Stencil making art software?

Bruce Bump

Bruce Bump

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
9,910
I would like to make my own stencils but I dont know what software a dummy can use to make the original. Anybody with experience with this? Remember key word "dummy"
 
Bruce,

If your running a windows machine, you should MS Paint on there. It's pretty simple , but limited.
 
Hi Bruce
I'm using Printmaster 16.
Any program that you can make posters or cards with should work.
Make it black.Print on transparencies, Print with the black cartridge only at the best setting. Heres one I did for My Wife's family reunion.
2884.jpg

Take Care
TJ
 
Bruce, if you'd like, i can bring my laptop with me the next time i'm in walla walla and work something up for you. I'm a pro and it wouldn't cost you anything. I have to come down to have my wife's rig worked on at the old man's shop in the next couple of weeks. be my way of paying back your kindness. if you're stuck on doing it yourself, i can assist you if you like.

Heath
509-385-1437
 
Hi Bruce,
I just used MS Word when I made mine.Any program you can print from will work. But some fonts are more successful than others. Some just make stencils that are too fragile. because of insufficient support around the letters. Make sure to get the correct kind of transparencies for your printer. The first ones I tried were an exercise in frustration. Then I found out they were the wrong ones, got some for an inkjet from Staples (they have small packages available) and then had good success.

Good luck
Alden
 
Bruce are you looking to just doing the art work for a stencil maker
or looking to make the stencils also?
 
724wd said:
Bruce, if you'd like, i can bring my laptop with me the next time i'm in walla walla and work something up for you. I'm a pro and it wouldn't cost you anything. I have to come down to have my wife's rig worked on at the old man's shop in the next couple of weeks. be my way of paying back your kindness. if you're stuck on doing it yourself, i can assist you if you like.

Heath
509-385-1437
Click to expand...

Hi Heath, I may need your help if I dont have it figured out by that time. Call me when youre in town, thanks man, Bruce
 
Alden Sherrodd said:
Hi Bruce,
I just used MS Word when I made mine.Any program you can print from will work. But some fonts are more successful than others. Some just make stencils that are too fragile. because of insufficient support around the letters. Make sure to get the correct kind of transparencies for your printer. The first ones I tried were an exercise in frustration. Then I found out they were the wrong ones, got some for an inkjet from Staples (they have small packages available) and then had good success.

Good luck
Alden
Click to expand...

Hi Alden, thanks for posting. Im honored to get your first one.:D
I cant seem to hit on the right size font to and seem to be not developing them long enough. Some of the letters dont come clean and therefore Im only getting some of them to transfer. I want an oval around it also but it is so thin its doesnt show at all. I have more transparencies to screw up before I head downtown for more. I feel like a mad scientist and an idiot at the same time.:mad:

BTW. It was great meeting you at the hammer-in
 
Dan Gray said:
Bruce are you looking to just doing the art work for a stencil maker
or looking to make the stencils also?
Click to expand...

Dan Im want to do my own art work and make my own stencils too. I have the kit but lack the skill so far.

It will be nice to make "one off" stencils for personalizing my customers knives.

I gave a hunting knife to Pastor Bob, He came home from an elk hunt and discovered his back pack with the knife inside had blown out on the hiway somewhere. That night a man called and asked if he lost a back pack. The only clue was his name was on the knife. Bob was a very happy preacherman.
 
Bruce I am using Corel Draw to do the art work on the stencils I make. Using it makes controlling the size of the actual stencil lettering easy. I generally call out the length I want (and that is usually 3/4" long) and it prints out the font lettering exactly 3/4" long onto the transparency. Another thing I do Bruce is when I lay the transparency w/ the printed art work on the light box, then the film on top of that I have a little piece of 1/4" plywood that has a piece of black felt tack glued to it on top of the film. The piece w/ the black cloth on it helps to prevent any light leakage and helps keep the stencil lettering nice and crisp. When developing the stencils and you are washing them I also like to take the air hose w/ a blow gun on it and blow any remaining undeveloped film away. Again it helps, especially w/ any small lettering or lines that are hard to clean out.
 
Gentlemen,
Are there any tutorials on this process? Also, what is the equipment that is used. This is all completely new to me. I only know that my makers mark is the worst part of my blades.

Ickie
 
Plain ol Bill said:
Bruce I am using Corel Draw to do the art work on the stencils I make. Using it makes controlling the size of the actual stencil lettering easy. I generally call out the length I want (and that is usually 3/4" long) and it prints out the font lettering exactly 3/4" long onto the transparency. Another thing I do Bruce is when I lay the transparency w/ the printed art work on the light box, then the film on top of that I have a little piece of 1/4" plywood that has a piece of black felt tack glued to it on top of the film. The piece w/ the black cloth on it helps to prevent any light leakage and helps keep the stencil lettering nice and crisp. When developing the stencils and you are washing them I also like to take the air hose w/ a blow gun on it and blow any remaining undeveloped film away. Again it helps, especially w/ any small lettering or lines that are hard to clean out.
Click to expand...

how much is the Corel Draw program?
I am having trouble with some of the letters not cleaning out therefore they wont allow electrolyte through and wont mark. I'll try the air blower trick.

I am a good enough artist to do my own hand drawing for some things but I need to put lettering inside. Hopefully I can cut and paste the two and reduce it to final size.

My kit has sponges for scrubbing the stencils but the directions do not say if it should be wet or dry?
 
scottickes said:
Gentlemen,
Are there any tutorials on this process? Also, what is the equipment that is used.
Ickie
Click to expand...

I looked for that last night,,
I had Bob Warner's links here http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html
he had some tuts on that and a few other things but I see the links are dead now so I removed them, he's selling CD's now, so I assume he's selling the info now :(

Bruce, the Pastor had someone looking out for him
but I think it was mostly the Mark,, :)
 
Bruce do a search on ebay for corel draw. It is not an expensive program and you do not need the latest and greatest version of it. I use it for all my graphics needs.
I think the air nozzle will help you. Especially with any delicate lettering or lines. I tore my hair out over these till one day I tried the air trick and haven't had a problem since. Go ahead and wash out all you can and then take the air to it. Hold the stencil up to a bright light before you blow it and then afterward and I think you will see a much cleaner stencil.;)
 
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