Unit 1 · Project 4Final Project
Printable 1:1 Craft Stencil
Convert your identity icon into a print-ready stencil at actual size.
A stencil is a design tool that bridges digital and physical making. You'll take your identity icon from Project 2 and prepare it as a printable stencil — a black-and-white design where the black areas will be cut out and the white areas remain. The stencil must be designed at 1:1 scale (actual size) so it can be printed and used directly. You'll need to think about 'bridges' — the thin connections that keep the stencil from falling apart when cut. This project introduces you to the relationship between digital design and physical printmaking.
Objectives
- 1Convert your identity icon to a clean black-and-white stencil design
- 2Add bridges where needed to keep the stencil structurally sound
- 3Set up the document at 1:1 actual print size
- 4Export as a print-ready PDF
Materials
- Adobe Illustrator or Canva
- Your identity icon from Project 2
- Printer access for test print
Tips
- Every enclosed shape needs at least one bridge — otherwise it falls out when cut
- Keep bridges thin (2–4mm) so they're barely visible in the final stencil
- Print a test copy on regular paper and hold it up to the light to check for gaps
- Think about negative space — what's cut away is as important as what remains
Downloads
Unit 1 Workbook — coming soon