Preparing stencil plates

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PowerPoint
presentation
Unit 218: Producing specialist finishes for
decorative work
Preparing stencil plates

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
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Types
Stencil plates can be made from various materials:
Frisk film: Self-adhesive, transparent, plastic-like film
Acetate: Transparent film (used on overhead projectors)
Mylar: Translucent, thin plastic-like film
Cartridge paper: Thick paper coated in linseed oil; protected with shellac

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
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Almost any shape or design can be transferred on to a stencil plate using a
variety of methods, including:
Box method
A sheet of clear acetate, or similar, with a grid of lines with corresponding
numbers and/or letters is placed over the design.
The design or template is traced onto the acetate and the content of each of
the boxes on the grid is transferred to a larger grid: this can be cut out to form
the stencil plate or transferred onto a sheet of plain paper to create a template.
This method can be used to enlarge or reduce a design to make it a suitable
size.
The stencil design

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
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Projection methods
Illuminated projection 1
• A design method of producing large stencils.
• A design is copied onto tracing paper then placed on a overhead
projector and shone onto a larger sheet of acetate or similar.
Illuminated projection 2
• A design is shone onto a wall with frisk film stuck to it.
• The projected design on the walls is then drawn around and/or cut out of
the frisk film.
• These sections are peeled away and colour is applied.
• When this is complete the remainder of the film is peeled away

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Other methods
Transfer
A sheet of cartridge paper or acetate is placed over the design and the
shape on the template is traced.
Direct printing
Designs can be printed directly from the computer onto the cartridge
paper or the special acetate sheet.

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Producing the stencil plate
Common cutting tools
• Craft knife
• Scalpel
• Hot knife

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Traditional stencil production methods
• Print off and draw the design onto cartridge paper.
• Coat it with boiled linseed oil that has been thinned with white spirit.
• Cut out the design.
• Coat the paper with shellac to protect it.
Tip: It is important to coat the whole of the paper otherwise the paper may
warp as it dries and not sit flush to a surface. The stencil will also be weaker
in places and will not last very long.

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Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
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Positive and negative stencils
Depending on the actual design you may have to cut out a positive and
negative stencil.
•Think of the letter O. After cutting around the outline of the letter you will find
you have removed the parts in the centre as well as the rest of the letter.
•You will have to construct another stencil and cut out a smaller circle for the
hole in the middle and stencil this onto the rest.