Photo to stencil
AI Photo to Stencil Converter vs a Threshold Filter
What a threshold filter really does to a photo, why it breaks on soft light and hair, what an AI photo to stencil converter does instead, and when each wins.
· 7 min read
Stencil guides
Tested, practical guides on making and using stencils: tattoo transfer, photo-to-line-art conversion, materials, bridges and islands, and craft projects. Written by the developer of Stencil AI from real output and real transfer paper, with no filler.
Stencil basics
Best Stencil Material: Mylar, Acetate, Vinyl and More Compared
Which stencil material should you use? Mylar, acetate, cardstock, freezer paper, vinyl and contact paper compared on durability, cost, cutting and reuse.
· 8 min read
Tools and apps
Best Stencil Maker Apps for iPhone: 7 Methods Compared
An honest stencil maker app comparison for iPhone owners: AI apps, Photoshop, Procreate, GIMP, Inkscape, online converters and cutting-machine software.
· 9 min read
Stencil basics
Bridges and Islands in Stencil Design: How to Fix Them
Islands fall out, bridges hold them in. Learn how stencil bridges and islands work, fix the letters O, A, B, D, P, Q and R, and make line art safe to cut.
· 9 min read
Tattoo stencils
12 Common Tattoo Stencil Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Tattoo stencil mistakes that cost a redo: unmirrored lettering, wrong size, wet solution, oily skin, broken lines and more, plus a pre-transfer checklist.
· 9 min read
Crafts and DIY
Cookie and Cake Stencils at Home: A Food-Safe Guide
Make a cake stencil or cookie stencil at home: food-safe acetate, parchment or cardstock, bold designs that dust cleanly, and a lift-off that never smudges.
· 9 min read
Crafts and DIY
How to Make a Cricut Stencil from a Photo (Step by Step)
Turn a photo into a Cricut stencil: clean black-on-white line art, a trace in Design Space, bridges or stencil vinyl for islands, then cut, weed and paint.
· 9 min read
Tattoo stencils
Do You Need a Tattoo Stencil Printer? Options Compared
Thermal stencil printers, home inkjets with hectograph tracing and plain-paper tracing compared, with a phone-to-printer workflow and when a printer pays off.
· 8 min read
Tattoo stencils
How to Make a Tattoo Stencil from a Photo (Step by Step)
Learn how to make a tattoo stencil from a photo: pick the right image, convert it to line art, clean and mirror the lines, size and print it on stencil paper.
· 9 min read
Tools and apps
How to Print a Stencil at Home at the Exact Size
Print a stencil at home from your iPhone: AirPrint, paper for tracing, cutting and tattoo transfer, exact size, line darkness, tiling, laser vs inkjet.
· 8 min read
Tattoo stencils
How to Transfer a Tattoo Stencil to Skin (Without Smudging)
Learn how to transfer a tattoo stencil to skin: shave and clean the area, apply stencil solution, place and press the paper, peel, dry, and fix a bad transfer.
· 8 min read
Photo to stencil
How to Turn a Photo Into a Stencil: 4 Methods Compared
Four ways to turn a photo into a stencil compared on time, skill, cost and how they cope with soft photos: AI app, Photoshop threshold, GIMP and hand tracing.
· 9 min read