How to Make a Stencil in Photoshop

Method 1: Line stencil (Color Dodge + Gaussian Blur)

1. Desaturate

   Open the photo and choose Image → Adjustments → Desaturate (Shift+Ctrl+U, or Shift+Cmd+U on a Mac).

2. Duplicate and invert

   Choose Layer → Duplicate Layer, then invert the copy with Image → Adjustments → Invert (Ctrl+I or Cmd+I).

3. Set the blend mode

   In the Layers panel, set the copy’s blend mode to Color Dodge. The image turns almost completely white; that’s expected.

4. Blur the copy

   Choose Filter → Blur → Gaussian Blur. A radius of about 2 to 6 px suits a 2000 px photo: more blur means more shading.

5. Darken the lines

   Add Layer → New Adjustment Layer → Levels on top and drag the black input slider to the right until the lines are dark enough to trace.

6. Export

   Choose File → Export → Export As, pick PNG and print it.

Method 2: Cut-out stencil (Threshold)

1. Simplify first

   Apply Filter → Blur → Gaussian Blur at 1 to 3 px, or Filter → Noise → Median, so the shapes come out smooth instead of speckled.

2. Apply Threshold

   Choose Image → Adjustments → Threshold and drag the slider until the subject reads clearly in pure black and white.

3. Clean up and add bridges

   Paint out stray specks with the Brush tool, and draw thin white bridges across black areas that surround white islands so they don’t fall out when cut.

4. Export and cut

   Export as PNG, print it and cut out the black areas.

Why these methods work

Color Dodge with an inverted, blurred copy divides every pixel by the average of its neighbourhood. Flat areas turn white and edges stay dark, which is exactly what a line stencil needs. Threshold instead sends every pixel to pure black or pure white at one cutoff, which gives the solid shapes a cut stencil needs.

On an iPad, the same line method works with a Divide blend mode: see the Procreate stencil method.

Fixing common problems

• Lines too faint: pull the Levels black slider further right, or duplicate the merged result and set the copy to Multiply.
• Too noisy: use a smaller blur radius, or run Filter → Noise → Reduce Noise on the photo first.
• Patchy Threshold result: blur slightly before applying Threshold.
• Busy background: use Select → Subject, invert the selection and fill the background with white.

The one-slider shortcut

The tool at the top of this page runs both methods in your browser: Lines is Method 1, Solid is Method 2 with automatic speck cleanup and a warning for floating pieces. Detail is the blur, Darkness is the Levels step. Download the PNG and keep editing it in Photoshop if you like.