Design your tattoo

Stencil

A tattoo stencil is the clean line version of a design that an artist traces onto skin. Tattoonic's Stencil tool takes a design you choose and returns it as black lines on white paper, in three levels of detail, ready to show your tattoo artist.

Drop a photo hereChoose a photo

Free · 3 designs a day · Every tool and style

The tattoo the stencil was made from
A clean black stencil made by Tattoonic from a tattoo
Made with AI

How it works

  1. Choose the design
  2. How much detail?
  3. See the result, then save it or keep going

Every choice, before you start

Pick here and Tattoonic opens with your choices made.

How much detail?

StencilTry it on my photo

Examples

BeforeMade with AIA shaded owl on a forearm turned into a stencil with the Detailed option, keeping its feather shading lines.Made with AI
A shaded owl on a forearm turned into a stencil with the Detailed option, keeping its feather shading lines.
BeforeMade with AIA traditional eagle with spread wings on a shin turned into a stencil with the Outline option, shapes only.Made with AI
A traditional eagle with spread wings on a shin turned into a stencil with the Outline option, shapes only.
BeforeMade with AIA fine line scorpion on a shoulder turned into a stencil with the Simple option, with its main inner lines.Made with AI
A fine line scorpion on a shoulder turned into a stencil with the Simple option, with its main inner lines.
BeforeMade with AIA colour sunflower on an upper arm turned into a stencil with the Simple option, as black lines on white paper.Made with AI
A colour sunflower on an upper arm turned into a stencil with the Simple option, as black lines on white paper.

What it is good for

Stencil is useful when you have a design you like but only as a colour picture, a screenshot or a photo of a tattoo you already have. Turn it into plain lines to bring to a studio, to compare a few versions, or to see which parts of a design matter most. Choose Outline for the shapes alone, Simple to add the main inner lines, or Detailed to include shading lines.

Tips for the design you give it

Use a sharp picture where the design fills most of the frame. Even light helps, so avoid shadows across the tattoo and glare on healed skin. Shoot straight on rather than from the side, and keep the whole design in view. If the design is small or very busy, try Simple first, then Detailed once you know the main shapes read well.

What it does not do

Stencil makes a picture, a reference to take to a tattoo artist. It does not apply a stencil to your skin, predict how a tattoo will heal or fade, or give medical advice. Your artist will still adjust the lines to your body and decide what can be tattooed well.

Questions and answers

More answers in Help
What is a tattoo stencil?

A stencil is the line drawing of a tattoo that an artist transfers onto skin before inking. It shows where each line goes, without colour or shading fills.

Can I make a stencil from a photo of my tattoo?

Yes. Choose a clear photo of the design and Stencil redraws it as clean lines on white paper. Pick Outline, Simple or Detailed depending on how much of the design you want to keep.

How many designs can I make for free?

Free accounts get 3 designs a day. Pro raises that to 50 a day.

Can I print the stencil?

Yes. Under the result you can Print the stencil at a real size, and also Mirror it or save a Transparent PNG. Your artist decides how it is sized and placed on your body.

Stencil: try it on your photo

Take the photo of the spot where you stand. Your designs follow you between phone and computer.

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