Stencil maker

A custom stencil

A stencil is a thin plate with a design cut out: you lay it on a surface, paint over it and the design is left behind. It's great for labeling boxes, T-shirts, walls, planters, signs or your business logo.

Here you make one with your text or logo, and the tool handles the tricky part: the bridges.

What bridges are for

When you cut out letters like O, A or B, their middle is left loose and would fall out. That's why stencils have bridges: thin strips that join those "islands" to the rest of the plate. The tool finds them on its own and adds a bridge going up.

If you want them less visible, make the bridges thinner under "More settings"; if the plate is big or you'll use it a lot, make them thicker.

Painting cleanly

• Paint in light coats: spray from 20 to 30 cm, an almost-dry brush, or a sponge with very little paint.
• Hold the plate down with painter's tape so it doesn't move.
• Letters taller than 2 cm are easier to paint: very small detail fills with paint.

Printing tips

• Print it flat, as it comes in the file, without supports.
• 1 mm thick is flexible and conforms to curved surfaces; 2 mm is stiffer.
• PETG resists some paint solvents better; PLA works well with acrylic paint.
• Wash it with soap and water after use so it lasts longer.

Frequently asked questions