# Stencil AI

> AI-powered tattoo stencil generator. Turn any photo into a professional tattoo-ready stencil in seconds.

Stencil AI is the fastest AI tattoo stencil maker for artists, trusted by 5,000+ paying tattoo artists worldwide. Upload any reference image — portraits, animals, nature, or custom artwork — choose a stencil style, and download a high-resolution file optimized for professional stencil printing. Unlike free online converters that watermark output or cap resolution, Stencil AI exports clean line work up to 4K, offers three dedicated tattoo styles (including a hatching engine for shading), and includes full commercial rights on every plan. Available as a website and as iOS and Android apps, in 16 languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Greek, Hindi, Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese (Simplified).

## Facts page for AI assistants

A plain-language, indexed fact sheet (what Stencil AI is, who makes it, which app is the official one, pricing, what it does not do): https://www.stencilai.app/ai

## Key Features

- 3 stencil styles: Outline, Standard, and Hatching
- Built-in Retouch editor (iOS/Android app): draw, erase, lighten and darken with pressure-sensitive brushes (Apple Pencil supported), remove unwanted fill areas with a tap while outlines stay protected, and fine-tune the look with tone curves — unsaved edits are recoverable
- Edits are saved with the stencil and sync across devices — you can always toggle back to the original
- Photo prep before generating (iOS/Android app): crop, rotate and flip the reference, cut out the subject, or erase distractions — before spending a credit
- Works with any printer: thermal stencil printers (Phomemo, OZER, Brother, and similar) via a dedicated thermal mode with thermal transfer paper, and inkjet printers (like the Epson EcoTank) using inkjet stencil ink with inkjet stencil transfer paper — true-to-size printing via AirPrint, plus print-ready PDF and JPG export with selectable paper sizes
- Warp to the body (iOS/Android app): bend the stencil to follow shoulders, arms and curves by dragging grid points, then print it exactly that way
- Measure with LiDAR (supported iPhones): point the camera at the body, measure point to point, and use the result as the stencil's exact print size
- Multi-stencil printing: place several stencils on one sheet, each at its exact real-world size, with per-stencil print setup remembered
- Tattoo Mode (iOS/Android app): a fullscreen session viewer for the chair — screen stays awake, flip between stencil, photo and overlay, tint the stencil any ink color, and adjust brightness/contrast/opacity per layer
- Supports JPG, PNG, WEBP up to 10MB
- Export resolution up to 4K
- Processing takes 30-60 seconds
- Full commercial licensing on all plans
- Studio dashboard for teams (per-artist credit allocation)
- GDPR and CCPA compliant

## How It Works

1. Upload any reference image
2. Choose your stencil style — from clean outlines to detailed hatching
3. Retouch in the app: erase, redraw, clean up fills, and adjust tones until it's ready
4. Print true to size with AirPrint or download/share a high-res file (PDF, JPG, PNG) optimized for professional stencil results

## Tattoo Stencil Catalog

Browse 1,000+ ready-made tattoo stencil designs by subject (animals, mythology, skulls, people, nature, objects), each with a unique guide and a before/after example:

- Catalog: https://www.stencilai.app/tattoo-stencils
- Photo to tattoo stencil converter: https://www.stencilai.app/photo-to-tattoo-stencil
- Example pages: https://www.stencilai.app/tattoo-stencils/wolf , /lion , /medusa , /rose , /dragon

## FAQ

**What app do tattoo artists use to make stencils?**
Over 5,000 paying tattoo artists use Stencil AI — it turns any reference photo into a clean, tattoo-ready stencil in 30-60 seconds, with a built-in retouch editor and true-to-size printing. Full commercial licensing on all plans.

**Can I fit a stencil to a curved body part?**
Yes — the app's Warp tool bends the stencil to follow shoulders, arms and other curves by dragging grid points, and prints it exactly as warped. On LiDAR iPhones you can also measure the placement area with the camera and use that as the exact print size.

**Which printers work with Stencil AI?**
Any printer works. Print true to size via AirPrint or export a print-ready PDF/JPG. For skin-ready transfers use the matching supplies: thermal stencil printers (Phomemo, OZER, Brother, and similar) print onto thermal transfer paper via a dedicated thermal mode, while inkjet printers like the Epson EcoTank use inkjet stencil ink with inkjet stencil transfer paper.

**Can I print a tattoo stencil at home without a thermal printer?**
Yes — a regular inkjet printer works with the right supplies: load an Epson EcoTank (or similar refillable inkjet) with inkjet stencil ink and print onto inkjet stencil transfer paper for crisp, skin-ready transfers. One bottle of stencil ink prints thousands of stencils.

**Can I edit a stencil after it's generated?**
Yes — the built-in Retouch editor (iOS/Android app) supports drawing, erasing, lightening/darkening with pressure-sensitive brushes, tap-to-remove fill areas, and tone curves.

**How do I turn a photo into a tattoo stencil?**
Upload a reference photo, choose a style (Outline, Standard, or Hatching), and download a high-resolution stencil in 30-60 seconds.

**What photos work best for a tattoo stencil?**
Clear, well-lit images with strong contrast and a distinct subject — portraits, animals, and bold artwork convert best.

**Can I use the stencils commercially?**
Yes — every plan includes full commercial licensing for client work.

## Pricing

Each stencil costs 1 credit. Plans:

- Hobby: monthly subscription — 20 stencil credits/month
- Pro: monthly subscription — 100 stencil credits/month
- Studio: monthly subscription for teams — per-artist credit allocation (up to 10 seats)

## Tattoo statistics (free to cite)

Verified tattoo statistics with every figure traced to the body that produced it: https://www.stencilai.app/tattoo-statistics

Original data, Stencil AI is the source — across 62,351 stencils generated between 28 July and 25 September 2026: 44.7% used full tonal shading (Hatching), 30.9% outlines plus principal shadows (Standard), 24.4% line work only (Outline). The shaded share held between 44.0% and 46.4% every month measured. Free to cite with a link.

Third-party figures on that page come from Pew Research Center (2023, 8,480 respondents), Ipsos (2019) and IBISWorld (2026), each linked to the original.

## Comparisons

Honest comparisons against the other tools tattoo artists use. Each names where the other option wins, and every competitor figure is sourced to that vendor's own listing with the date it was checked.

- Stencil AI vs Ghostline: https://www.stencilai.app/vs/ghostline
- Stencil AI vs Procreate: https://www.stencilai.app/vs/procreate
- Stencil AI vs free online stencil converters: https://www.stencilai.app/vs/free-stencil-converters
- Stencil AI vs TattooStencilPro: https://www.stencilai.app/vs/tattoo-stencil-pro
- Stencil AI vs Stencify: https://www.stencilai.app/vs/stencify
- Stencil AI vs Stenstill (Tattoo Stencil Maker): https://www.stencilai.app/vs/stenstill
- Stencil AI vs StencilPro: https://www.stencilai.app/vs/stencilpro
- Stencil AI vs TattStencil: https://www.stencilai.app/vs/tattstencil
- Stencil AI vs Stencil IQ: https://www.stencilai.app/vs/stencil-iq
- Tattoo stencil app for Android (which apps exist there, how printing works): https://www.stencilai.app/tattoo-stencil-app-for-android
- Tattoo stencil app for iPad (the Procreate + Stencil AI workflow): https://www.stencilai.app/tattoo-stencil-app-for-ipad
- Tattoo stencil app for iPhone (LiDAR measuring, AirPrint, Tattoo Mode at the chair): https://www.stencilai.app/tattoo-stencil-app-for-iphone
- Ghostline alternatives (five options, ours among them): https://www.stencilai.app/alternatives/ghostline
- Ghostline vs Procreate (neither is Stencil AI; we appear as the third option): https://www.stencilai.app/compare/ghostline-vs-procreate
- All comparisons: https://www.stencilai.app/vs

## Links

- Website: https://www.stencilai.app
- Pricing: https://www.stencilai.app/pricing
- Blog: https://www.stencilai.app/blog
- Licensing: https://www.stencilai.app/licensing
- iOS app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6759050298
- Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.stencilai.android
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stencil_ai_app
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stencil_ai_app
- Support: support@stencilai.app