Picture to Pattern

Stencil maker: turn any photo into a stencil

Upload a photo and get a stencil you can cut: one or up to three layers, smooth outlines, specks removed and bridges added so no piece falls out. Print it at real size on one or several pages, or download an SVG for your cutting machine. Free, and your photo never leaves your device.

  • 100% free, no watermark
  • No sign-up
  • Your photos never leave your device
  • PDF, SVG and PNG
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Layers

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Your picture never leaves your device. The stencil is made right here in your browser, so nothing is uploaded or stored.

How to make a stencil from a photo

  1. Pick a picture with a clear subject: a face lit from one side, a pet, a silhouette, a logo you own. Busy backgrounds turn into noise, so crop close or use a photo with a plain background.
  2. Set the tones. One layer gives the classic black-and-white stencil. Two or three layers give shading, painted one over the other from light to dark.
  3. Adjust the darkness until the important features (eyes, mouth, outline) are clear, then raise Clean up specks to remove the bits that are too small to cut.
  4. Keep bridges on. They are thin strips that hold the middle of an "O" or the white of an eye to the rest of the stencil. Without them, those pieces fall out when you cut.
  5. Choose the size and print at 100% (Actual size). A stencil wider than the paper is split over several pages with an overlap and an assembly page.

One layer or several?

A one-layer stencil is quick to cut and paint, and works for silhouettes, text and high-contrast portraits. Multi-layer stencils add depth: layer 1 cuts every shaded area and is painted in the lightest color, layer 2 cuts the mid tones and darks, and layer 3 only the darkest shadows. The registration marks in the corners line the layers up on the wall or canvas.

What to cut the stencil from

  • Card stock or a manila folder for one or two uses. Print straight onto card stock and cut with a craft knife on a cutting mat.
  • Freezer paper for fabric: iron it shiny side down onto a T-shirt, paint, and peel it off.
  • Mylar or acetate sheets for stencils you will use again and again. Tape the printout under the sheet and cut through the plastic.
  • Cutting machines such as Cricut or Silhouette: download the SVG and import it; the black shapes are the parts to cut out.

Painting tips

  • Hold the stencil flat with low-tack tape or repositionable spray adhesive, so paint cannot creep under the edges.
  • Use very little paint: dab with a stencil brush or a sponge pouncer, or spray in light coats from a distance.
  • Let each layer dry before the next one, and lift the stencil straight up.

Questions

Is it free?

Yes. No sign-up, no watermark and no limit on downloads.

Is my photo uploaded?

No. The stencil is made by your own browser, so the photo stays on your device.

What are bridges?

Thin strips of stencil material that hold loose parts in place, like the middle of a letter O or the white of an eye. The maker adds them automatically where a piece would otherwise fall out; turn them off for designs you paint freehand or cut as separate pieces.

How big can the stencil be?

As big as you like. Large stencils are split over several Letter or A4 pages with a 0.3 in overlap, and the first page shows how they fit together.

Can I use it with a Cricut?

Yes. Download the SVG and upload it to Design Space as a cut image. Cricut is a trademark of Cricut, Inc.; Picture to Pattern is not affiliated with it.

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