"How Do You Get Effect Of Stencils Signs On Concrete?" Topic

This is the look I mean … a few large stencil signs (though mostly numerical) like these seen painted on the concrete in the background:

Thanks,

Dan
TMP link

Not a stupid answer – have you considered actually using a stencil? Cut out the image from masking tape and spray over, just make sure the rest of the background is also masked off. I've done this with road markings and it works well.

How do you keep the paint from "sneaking" under the interior outline of the stencil, specially if the surface has texture? Do you pin it down?

Dan

Make the stencil from painter's tape.

I us stencils cut from painters tape. For rough surfaces I will use a toothbrush as a burnishing tool.

Airbrush or spray paint is also less likely to bleed White numbers can be easily applied with a cheap rattle can.

You can also get a good effect by applying the paint with a sponge. Dip it in your paint, blot off any excess on a kitchen towel and then dab at the stencil. You can vary the coverage to give aged or faded looks if you leave some of the background showing through. Not as clumsy or random as a rattlecan. A more elegant painting method for a more civilised result.

G,

Cremmins makes a variety of stencil paints for individual numbers and letters, but if you want words, they haven't developed them yet.

An actual stencil MIGHT work, assuming you can find the size to match your mini's, etc.

The best way is to create the graphic via the software program of your choice. I do this all the time where desired in my "Mean Streets/Sets" ranges of card stock models. It's possible not merely to use a "stencil" font, but to color it, fade and weather it, too, besides adjust to any size.

This IS the computer age, Gentlemen!

TVAG

Art supply has stencil brushes that lets you keep control how much paint is put down
Similar to toothbrush but better
Clif

There was a company known as Lettraset that provided sheets of alpha/numerics in various sizes and fonts. They were rub-ons used by graphic artists but fell prey to the computer age. They would have been perfect.

A few years ago, I got a few sheets of 'stick-on' Letters at an art supply shop. You peel them off of the sheets and apply them to what ever you need to. I used them on a painting canvas so texture shouldn't be a problem.

As to stencils, if you have an airbrush, you should have no problem with paint bleeding through provided you mask any overspray.

Thanks for the above posters for their ideas, duly stolen.

You can find some of the rub on letters at Hobby Lobby near where they have the stickers and such for scrapbooking

The above, plus, spray paint directly from above, and lightly.

Don't over-saturate the stencil.

I've made decals with the rub on lettering. You can get sheets of clear decal film for large applications, but I used scraps from blank portions of model decal sets to put my son's name in a small font size above the "windows" of his Cub Scout Pinewood Derby racer. I sealed the letters with Microscale's Liquid Decal Film before applying just like any commercial decal.

Another use I've read about (but not tried) is to paint the area of the stencil first in the desired final color with no worries about minor overspray. Let dry. Apply the rub on lettering. Paint the concrete or whatever color over the whole surface. Then after all appropriate drying, use tape of just enough stickiness to peel off the letters. The rub ons have acted as the mask. (A little practice with how thin the paint should go on and what types of paint will let go of the lettering would be a good idea.)

This also allows for getting a faded effect in the lettering instead of a solid shiny new look.

I'll leave it to the imagination as to how and when the characters might be modified to look like a stencil ('A's and 'O's and such with enclosed spaces that need to stay barely connected to a real life stencil.

Fallout Hobbies have sticky stencils:
fallouthobbies.com/stencils
(It takes some time to load the thumbnails).
If they're not the right size, enquire about their custom stencil service.

Clear decal paper. print out your designs, use Decal solvent which makes it conform to any surface, rough or not.

2 bucks a sheet at Spotlight Hobbies

Aww, man! I was going to suggest Fallout Hobbies!

I haven't tried them yet, but I just got three packs of their stencils.