Accuracy With Stencil Cutter

Stencil is a material (paper, cardboard, emulsion, film, etc.) from which certain areas have been removed or cut. When the stencil is laid on a surface, color applied to it passes through the holes and prints on the surface below. To the inexperienced, the cutting and designing of stencils would appear to be two separate and distinct processes. However, the stencil expert realizes that all real stencil designs fall into place out of the process of cutting. The secret of stencil designing art lies in the proper arrangement of the cut-out patterns or ties, and there is no other way of learning how to arrange the patterns except by cutting. A stencil cutter performs this task perfectly.

A stencil cutter that revolves freely makes it easier to cut a curved line on a stencil. The cutter's short shaft provides good tip control and cutting precision, making it ideal for cutting intricate as well as larger patterns. Since the cutter is concerned with outlines only, the lettering and other art elements on the sketch need not be filled in. The degree of finish or precision of rendering for this type of art is a matter of harmony between the artist and stencil cutter.

Artists or designers who have done a lot of cutting can design with a lead pencil, charcoal, or a brush. It is the common experience of stencil designers that they get the optimal results by drawing the design with charcoal or lead pencil, and devising the finer details with the stencil cutter in the process of cutting. The cutting soon shows the weakness in their design, thus allowing them to gradually improve the overall design.

There is a wide-range of stencils available at art supply stores and hardware shops. You can also create your own stencil from the numerous motifs available in various books or the Internet. All you need is a stencil cutter (either electric or butane), Mylar sheets, a piece of heavy glass, masking tape and the pattern. Make sure that the cutter is plugged in about ten to fifteen minutes before use, so it will be hot enough to cut easily. The cutter is specially designed for cutting stencil patterns faster and easier, from Mylar, plastic, and materials up to seven millimeters thick.