Butterfly stencil: wing spots are islands, shown as holes in the stencil.
Download example SVG (15 kB)Download example DXF (157 kB)
Source image: Openclipart, GDJ, CC0 1.0.
Make a stencil from an image
Upload an image, get a one-color cut file where the dark parts are the openings, and cut it in vinyl, Mylar or card.
Drop your image here
or
JPG, PNG, WEBP, GIF, BMP or HEIC, up to 10 MB
Real examples, made with this converter
Each pair is an actual conversion of a public domain image, with the settings listed under it. You can download the exact files.
Palm tree silhouette in one color.
Download example SVG (83 kB)Download example DXF (469 kB)
Source image: Openclipart, GDJ, CC0 1.0.
Standing dog silhouette.
Download example SVG (4 kB)Download example DXF (67 kB)
Source image: Openclipart, GangandInfographie, CC0 1.0.
Free sample files, not watermarked.
Recommended settings
A stencil is black and white. The settings are fixed on purpose.
- Profile
- Cricut / Silhouette (for a laser, use the laser profile).
- Colors
- 1. Black becomes the cut-out, white stays.
- Width
- The size of the stencil on the surface, up to 1500 mm.
- Detail
- Low or medium. Thin slivers make a stencil weak.
Black is the opening
The dark parts of the image become the cut shapes, which are the openings where paint goes through. If you want the opposite, invert the image in any photo editor before you upload.
Bridges and islands
A stencil of the letter O has a problem: the middle disc has nothing holding it. The same happens with an eye in an animal silhouette. These are called islands and they fall out.
The converter does not add bridges. It gives you the exact shapes, and you add the bridges in your software.
- Draw a thin rectangle across the ring with the shape tools, then use Subtract or Weld.
- Choose a stencil-style font or silhouette that already has bridges.
- Keep the bridge about 1.5 to 3 mm wide, so it holds and the paint still reads as one shape.
Choosing an image that works
Solid shapes with a clear outline are best: animals, plants, tools, letters. A photo of a face can work if you first turn it into a high-contrast black and white image, but the preview is the only way to know.
Cut the stencil
Cricut Design Space SVG
- Upload > Upload Image and choose the SVG.
- Cut it in stencil vinyl or sticky Mylar, and weed the openings.
Silhouette Studio DXF or SVG
- Open the DXF (Basic) or SVG (Designer and up).
- Add bridges, then send.
LightBurn DXF
- Convert with the laser profile instead, set the layer to Line and cut Mylar or thin card.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring the islands. The middle of an O or a B will fall out. Add a bridge.
- Using a gray image. The color reduction forces everything to black or white. A mid-gray image may lose parts. Raise the contrast first.
- Making the stencil too small. Details smaller than a few millimeters will bleed paint. Increase the width or lower the detail.
Questions
Can I make a stencil of a photo?
Only if it has strong contrast. A silhouette or a high-contrast black and white image is much better.
Why are the bridges not added automatically?
Where a bridge looks good is a design decision. We give you the exact shapes.
Can I use it with spray paint?
Yes. Use a thin film and press the edges to avoid bleed.