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Stencil Maker

Use this stencil maker to turn a photo into a black-and-white stencil with bridges and layers. Free, no sign-up, nothing leaves your browser.

Your image will appear here.

How to Use the Stencil Maker on a Photo

Four steps, all in your browser.

  1. 1

    Add your picture

    Pick a JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF or BMP file, or drag it in. It opens right away and is scaled to a working size of up to 1400 px on the long side.

  2. 2

    Set the threshold and layers

    Move the threshold slider until the shapes you want turn black and the rest turns white. Choose one, two or three layers if you want to paint in steps.

  3. Stencil maker preview of a strawberry drawing at one layer: the white seeds are loose islands until Add bridges is on
    3

    Add bridges and check

    Turn on Add bridges so loose white pieces, like the middle of an O, stay attached to the sheet. Use Compare original to see what the stencil keeps.

  4. 4

    Download your stencil

    Pick A4 or Letter, then download a PDF to print, a PNG of the current view, or an SVG trace for vector software.

Tips for Getting the Most From a Stencil Maker

  • Start with a high-contrast picture where the subject stands apart from the background.
  • Crop out clutter before you upload, because a busy background turns into busy black shapes.
  • Slide the threshold up or down until faces, letters or outlines are still readable in black and white.
  • Raise the Edges setting to soften jagged lines and drop tiny specks and pinholes.
  • Turn on Add bridges for any shape with an enclosed white area, such as letters with holes.
  • Turn on Invert if the black and white areas come out the wrong way round for your project.
  • Choose A4 or Letter to match your paper before you download the PDF.

What You Can Make With a Photo Stencil Maker

Anything where you cut a shape out and paint through it.

Spray-paint signs and walls

Turn a portrait or a logo into a bold black-and-white shape you can cut out and spray through.

Fabric and tote bags

Print the PDF, cut the black areas and dab fabric paint through the opening onto a shirt or a bag.

Layered artwork

Split a picture into two or three layers and paint each one in its own color, one sheet at a time.

Classroom and craft cut-outs

Print a simple silhouette so a class can cut, trace or paint the same shape.

Wood and canvas painting

Trace or paint the design onto a board or canvas for a sign or a piece of wall art.

Vector files for other software

Download the SVG when you want to keep editing the shapes in vector software.

Why Use This Free Online Stencil Maker

  • Your photo stays on your device

    The picture is processed inside your browser and is never uploaded. This stencil maker does not use any AI.

  • Downloads need no account

    PDF, PNG and SVG are all free with no sign-up, and there is no daily limit. Some stencil makers ask for an account or a paid plan before vector files.

  • Bridges are built in

    White islands are joined to the outside with the shortest straight bridge, two for large islands. Islands too small to cut are removed.

  • Up to three layers

    With two or three layers, the PDF opens with a gray preview of all layers, then gives each layer its own black-and-white page.

  • Live preview

    The stencil redraws as you move the slider, so you can see the result before you print.

  • Clear limits

    It works by threshold only, the working size tops out at 1400 px, and layer pages have no registration marks.

Frequently asked questions

Upload the photo, move the threshold slider until the subject reads in black and white, turn on bridges if you need them, and download the PDF. The steps above cover each setting.

Yes, it is free and needs no account or card. PDF, PNG and SVG downloads are all included, and nothing counts against a daily limit.

No. The stencil maker works inside your browser, so the picture never leaves your device. Your visit may still be counted by the site's analytics, which is separate from your picture.

Bridges are thin strips that hold the loose white pieces of a stencil, like the middle of an O, to the rest of the sheet. Turn on Add bridges if your design has enclosed areas. They are straight and their position cannot be moved.

Download the PDF to print, since it fits A4 or Letter with a margin and adds one page per layer. The PNG saves the view you are looking at, and the SVG is a vector trace of it for editing.

JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF and BMP files up to 25 MB. HEIC photos open only in Safari, so on other browsers save the photo as a JPG first. A file that is not a picture shows an error.

The tool works in black and white, so soft shading and busy backgrounds collapse into large shapes. Crop closer, adjust the threshold, or start from a picture with stronger contrast. This stencil maker caps the working size at 1400 px, so very fine detail is lost.

Yes, choose two or three layers and paint them one sheet at a time. Layer pages have no registration marks, so line up the page edges and test the fit before you paint.

It only does a black-and-white threshold, with no tattoo mode. For an AI-drawn outline of a photo, try the tattoo stencil maker or the picture to coloring page tool.

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