Graffiti artists
took stencil tags from the streets into art galleries.
Big-name graffiti artists such as Banksy have popularized stencil tagging. It is a quick way to make a high-quality image using spray paint. With any photograph of a face and the help of a photo-editing software computer program, you may make a face stencil that you can use to "tag."
Instructions
Create a Stencil
1. Choose a photo with shadows and details for good contrast.
Open a photograph of a face in a photo-editing software computer program. The best photos for stencils already have good shadows and detail on the subject's face.
2. Crop the photo image using the photo-editing software's "magic wand" or other selection tools. Remove all background and other parts of the photo that will not be part of the stencil.
3. Emphasize the image's shadows by using the software's "posterize" or similar setting. Doing so creates a saturated outline.
4. Increase the image's contrast to full by using the photo-editing software. The result is a two-tone image.
5. Clean the image to make a simple silhouette. Use the software's "magic wand" or similar selection tool to remove random flecks of color. Make all the "shadow" portions of the picture connect to each other.
Print and Use the Stencil
6. Most computer printers can handle medium-weight paper.
Print the image on card stock, glossy photograph paper or other thick, durable paper.
7. Use a small knife to turn your picture into a stencil.
Cut out all of the black or shadow portions of the image using a pen knife. Consider using a craft cutting board under the paper as you cut the image to make your cuts more precise and to reduce damage to the cutting surface.
8. Like other graffiti artists, stencil taggers use spray paint.
Attach your completed stencil to the tag surface by using tape or by holding the stencil against the surface with your hand. Spray the stencil with spray paint, or use chalk to apply the stencil image to the surface.
