Stencils
Materials — you’ll need something to cut your stencil out of once you decide on your idea. There are so many kinds of materials out there to use that it really just depends on how you want to use your stencil. Stencils that will only be used once or very few times can be cut out of something as accessible as paper, and really anything will do. For more durable materials try:
Manila file folders — they most commonly come in 2 sizes, for letter(8 1/2” x 11”) and legal (8 1/2”x 14”) size papers. Unfolded they can make a good size stencil. They are easy to cut through, hold together well with highly detailed images, and will absorb paint. They are also very accessible, found at office supply stores, copy shops, and in the trash outside office buildings and stores. Josh Macphee author of Stencil Pirates favors these.
Other cardboard — like cereal boxes, corrugated cardboard, and other packaging cardboard can be used as well. Though they are harder to cut through and won’t last as long as the file folders, they are found in varying sizes to suit the demands of different sized projects. Any of these can be found in the trash and stack of recycling, probably the most accessible of materials.
Poster Board — like the kind you used for those school projects in elementary school, works well when making larger stencils and easy to cut through. It’s found in supermarkets, office and art supply stores.
Plastics — Acetate, Mylar, laminating paper, etc. These are really easy to cut through and can create minute details. Not really good for putting stuff up on the street cos they’re flimsy and the paint drips off them after a bunch of sprays. I use them for printing onto paper or other materials and then installing them however necessary (wheatpasting, stickers, etc). These kinds of materials can be found in office and art supply stores and in the dumpsters at copy shops and other stores. Mylar, my preference, is pricey and comes in rolls or in 3×4 sheets, get the .05mil.
Magnets — if you can get thin magnets and want to paint on metal, go for it!
Paint — here it is according to Josh in Stencil Pirates:
“The most important thing I’ve learned about paint is that you get what you pay for (that is if you actually buy paint). Cheap cans of paint are inexpensive, but you wont get as much out of them and the paint is low quality and wont survive the elements very well. Also the airtight seal on the can that holds the paint and propellant in is really low quality, leading to frequent clogs, which make a mess and sometimes make the can unusable. So given that laundry list, I usually stick to the higher quality paint, either Krylon or Rust-oleum, and their sub-brands: Color Works and Painters’ Touch or American Accents, respectively. American Accents, in particular, has a wide range of colors. These sub-brands are usually half the price and just as good. There are also a number of brands from Europe, like Montana and Belton, that are great paints, but usually can only be mail-ordered here in the US and are very expensive. Another really important piece of information about paint is tat you always want to use flat, ultra flat, or satin paints. They dry significantly faster on the street and on your stencil and it is easier to lay a second color on top of them.
Unlike in traditional graffiti, the nozzles on the paint cans, often called “caps,” aren’t quite as important for stenciling. What are called “fat caps,” or anything that will widen your spray area, can be useful because they mean less time standing with a can of paint in your hand. I’ve also found that the large industrial cans of paint made for job sites (“upside-down cans”) sometimes have caps on them that fit into regular cans and create a nice fan-like wide spray which is great for stencils.”
-If you plan on painting the ground an upside-down spray can might be best. Cans hold a lot of paint and it comes out fast. Also check out Graffiti magazines and websites to order caps and new brands of paint, made specifically for graffiti heads.
Cutting Implements — basically anything that’s got a sharp edge! Most people prefer X-acto style knives, but box cutters, Olfa snap-off blades, and even pocketknives can be used. Heat knives cut through most plastics and can be found at most art and craft supply stores, but we don’t have any experience with them yet.
How to cut a stencil
— First you need an idea of what you wanna paint. You can either draw something out directly onto your material and then start cutting. If you don’t draw you can use pre-existing images; photos, drawings, etc, and print them out on paper (any size you like). Attach them to your material with a glue stick or spray adhesive, and start cutting. To create a “stencil-like” image from photos, photocopy it over and over with the contrast set very high. This will eliminate most details and simplify the image to just black and white. For those who have access to computers and understand Photoshop, this is Kristine’s advice:
When I began making stencils I hand drew them all. I had a passion for stenciling but my drawing abilities were less than great. I was strongly influenced by a common opinion I had heard, that cutting directly through a photo was “cheating”, and photo shopping that photo to help you out was very taboo. Well I can’t draw. I take pictures and have a passion for photography. For me stenciling is an alternative way to print photos, like silkscreening a photo. People make art in many different ways, and utilize their skills and interests in different ways. Your art is yours. I think hand drawn stencils are beautiful. I find the move towards computer technology a bit sad for fear of the extinction of the free-hand stuff. I also think photography is rad and I love dissecting my photographs and putting them on walls. It’s often the only way people will ever see them. As for Photoshop, it makes it easier, but often a bit more boring. You can manipulate a photo so you can see where to cut more easily if you want your stencil to look like a photo, but figuring it out yourself can be interesting. Keep in mind that relying on technology can be dangerous and limit your capabilities. Anyhow, here’s what I do: I scan in a photo or negative, or find a picture on the internet ( I once considered google image search a guilty pleasure, but it works well if you need a specific image) Going to the library is also a great place to find images. When you have the image on the computer use Photoshop to resize the image. Then use filters like brightness contrast, posterize, find edges and just play around to see what you like. I usually just up the contrast a tad, I don’t like stencils that look like a stencil of a Photoshop filter, I don’t like anything that looks like a Photoshop filter, but that’s just me.
For more specifics on the techie stuff check out the “tutorials” section of stencilrevolution.com.
— Next is the most tedious but fun part, cutting out your stencil. Using your blade you are going to cut out the areas that you want to be painted (paint goes through the holes onto the preferred surface.) You should be cutting on top of a cutting board, linoleum, magazine, or other surface that you don’t mind destroying. If you have already drawn your image and have put in connectors you should be alright. If not, try to visualize what the stenciled image could look like after its been sprayed. Look for areas that can be connected creating a “floating positive space.” My buddy jon explains them like this:
“The more complex the image the more compromises you’ll have to make regarding floating positive space. The best stencils are those that take this into account and use them as part of the style. With a little practice it’s pretty easy to figure out how to keep important parts of your composition from popping out and falling onto the floor!”
Now that you have a stencil in your hands, it’s a good idea to spray your stencil on something to see if it came out as beautifully as you visualized. You can apply your art to the desired surface with spray paint, or some acrylic paint with a sponge or brush.
Lay the stencil flat onto the surface and spray with short blasts of paint from a can or dabs from a sponge. You can use pieces of tape or spray adhesive to get a “cleaner” look. For smaller images its not usually necessary to press down for long steady streams, it wastes paint and is less controlled. Take off your stencil to admire your creation and do it again!
Planning
Before you go out it’s good to do a little planning both on your own and with your friends. Mapping out a route may help to ease last minute jitters. Knowing where you want to hit can ease this a bit and lead to fabulous placing. For really large pieces I’ll feel great if it gets up just once or twice, especially in highly visible areas. In such cases I like to just get it up and go home. This is more relevant in a small town where a large piece will quickly get the cops’ attention and they’ll be on the lookout. It’s also good to be on the same page with your friends about what you want from the outing. Clarify what you do and don’t feel comfortable with, how able bodied you are, and what feels safe. Climbing buildings, billboards, or fences may not be your thing, and last minute decisions can add stress. Whether you feel comfortable running from the police or not is something that varies with circumstance, but should be considered and discussed before going out. If you make the police run you’ll most likely be arrested (or beat up), but if you’re caught putting up art the consequences differ only slightly. Making cops chase after you may increase the chance that they’ll show up in court to testify, but nothing’s certain.
If the police see you out and suspect you, they may track you and going home may not be a bad idea. Having a story planned and consistent with your friends is smart. Sucking up to cops feels really gross, but if it avoids arrest it may be worth it. One cover that works for an art student demographic is pretending to be a disillusioned art student who is confused, apologetic and slightly to moderately upset. Don’t rat on anyone and don’t admit to anything They may take your paint and art if you are caught in the act. If this is the case, ask if you’re under arrest. Ask if you’re being detained. Don’t let them search you.
Stencil storage
Depending on the size, material, and potential placement for your stencil, there are a number of ways to carry it. Hiding a stencil wet with paint can be a bit tricky, and many a stencil of mine has been wrecked from drying to the inside of wherever it’s been hiding. My favorite method is wearing at least two layers of clothing, the outer layer a zip up, and putting the stencil flush against my belly or chest, between the layers. Your clothes get messy around the stencil but not visibly on the outside. I feel a lot less conspicuous without a bag and the stencil comes out and goes back in fairly quickly. (Paint can be stashed anywhere on the body as well, I use a fanny pack, but if you wear baggy clothes I’m sure something better can be figured out.)
If your stencil is huge, an artist’s portfolio may seem a bit obvious. I’ve done it, however, and my appearance lends well to the art student profile so I’ve been comfortable, though that doesn’t work for everyone. Cutting stencils out of gessoed canvas also works really well for street pieces because it can be folded or rolled up and ironed out flat again when you get home. You can also try slipping it into a folded newspaper or book (lined with chicken wire or wax paper to prevent sticking if you feel like getting fancy), or an old bag that you don’t mind getting painty. I like using flat canvas, grocery/book bags, or you can make a flat file with corrugated cardboard.
You can conceal your materials in ways which are fun and comical. You can replace the bottom of a pizza box or paper grocery bag with your stencil and camouflage your spray paint in a quart milk box, or whatever else you can figure out. The pizza box trick is fairly common, and possibly recognizable by now so get creative with it.
Riding a bike to go out on a run is a bit cumbersome but makes me feel like I have the appearance of an alternate activity. It’s safer because your work gets more spread out and you don’t leave a trail. It also provides a quicker getaway, which can come in handy in dealing with either the police or street harassers.
What to Wear
Costuming yourself can also be smart and funny. While wearing all black may seem appropriate your probably likely to end up drawing more attention to yourself. I feel really good dressing up fancy like I’m going out to a hip club, because that’s who I see most out on the streets at 4am. It also gives the appearance of having a more “acceptable” agenda for being out. As a woman I have often felt envious of my male friends who can go out on a run at anytime of night, alone or with a buddy. Putting art up on the street is often spontaneous and therapeutic, and the burden of having to plan a crew can dampen plans. While going out alone is unsafe for many reasons, if you’re a woman I recommend bringing a bike, organizing crews, and generally being aware of your own safety.
Placement
Consider where you’d like to place your art with regard to both your personal safety and intended audience. In highly trafficked areas a lot of people will see your art, but it may be buffed a lot faster. The experience of seeing a stencil in a public place varies greatly by placement. Comparatively few people will see your art if you put it on the inside of a dumpster lid, or in a hidden nook of an alley. Still, consider how amazing it might be for the finder of such art. Keep in mind who will participate in this visual dialogue, noting the neighborhood, traffic, and physical placement.
One of my first, and most passionate stenciling experiences was a response to street harassment I had been experiencing on a constant basis one summer at one specific area in my old town. It was really upsetting for me to live in a town for so long and feel so little entitlement, respect, or safety (emotionally and physically) on the streets I walked everyday. There was one area in particular where I got catcalled, followed and harassed constantly. One night it quickly built up inside me to the point of heartache, anger and sadness. I felt so unsafe on these streets that should have felt like home. I made a 3 foot tall stencil of an old fashioned picture frame with a portrait of my mom inside it. I put it up on a highly visible wall where I was frequently harassed. I took back my streets in a tangible way that felt phenomenal. While I was not physically safer, emotionally I was eased by this comforting and personal image. I had changed the landscape. I hoped that because the image was both of a woman and created by a woman it would act as a female presence in male territory.
Paint & Health
Spray paint is toxic. It’s serious and destroys people’s health. Wear a respirator, not a flimsy white dust mask. Change the respirator filters when they darken. Avoid getting spray paint on your skin. I wear rubber gloves under winter gloves (to avoid looking suspicious). The smell of spray paint can seem romantic and bad ass, but it destroys your nervous system. You risk kidney damage and loss of bladder control. Paint can be rolled on with a squeegee or put into a non aerosol spray bottle. I haven’t had much success with either but please try them on your own.
Other mediums
Chalk — an arguably “legal” medium, cos it will wash away after a rain or two. Artists like Keith Haring, Jean Michel Basquiat, and De La Vega have used chalk really successfully on empty ad spaces, the sidewalk and most any surface.
Markers — most art supply stores have a wide selection of wide tipped markers that are great for writing. Pilot markers are great because you can use them to make your own homemade fat tips….
Materials:
Pilot marker, ink, chalkboard eraser, duct or electric tape, and 35mm film canister.
— Take the tip off the Pilot marker, get rid of the plastic and the tip
— Tear a piece of the eraser off, cut it in 1/2
— Wrap the metal case with tape, near the end of the marker tip. Something for the film canister to fit over
— Fill up the marker casing with ink, homemade or store bought, leather dye or marsh ink will do
— Fold the cut eraser in half and plug up the marker with it.
— Put your cap over the your tip and toss it in a ziplock bag.
— You’re now ready to let your tip fill up with ink and go nuts. This is really messy so make sure keep it upside down as best as possible so you don’t get ink everywhere.
Mops — Containers that liquid shoe polish comes in can be used to write things and are refillable. Try making homemade style inks and filling them up, or get your hands on KRink, a homemade silver ink.
Etching and scratching — Etching fluid is totally toxic and not something to use if you’re not familiar with it. It can be applied through sponge tipped leather dye containers or applied through stencils. Scratching can be done with anything hard and sharp; drill bits, grinder bits, etc.. Remember that daylight is a very valuable and precious resource in places like NYC, though, so try not to ruin people’s access to it.
December 13th, 2005 at 8:01 pm
how does the spray paint affect your skin if it were to get on you
December 13th, 2005 at 8:11 pm
spraypaint doesn’t have serious immediate effects but it is toxic. you can absorb those toxins through the pores on your skin. eventually, exposure to paint can lead to kidney & liver damage. in small doses it’s not too much to worry about considering all the other toxic shit that surrounds us but you should try to minimize the risk by wearing gloves, a mask, a respirator, etc.
January 17th, 2006 at 2:53 am
i’d like to know how to spray a stencil with diferent colors in it, like the fish on the photos..
orange and black ..
I hope you understand
Be.happy.
Magui
January 17th, 2006 at 3:49 am
With, the fish and, most multiple colored stencils, you need to make different stencils. One for each of the colors!
It is possible to use one stencil and use different colored paint. Tho i believe the effect you are looking for is, creating “layers” by painting different shapes on top of each other.
I say start simple, make an outline of your object and use that as your first stencil. Then make a second stencil that has details, probably painted in black.
Thanks for the question and feel free ato ask more if you have more specifics!
January 17th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
how is it possible to hide a 3 foot stencil? and would you have to take someone with you to hold it?
January 19th, 2006 at 12:48 am
what you do is simple… instead of using that much material at once,
copy your masterpiece onto 3 or 4( 5,6,7) smaller pieces of whatever,
I use cereal boxes, laid out..you know…then when you hit the street,
just use one section at a time like a puzzle, dig?
January 21st, 2006 at 11:39 am
Just a little note to say nice spread… myself (riff raff) and my man (swags) are in the middle of some great projects
and was wondering if you post pictures on your site?
thanks…..
January 24th, 2006 at 1:52 am
we have a photolog as another aspect of the Visual Resistance site.
and also our Flickr account
And we are psyched to get submissions of any flicks you take of projects you work on or see!
Please resize them to 480pixels wide!
January 28th, 2006 at 10:08 am
how can you get off spray paint quickly?
January 31st, 2006 at 3:39 am
like wash it off?
or use other materials?
February 12th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
yeaha, but everybody knows:
the best stencils are the big ones
ok, not so general, but mostely :)
so do it big!
hide your stencil in a contrabass case!
:)
February 15th, 2006 at 10:40 pm
what kind of paint
or
kind of papper should i use?
thanks.
February 24th, 2006 at 11:16 am
“what kind of paint
or
kind of papper should i use?”
just read the above text dude, it’s pretty well spelled out.
great tutorial.
many thanks.
March 1st, 2006 at 1:22 am
how can i get spray paint out of my house without my parents finding out.???? IMmonly 14 so Im realy trying to get my work out on the streets but my parents are really aware of my stenciling.
OH and thnx to this website, its awesome and it has inspired me so much.!!!
March 29th, 2006 at 11:29 am
So, I make tee shirts for local bands, and I was wondering which material lasts longer? I have to make 42 tee shirts by April 8th and
I’ve been using regular printer paper. It takes three hours to do one stencil and using printer paper means I have to keep redoing
stencils. Too much work and not enough time. Any advise would help. Anymore advise atleast. You’ve given me more than anyone else
thus far. Anyway, thanks.
March 29th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
checkgrrl: if you’re spraypainting the shirts you can use manilla folders or similar thin non-corrugated cardboard. should stand up as long as you let the stencil dry a little bit between sprays. you might also try using a thin plastic like mylar or acetate. all should be available in some form at an office supply or art supply store…
for printing onto fabric, spraypaint can be pretty messy. you can also use a paintbrush or a roller to apply fabric ink through the stencil.
March 29th, 2006 at 1:51 pm
I use a fabric paint spray. Water base, that’s pretty much why I need something other than paper. Thanks. I’ll give cardboard and
manilla folders a try. Considering I can just take that stuff from work. If worse somes to worse I’ll go out and actually buy something.
Ha.
March 29th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
by glueing the printing paper to a manila folder and then cutting is easy.
and if you’re still interested in using that thin printing paper, for cutting,
then just cover both sides of the paper with clear packaging tape. The tape will
protect the paper from the paint and make the stencil last longer.
The tape is a good method if you are unable to come by mylar or acetate!
March 29th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
That’s a good one. I haden’t thought about that. Tape. Thanks.
April 9th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
CheckGrrl
try laminating the printer paper, i find that way it is heaps durable.
just wipe it off between each spray
April 12th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
it will color your hand the color of the paint and if your using some crazy shit it might rash
April 14th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Rubber surgical gloves are the best hand protection. Huge markers can sometimes be found in
dollar stores. Make friends with a sign-shop worker with access to a plotter/cutter. This machine
cuts intricate stencils. Large format inkjet printers are sometimes sold on E-Bay. These make
large signs and can print on durable materials like butcher paper.
The public display of art is an obligation of the informed, the bold and the brave. You must have a
mission and believe in it. Radical words and visuals expand the public consciousness. You are doing
a favor for those who have been blinded by education, media, government and religion. Do not approach
your work as destructive, but constructive, a contribution to broadening the vision of the public.
We need more messengers. Read the instructions, practice your craft and communicate boldly.
The Stickler
April 16th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
this photoshop filter is awesome for greyscale images. it almost gives you a multi (3) color stencil immediately. i guess using it for black/white art gives you a simple stencil instantly.
(instructions for photoshop cs 2)
filter->sketch->photocopy
artistic -> cutout
easy as making applepie with vanilla icecream.
April 16th, 2006 at 8:36 pm
@nobody: For a single color stencil, I find adjusting the Levels (Ctrl+L) works the best. Take the left (black) pointer, drag it towards the right side, and drag the middle (gray) pointer towards the black pointer for a nice solid black piece.
April 26th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
im makin shirts with aqurilic paint and a blowpen. But for some reason whenever i start sparyin then paint will kind of splater. I just wanted to know if thats normal
May 14th, 2006 at 9:21 pm
a good place to get over head transparencies is at school. i just ask my teachers for old ones, and it dosnt matter if they have printing on them. an your recycling which is totally punk rock.
June 2nd, 2006 at 4:47 pm
i personally like using card stock (not corrigated cardboard which seems stronger, but is harder to cut…)
transparencies are a good idea…
and there was a 14 year old kid up there ^_^ that wanted to know how to get paint out…
Hide your stenceils in your binder and when no one’s watching hide the cans across the street so you can pick them up later
June 13th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
you could but the stencilz in a plastic wallet (a4 or smaller) whilse wet insted ov ruining your thredz
June 17th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
yo, this is an okay tutorial but go to http://www.stencilrevolution.com/
they kick. althought this site has a nice collective, and great projects.
June 23rd, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Hmm, searched and searched, but still no solution to loud paint cans. Anyone have any ideas?
And does anyone know how to transfer paint from can to can? Thanks..
June 25th, 2006 at 3:59 pm
YO.. THE SOLUTION to loud paint cans is magnets on the cans. you gotta make sure you use a good brand of paint that has a metal ball in it like belton or montana.. krylon uses plastic marbles. but the lil round magnets do the trick. also shake up your cans wrapped up in a hoodie if you hood with it. to mix spray paint go to this site: http://www.freshsites.com/mixing_spraypaint.asp
they got it down to a science
July 5th, 2006 at 9:26 am
GOOD STENCILS MADE EASY
If you use a photo as a base image to work from, make sure it has one light source… pref matching the environment it’s going to be in,
In photoshop i use the Stamp filter… I make the image very high resolution to get more control of the effect. Usually 2500 pixels x 2500 pixels (depends on image tho )
August 22nd, 2006 at 10:48 am
thanks for the info i learn new things i try d them and my style is mutch better now
August 29th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Hey ive been into stenciling for about a year and i still cant figure out how to make several-layer stencils. it looks like you just have to print several DIFFERENT layers and spray them on top of each other.
thanks in advance
September 5th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
Hey I just got into stenciling about a month ago and Im really new to the whole thing. Does anyone know any websites which have
everything from like pre made stencils to print out, cut and use and like the paint and everything. Also if any one knows how to take
lets say a deoderant or hairspary can or somthin and get paint into that. And another thing im only 14 so how could I get my hands
on spraypaint or somthin. Thanks
September 5th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
sgt — free stencils from cut and paint. as for getting spraypaint, you might try screenprinting or other techniques to get around the age barrier.
September 5th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
Hey thanks alot eliot, btw would you happen to know how to get paint into like a hairspray can or other can? And also I live in a small
town with not a bunch of great places to tag what should I do?
September 19th, 2006 at 2:40 am
great tutorial. love it.
now, i will make shirts
thanxs
(From Bs As, Argentina)
September 28th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
hey SGT. unless you have no way at all to get spray paint i wouldnt recommend trying to get paint into a hairspray can, you can always use markers. it takes a bit longer but it still works.
October 4th, 2006 at 8:37 am
alright ive done alot of freehanding stuff and have just gotten into stencils. there are alot of places in my town where i can tag up. ive got a project that im doing with a friend and what is the best way to go in and get out fast without getting caught. i have at least 10 mins before someone will notice and we are doing a lot.
anything?
October 11th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Well im thinkin you should go at night or early mornin. Also could you reply where ur doin it so i could give u some advice on how
to do it
October 17th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Contact paper really helps, If you put it on your paper before you start cutting it makes it rubbery and reusable. Its also really
easy to roll up after your done.
October 18th, 2006 at 8:38 am
im doing a pigpatrolcar. thats why it needs to be fast.
October 24th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
i’ve been doing really big stencils lately with vinyl flooring. its easy to cut and you can get huge sizes for pretty cheap. the only problem is weight, once its rolled up its heavy but for a 10×10 foot piece its worth it.
October 31st, 2006 at 2:57 pm
hi,mi name is fred and live in mexico city.
estan muy chidos sus estencils me agrado el del pez.
yours stencils are very cool I like the fish stencil is very cool.
October 31st, 2006 at 4:24 pm
WHat should i use for make my own face stencil?
What kind of software of program?
Thanks from COsta rica. “DSF STENCILS”
November 2nd, 2006 at 11:53 pm
just photocopy your image down a bit on a high contrast setting, or you can use a photoshop filter like “cutout” or “stamp” and mess with the levels.
November 4th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
Bronze has two good suggestions.
The first of which I use. I dont evenmess with constrat much, so I am able to add more of a personal aesthetic to my piece.
November 17th, 2006 at 4:17 am
Sucking Up To Cops Feel Gross For True Reason And Is NEVER Worth It
Thou Remember They Are Still Humans You Can Always Have A Connection With
Someone OR Thing No Matter How Degenerate, Distant Or Whatever View, Mentality, Morale
Conditioning Whatever, Angel Is Just Another To Word For Messenger
Oh Yeah Great Tips An Truth Bless All
November 23rd, 2006 at 2:09 am
About concealing the stencel, dress up nice and use a shoppingbag with the handels, cut the bottom out, and tape your
stencil inside the bottom, carry your can inside. This also silences the pshhhss sound WORD!
December 15th, 2006 at 11:48 am
i think the site is great! u`re a skilled stenciler! But i think you should change all the picters on your frontsite, u have had them there for a long time, i feel like seeing a littn change.
the “i am a man” picture is realy cool but maybe you could make a new verson and put there?
December 17th, 2006 at 4:15 pm
regarding the very first question about how spray paint affects you if it gets on your skin: After I completely a particularly large piece, the tip of my index finger was completely coated in paint. The feeling had also gone out of that section of my finger from pressing down on the can for so long. And for about two weeks afterwards, I had no feeling the tip of that finger. I can’t be completely sure of the cause, it may have been the paint, or just the pressure, but regardless I was concerned that I would never be able to feel the tip of my finger again. The feeling did eventually come back, and since then I’ve worn latex gloves when doing anything large-ish.
December 26th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
Thanx for the great insight, been keen for a while but also very limited. Keep up the good work
Raw =)
January 6th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
How do you get really crisp stencils? When making detailed stencils the fine parts of the stencils blow up when spraying meaning I get horrible edges. How do you keep them down? By holding them with your hands or by fixing them to the surface somehow?
January 12th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
ok so i stumbled upon this website.. and have been doin this for years and everyone on here is verry smart… latex… contact paper…. magnets….. alll awesome ways to go…. im proud of my fellow stagers (stencil tagging)…. im also a tattoo artist and would love to see some ideas on tattoo yall have
January 17th, 2007 at 9:42 am
i found this website while looking for some new stencils and i think all the info that is on it is great stuff ive up till nowjust been making small stencils and many of them so theyre easily disposed of in bins afterward but your idea of a canvas stencil is so brilliant i may have to try it is there and difficulty to cutting a canvas stencil
January 18th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
hello!!
does anyone know what is the method to desigh a multylayer (5 layers etc) stencil with photoshop ??
January 20th, 2007 at 3:08 am
on some versions in “Artistic” theres a cutout feature that i figure most people must use.
Can’t say for sure, never used it for that purpose.
February 1st, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Me personally like to use shopping bags (yea i said shopping bags). They’re easy to cut and u can make alot of em quick.
February 1st, 2007 at 8:51 pm
By ’shopping bags’ i mean the paper joints by the way.
February 11th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
does anyone know of environmentally-friendly brands of paint that are long-lasting? or is that a figment of my imagination…
February 17th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
how do i wash off spray paint fast?
February 28th, 2007 at 3:38 am
ok say I’ve already been caught in my town and i would like to do a very large meaningful piece somewhere, how would i go about this carefully?
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:59 pm
the best advice? plan. plan. plan.
scope out the spot and do research, watch for patterns of inactivity.
don’t do it untill you’re fairly certain it’s good,
even if it means you lug everything out and then have to take it back home without using it.
the tutorial is good in the sense it’s straight forward and to the point.
good job.
March 25th, 2007 at 6:24 am
K.See i really like your style
but watch the overspray on the your stencils it makes them look much better but hey nice work ;)
April 6th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
a few friends of mine and i have been hitting quite a few places around here for quite some time and hear that some of the other kids around wanna help out, “join up” so to speak. is that a good idea? or is that asking for trouble?
April 8th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
hey y’all… all this stuff is so great, i’ve picked up some good tips. i just wanted to share a couple things that i’ve found have worked really great for me.
1)i draw all my stencils by hand and i’ve found that what works pretty well is taking the image to kinkos or staples and photocopying it several times onto glossy photo paper. this is especially helpful for when i’m doing multi-layered stencils because i already have several copies and just cut one for each color. (if you’re hitting up places with the images it might be best to get them copied at a store outside of your town if you’re paranoid, or to buy photo paper and print them at home)
2)blue painter’s tape works wonders to hold stencils down. you can also use several strips on each side to prevent overspray lines.
3)it may sound strange, but peanut butter takes spraypaint off skin like nothing else. it’s amazing! plus… it’s not harmful to your skin… you just smell like a sandwich afterwards.
thanks for all the great tips guys and i hope this helps someone.
-jwug
April 8th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
peanut butter? really? damn, you learn something new every day.
April 24th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
any tips for cutting out details?
and i live in a small, conservative little city, whats the best time to tag something?
ive just been doing my stencils on sticker paper, or the postal service things, and in the midle of the day, but descretly. whats the best time to spray something?
May 5th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
hey well im jus trien to get up… when u do posters to paste whut program or website do u use..i need help so if anytone has any information plz hit me up
May 6th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
any advice for the use of better material than cartboxes for stencils>
large models… any respond would be cool>b`coz cartboxes tend a lil`bit at the end if you use them at large scales ..and sticks for balance are a big no=no..thnx and keep on coloring those gray days/.
belgium burners are still real..
June 1st, 2007 at 7:59 pm
okay, kind of weird question, but for your own safety and anonymity, is it bad to be part of a crew?
June 13th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
malt:
as long as you trust all members of your crew, it’s almolst always better than to go out alone. making decisions (like where to run away from cops) might be easier alone, but the group can offer protection, you can invent a fake story for the cops together and you have more people to carry equipment (especially huge stencils). when putting up large stencils it might always be better to be in a group of min. 3 people which can carry parts, hold the stencil and help you spray it faster.
June 14th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Great Site!!!
Just wanted to give a tip for people wanting their message seen
and not be afraid of getting caught up in some legal crap.
If you have the money rent a billboard! City ones are more expensive,
highway ones (at least in my city) are surprisingly cheap.
Some companies have stricter rules, but for the most part you can
post whatever you want (besides the obvious no nudity or profanity).
Basically I’m trying to make the “system” of advertising work for me.
I’m curently trying to get a group of my art friends to share it with me
and post random messages and art. I thought the idea would be more
profound if more people did it in cities everywhere.
That way it would be harder for the powers that be to shut me down.
June 17th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
ive been stenciling for about 6 months now.
im average haha, til now ive been drawing my own desings.
but now i would like to cut photos ive taken as stencils,and cannot
figure out how to invert the photo so it is cutable?
and yes ive tried some of the suggestions in this forum.
but none have worked for me, any other ideas? please.
or maybe im just a shmuck and cant figure it out haha.
thanks for all the help tho this forum is very helpful.
peace.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Hey, I’m 14 and im just getting started, i made my first stencil tonight out of a manila folder and its a tank but the top half is a gas pump handle thingy, and i am going to cover the support pillars at my school with it. A good thing to use if you are doing a large stencil and dont want your figer to get tired is to go to the hardware stare and buy a spraypaint trigger gun thingy, its about a dollar and has a handle and a trigger and just clips to the top of the can, its VERY handy
Also, great site! It’s about the most thorough site ive found yet, i love it!!
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:51 am
Ben, you might want to reconsider painting your school.
its all cool to get your art out there but doing it on school property is just going to get taken down before anyone even sees it and the consequinces arent worth 3 hours of success.
try keeping it to public walls, street signs, bridges, underpasses etc….
ive been stenciling along time and getting caught sux no matter what age.
plus getting caught puts a black eye on all of us.
just my 2 cents
August 8th, 2007 at 5:41 am
“When making detailed stencils the fine parts of the stencils blow up when spraying meaning I get horrible edges. How do you keep them down? ”
Try adhering a layer of tulle netting to the entire stencil. You can get it at an fabric store for cheap. It will hold flimsy parts together and lets you get a lot of great detail. It can leave a light texture on your stencil, but sometimes that just adds to the effect.
August 8th, 2007 at 5:41 am
“When making detailed stencils the fine parts of the stencils blow up when spraying meaning I get horrible edges. How do you keep them down? ”
Try adhering a layer of tulle netting to the entire stencil. You can get it at an fabric store for cheap. It will hold flimsy parts together and lets you get a lot of great detail. It can leave a light texture on your stencil, but sometimes that just adds to the effect.
November 9th, 2007 at 3:31 am
this article is monstrously useful, I have been wanting to use stencils for a while but I havent came up with any ideas as for which materials to use.
thanks.
November 19th, 2007 at 5:15 am
hey wats up people..
local taggers consider me as a toy but im serious at writing.
i need sum advice how 2 make stencils BIGGER i tried it but i cant get it correct..
November 22nd, 2007 at 2:56 am
[…] wow, these seems great. i wish i could feel them, touch them .. You are creative human being […]
November 26th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Good tutorial, i didnt know to use manilla folders, i have been using cardboard for a while and it sucks to cut into. Anyways if you want to do a large stencil and get a quick gettaway just drive (or in some poeples cases) have someone else drive for you. Its easy and it works well (also they can help you spray the stencil!)
December 28th, 2007 at 12:29 am
i have no experience with huge stencils. what material would you suggest i use to cut the stencil. i have a 5 layer design,and i want the whole thing to be about 7 feet tall?
im thinking of using painters plastic .good idea,bad idea?
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
i use acetate to make stencils. Always. I love stencils as u can get about 40-50 pictures up with one 400ml can of paint…
good site for beginers.
BTW- jdog666 and any other peeps who want to know- to make a photo into a cutable stencil u have to put it into a photoshop and: make it black and white>up the contrast>and up the brightness until it looks like a stencil. Then there will always be bits where u have to add bridges and stuff so it will hold together. Then print it and cut it!
Peace…
January 9th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
I like drawing my own stencils with the pen tool in photoshop. It’s a bit of a pain, but it allows me to do highly detailed stencils that can be resized easily and print out the layers seperately. Pretty nice.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Just leving an additional comment to what JWB said….you don’t have to create a stencil in photoshop.
You can just make one yourself free hand, even faces with just a photo. Just make sure you don’t cut out one huge hole and leave subtle yet effective bridge connecters.
March 14th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
ive just started doing sum stenciling myself, i use manila folders cuz my moms works in an office so shes got an endless supply, but the cereal box idea sounds good, i was just wondering whether those white surgical type masks would work just as good when using spray paint.
March 30th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Hey found the site looking for some stencil designs.The vast majority of you seem intelligent.
I’ve been doing some home stenciling for screenprinting for a couple months now, and I had found a site (http://www.melissaclifton.com/tutorial-stencila.html) for making awesome stencils in photoshop. the only drawback of doing this in photoshop is that the biggest design you can make is as big as your printer can allow for.
March 30th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Hey found the site looking for some stencil designs.The vast majority of you seem intelligent.
I’ve been doing some home stenciling for screenprinting for a couple months now, and I had found a site http://www.melissaclifton.com/tutorial-stencila.html for making awesome stencils in photoshop. the only drawback of doing this in photoshop is that the biggest design you can make is as big as your printer can allow for.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:21 am
How can it be that in a creative field the people which want to do it don’t have the creativity to find out for themselves how to do it. It’s not too hard to figure out which materials to use if you try at home a little bit. No offense, I like the website but I think there are things (like spraying stencils) which you shouldn’t learn from a book or a webpage but just start with it and learn on your own.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
http://www.wowgold1000.com
http://www.wowgold800.com