Studio · Narrated tutorial
How to Make a Stencil from a Photo: Full Video Guide
Follow a portrait from photo to print in the studio. Choose your layers, bridge the loose pieces, set the size and format, then download and print your stencil.
3:58 · English captions available
Follow these steps
- Open the studio and choose Upload an image file, or pick the Portrait sample to follow this example. Sign in when you want to save or download.
- The studio splits the photo into three layers: a base coat and two detail layers. Move a Threshold slider in the Layers panel to balance detail against easy cutting.
- Switch to Cut sheet. A red warning marks a layer with loose pieces, highlighted in pink.
- Choose Clean up on a layer with a warning, then compare Bridge, New layer and Fill on the canvas. Choose Apply to save the fix. Repeat for every layer with a warning.
- Open Draw and choose Bridge to drag your own connection across an opening. Select a bridge to adjust its ends or width, and use Undo if needed.
- Choose Download. Under Paper and size, choose your Paper size and set the Artwork width. Page layout shows how a large stencil tiles across sheets.
- Open File format: PDF for printing, PNG for an image, Cricut or SVG for a cutting machine, DXF for laser and CNC. Keep Alignment marks on. Pro includes tiled and vector exports.
- Choose Download PDF and open the file. In the print dialog, choose the matching paper size, Actual size or 100 percent, and single-sided printing. Keep the bridges intact when cutting.