly to a stencil of letters and numbers ...
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If you used other methods - add in the comments ...
Thanks in advance.
Good luck!
👋
