In general, it is best to stencil on a smooth and even surface. Stenciling on a rough surface is difficult and might not produce the best results. If the surface you are stenciling on is rough, there are a few things you can do to make your  stenciling project easier and more effective. Here are our expert stenciling tips for how to stencil on a rough surface. The number one problem with stenciling on a rough surface is paint bleed. Paint bleed is when paint slips beneath the stencil template and blurs the stenciled design. You can prevent paint bleed...

Preparing surfaces to be stenciled depends on what you are stenciling. General Rule: Clean all surfaces before you stencil. (Wipe all dust off with a damp cloth before applying the stencil). For Rough Wood: sand wood and then clean it with a damp cloth. Wash and Dry Fabrics.

Always clean your stencils (and brushes) immediately after use.  If you are stenciling a long project (such as a wall), periodically wipe paint off the stencil with a damp cloth or sponge to prevent the paint drying on the stencil. (Be gentle and don’t bend the cut-out design). When you have finished stenciling, give your stencil a final clean. Cleaning a stencil will depend on what type of paint you have used: oil-based or water-based paint. If you don't know what type of paint you are using, the paint can, or bottle will likely say if it is oil or water based....

We use state-of-the-art C&C lasers to cut the majority of our stencils. Lasers cut a microscopic slice out of stencil material to provide the most accurate cutting possible. We prefer using lasers because they can cut a broader range of stencil materials than any other process and consistently produce the highest quality stencils.  Occasionally we do use other Technologies, such as CNC routers and knife cutting, for stencil designs that are better suited by these processes. No matter the process, we always maintain the high quality of our stencils.

Stencil material is typically measured in mil, which is 1/1000th of an inch. Our popular 10 mil coated mylar is 1/100th of an inch. Our thicker stencil material, LLDPE, is offered in a standard version at 60 mil which is the same as 1/16 of an inch thick. Our contractor grade heavy-duty LLDPE is 125 mil or 1/8th of an inch.  We use different grades of plastic in different thicknesses for different applications and a variety of prices. Please see our material selection guide to understand which material will be best for your use.

Aside from a few popular items, most of our stencils are cut to order. We have literally thousands of designs, and it would be impossible to keep inventory of all those pieces. Instead we maintain a high level of production capacity everyday so that most orders can be cut and shipped within 24 hours. Over 95% of our orders are shipped within 3 days of their order. We adjust our machines and work schedules to ensure that we can keep up with our customer demand. If you have a particular timing need we are always willing to try an meet your...

Using Adhesive backed stencils is tricky The factory applied adhesive is stickier than our repositionable spray and so you want to be careful with your placement to get it right the first time. This is especially true with vinyl as it can easily stretch and damage the stencil. Keep surface to be stenciled clean, wipe it with a slightly damp cloth to remove all dust. All fabric should be washed and dried (free of lint) prior to stenciling. Temporarily mark the spot where the stencil will be applied with a pencil or tape.  Remove the backing form the stencil, Carefully...