What makes a font a stencil font?
In a normal font, letters such as A, B, D, O, P, Q, R and the numbers 0, 4, 6, 8 and 9 have closed middles. If you cut them out of card, the middles fall away. A stencil font breaks every closed shape with small gaps, called bridges, so each letter can be cut in one piece and the stencil holds together.
How to use these fonts
- Print a stencil: open the letter stencil maker, pick the font and the letter height, and print. Big letters are split over several pages.
- On your computer: download the font from Google Fonts and install it, then use it in any program, from a word processor to Cricut Design Space.
- Commercial use: the SIL Open Font License lets you use the fonts in products you sell, such as signs and T-shirts. You may not sell the font files themselves.
Which one should I choose?
- Signs and labels: Allerta Stencil or Big Shoulders Stencil read clearly at any size.
- House numbers and outdoor signs: Saira Stencil One and Black Ops One have thick strokes that read from far away.
- Vintage and farmhouse decor: Stardos Stencil (classic serif) or Emblema One (retro italic).