Visit getstencil.com for making memories with Stencil. According to trustpilot.com this simple-to-use image creation tool is rated at 4 and a half stars. Imagine making customized digital picture books or creating content for your distance learning classes or private studio business. This program makes cropping stencil images or adding stencil icons as easy as counting to three.
Features
Stencil has multiple features great for the educator, hobbyist or the entrepreneur. These features include:
- 2,300,000 + Photos
- 1,100 + Templates
- Upload and Store Logos
- 100,000 + Quotes
- 3,050 + Google Fonts
- Upload Your Own Fonts
- 2,000,000 + Icons and Graphics
- 75 Preset Sizes
- Easy to Use Browser Extensions
- Instant Image Resizing/ Cropping
- Schedule with Buffer
- Upload Your Own Images
- Facebook Ad Grid
- Save Your Favorites
- Image Filters
- High Resolution Downloads
- Instagram SMS
- Social Sharing
- Collections
- Live Previews
- Safe Areas
- Color Pickers
- Bit.ly Links
- WordPress Plugins
Working Out The Basics
Getting Access
Step #1
Head over to getstencil.com.
Step #2
Select the button “Get Stencil” in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Then decide on a plan. Options include Free, Pro and Unlimited. If you only dabble in image creation then I would recommend Free however, if you are like me and use images for social media, blogging, education and ecommerce, then the best value is Unlimited.
Step #3
Complete the typical order information and login criteria.
Exploring The Stencil Dashboard
1 – Photos
With “Photos” selected on the left hand side of the screen, navigate to the search bar. In this example let’s search puppies. Below the search bar you will see several high quality puppy pictures. Once you have selected a picture from below the search bar you will find the picture appears to the right hand side.
The picture is now able to be manipulated. If you left-click the picture you will notice a box with a dark grey background and several editing options will appear.
In this box you can alter your picture by:
- Change filters
- Blurring the photo
- Adjusting the image’s transparency
- Lighten or darken the photo
- Create or change the color of an overlay – great for putting text on an image
- Adjusting the original photo vertically or horizontally
- Changing the size of the photo
- Uploading a custom background
- Cropping your image or
- Removing your background
Just below the image, in light grey, you are able to change the size of your image. Stencil has made it extremely convenient to choose sizes of various social media images, banners, blog post features or you can take advantage of your own customization.
Just above the image, you see two different curved arrows and a clock. From left to right, these are designed to give you undo, change history and or redo options.
On the right side of the image you can also:
5 – Create New Image
6 – Add Text
With this feature you get a customized pallet to alter the style of the message you want to present. I will choose to use a variety of these options to stylize my puppy picture.
7 – Toggle Focus Mode
This allows you eliminate some of the unnecessary distractions as you work on your image. See below.
8 – Toggle Grid
This is great for lining up visual elements.
9- Trash
Clear your image by selecting the trash can image.
Icons
Similar to the photo selection process, you can choose fun icons to make your images come alive. Start by selecting icons on the left-hand side of the screen. Go to the search bar and type in an icon you would like to add. In our situation let’s drag and add “Bone” icons for our puppies!
Templates
Templates are great for when you want use a piece of content that someone has already created. All you have to do is to customize it!
Saving, Downloading and Sharing Your Images
Saving, downloading and sharing your creations is super easy! Just select the associated button below the image.
Quotes
Quotes are a great way to express your point or provide a new direction to your presentation. Just like the image creation, Stencil streamlines the process to save and download quotes.
Conclusion
Let’s recap. The beauty of Stencil images are only limited to the creativity of your imagination when you use this image creation tool. These are great for spicing up any distance learning lesson, enhancing a monthly newsletter or creating some top notch content. Cropping your favorite images and incorporating hilarious icons into your social media posts can be done easily. Take the first step by visiting getstencil.com!
