stenciling

Stenciling is a technique for applying pigment to a surface through a template that has cut-out shapes. The stencil acts as a mask, transferring only the design areas onto the substrate when paint or ink is applied.

Historically, stencil-like methods have been used in pottery, textiles, and wall decoration in various cultures. Modern stenciling expanded with the availability of acetate and Mylar templates and spray or airbrush methods, enabling repeatable designs and multiple colors.

Materials commonly include stencil sheets (Mylar, acetate, or stencil film), cutting tools (knife or laser), paint or ink (acrylic, spray paints), adhesive spray or painter’s tape, and a suitable substrate such as walls, wood, fabric, or paper. Techniques involve cutting a design from the stencil, securing it to the surface, applying color with spray, brush, or roller, and lifting the stencil to reveal the image. Multi-layer stenciling uses aligned, successive stencils to build color and shading.

The process emphasizes precision in cutting, careful alignment (registration) for layered designs, and protection of surrounding areas to prevent bleed. Stenciling can be used for decorative finishes, signage, crafts, and street art. Some artists create reusable stencils by cleaning and storing them flat; others build custom stencils by burning, etching, or digital fabrication.

Safety and ethics considerations include ventilation when using spray products and respecting copyright when reproducing protected imagery. Stenciling remains a versatile method for reproducible, scalable imagery across art, design, and applied crafts.