How to make a stencil for airbrushing on a car with your own hands. Template types and instructions for making. Stencils and Templates for Airbrushing - Car Transformation at Low Cost Car Stencils

Airbrushing is a special technique for applying images. You can draw using this technique on cars, and on motorcycles, and on helmets, and even on cases. mobile phones. Using the airbrush method, you can create simple images, or you can do unusual decor car body. It all depends on your imagination and, of course, the skill of ownership. necessary equipment and tools. If you decide to decorate your car original drawing We advise you to read the article to the end. Next, we will talk about how to do airbrushing, how to choose the right tool, how to prepare a stencil and the surface of the body yourself - in a word, about all the main stages of such painting work.

How to make an airbrush yourself? Click on the photo to enlarge.

How to draw an airbrush drawing on a car?

Before you start talking directly about how airbrushing is done, you need to get acquainted with the device of such a device as an airbrush. It is with the help of it that we will apply the drawing on the car. Externally, the airbrush looks like a regular spray gun, but it works a little differently. After being compressed by the compressor compressed air under high pressure enters through a special hole in the airbrush nozzle. In this case, the air jet is surrounded by a region of low vacuum. If a pigment is supplied through this area ( powder paint or car enamels with low viscosity), then an aerosol is formed. The aerosol is applied to the surface thin layer, which means you can draw spectacular three-dimensional images with shadows, smooth color transitions, etc. on the machine.

Airbrush for airbrushing on cars. Click on the photo to enlarge.

The main types of airbrushes

The first approach to the classification of airbrushes is flow and lockable guns. If in the first it is impossible to adjust the amount of air passing through the device, then in the second such a possibility exists.

Types of airbrushes

In addition, there are airbrushes with external and internal displacement of air and paint flows. The internal offset tool is your option if you are interested in how to do complex multi-color airbrushing on a machine, that is, paint an image with thin lines and smooth transitions between shades. Such a filigree application of the pigment is possible due to the presence of a movable needle. However, be prepared for the fact that airbrushes of this design require more careful maintenance and more skill in use.

Speaking about how to draw a simple, undetailed airbrush on a car, let's focus on airbrushes with a fixed needle. Their cost is relatively low, and the application mechanism is not too complicated, so even if you cannot boast high level craftsmanship, airbrush drawing on a car will turn out attractive.

Not less than important question when choosing an airbrush - this is the adjustment of the supply of paint and air. On this basis, the following models are distinguished:

  • Airbrushes with trigger button to limit incoming air;
  • Airbrushes with the function of adjusting the supply of pigment;
  • Airbrushes capable of simultaneously regulating the supply of air and paint.

Finally, as with conventional spray guns, the paint cup on airbrushes can be on top or bottom, be removable or stationary.

How to decide on the price range and complexity of the airbrush? If you want to try airbrushing once, for the sake of interest, then there is no point in spending money on an overly expensive device. If you decide to take this matter seriously, it’s better not to save money and purchase a high-quality professional airbrush with a movable needle and the function of adjusting the air and paint supply. It will allow you to apply the pigment more thinly and accurately, which means you can draw more detailed images.

Choose a pattern and decide on the method of its application

It all depends on your imagination. What size will the drawing be, how many colors will be involved in its application, will you draw by hand or with a stencil - all these questions must be answered even before you proceed directly to the painting work.

So, the picture is selected. However, before you start doing airbrushing on a car yourself, you should create a sketch of the image. Graphic editors can help in this matter, for example, the program CorelDRAW. In any case, be patient, because this stage is one of the most time-consuming.

Airbrushing as an imaging technique pays special attention to shadows, so already when you draw on paper or in a graphic editor, decide where you will have such elements.

At home, you will most likely use plain paper to make a stencil. If your choice is on ready-made stencils, then they can be made from paper, self-adhesive, cardboard, film, and even lead foil. As a rule, such stencils are designed for one-time use. Reusable stencils are used only in professional workshops where airbrushing is put on stream.

How can a stencil be used?

If you have very little experience in the field of painting and you decide to try airbrushing for the first time, it is better to take the path of least resistance: cut out all the necessary sections on the stencil, stick it on the body with masking tape and simply paint over the required areas.

Are you confident in your abilities? Then you can use the stencil only as a pattern. Draw with it the outline of the picture, and then manually apply more small parts.

Airbrush stencil. Click on the photo to enlarge.

Preparatory work

As with any other painting job, before airbrushing the car, the surface must be prepared. Careful preparation- a guarantee that the drawing will look attractive, and the pigment will not peel off over time.

The place where you will do airbrushing should be matte. Matting is carried out:

  • Dry or wet;
  • Manually sandpaper or with a grinder
  • Scotch brite with matting paste.

As a result, many tiny scratches should appear on the surface of the body, which will ensure the best adhesion of the pigment when drawing an airbrush pattern.

Materials and consumables for preparatory work. Click on the photo to enlarge.

How is the image applied by airbrushing?

To begin with, we will securely fix the prepared stencil on the selected area of ​​​​the car body. This is usually done with masking tape. If you're worried about paint getting onto other areas of the case, cover them with old newspaper.

If the car body is dark, then airbrushing consists in transferring only light elements of the picture. How to make an image more voluminous? Apply Consistently different shades paint, highlighting and shading the necessary areas.

If you need to draw small details, you can make additional stencils or work manually. As a result, you will be able to draw a realistic drawing.


After you finish applying the airbrush, be sure to varnish this area of ​​​​the body to protect the paint layer from mechanical damage and fading in the sun.

Airbrushing with film

Sometimes airbrushing is not done liquid paints, but with the help of special films. Of course, in this case, the choice of drawing will be limited only to those images that are on sale, but this method also requires much less effort.

The surface for gluing the film with a pattern must be perfectly clean and grease-free. The film is fixed so that there are no air bubbles under it. A special varnish is applied over the film, which will not only protect this decorative element, but will also make the image deeper and more saturated. The application of film airbrushing is completed by polishing, which will create a mirror effect.

Airbrush film. Click on the photo to enlarge.

So, now you know how and with what tools airbrushing is done. Try, experiment, use your imagination, and after all the work done, enjoy the beauty that you created on your car with your own hands!

Airbrushing is a great way to stand out from the stream of cars, to demonstrate your impeccable taste and sense of style. The size of the picture and its theme will depend solely on the imagination of the car owner and the amount that he can pay for such a service.

Applying even a simple pattern to the body is quite difficult, especially for beginners who want to do everything. Painting works with your own hands. Therefore, when applying airbrushing, experts recommend using special stencils for a car. They will help maintain the proportions of the drawing, and their preparation will not take much time.

Airbrush is called a view artistic painting, which can be performed on different surfaces, including on the body of the vehicle. The customer can choose a drawing from a ready-made catalog, or come up with a sketch on his own and the master will transfer it to a stencil for airbrushing.

Experienced artists practically do not use stencils in their work, since they already have a full hand and it is much easier to achieve clear boundaries of the picture. But for a specialist who values ​​his time, they will help to apply several identical elements of the drawing as soon as possible. Advantages of airbrushing on a car:

  1. The vehicle becomes unique.
  2. Small body defects can be hidden with a drawing.
  3. Such a bright car will be protected from theft, since a car with airbrushing is very noticeable.

Stencils for airbrushing can be made with your own hands, but before that you need to carefully familiarize yourself with their varieties:

  • Base stencil. Its main function is to simply transfer the pattern to the surface of the body. At the same time, it is necessary to preserve the existing proportions, so it is made of paper.
  • Pattern. Usually made from durable plastic because they use it regularly. Most often, with their help, the master quickly draws silhouettes or images of the same type.
  • Local. Can be made from special self-adhesive film or from paper. Such car stencils are used to transfer some parts of the pattern or in order to obtain the desired color effect.

How to create a stencil with your own hands

If there is a desire to decorate the car with airbrushing, but so far there is no way to turn to the services of professionals, you can do the work yourself using patterns.

Do-it-yourself airbrush stencils are easiest to cut out of paper, but you can also use self-adhesive film or ordinary oilcloth for this. Any material can be used, the main thing is that it meets the main criterion - it is flexible.

Be sure to firmly glue the stencil to the surface and additionally secure it with masking tape. Otherwise, there is a risk of paint getting under the pattern, as a result of which the entire drawing will be damaged and it will have to be redone.

Stencils for cars can be made of plastic, it is more durable and the pattern can be used several times. The drawing is transferred to the stencil in compliance with all proportions on its own, or you can use various computer graphic editors to transfer and print.

To make the outline of the drawing perfectly even, you need to cut it not with a clerical knife, but with a plotter. As an option, a drawing for a stencil can be downloaded from a thematic site on the Internet. You can do this completely free of charge, but you need to understand that the drawing will not be original.

This method is suitable for those who do not have practical skills in airbrushing, but want to practice applying a simple pattern to the body. Airbrush stencil film, which can be purchased at a specialized store, is best suited for work.

Making a stencil will not take much time and effort, while the main thing is to follow these rules:

  • The stencil must be built in such a way that there are no inclusions of other shades on its black parts.
  • It is desirable to fix all its parts in such a way that they are not damaged during operation. Masters recommend using thick paper or cardboard for the substrate and attaching a stencil to it.
  • It is recommended to use a sharp clerical knife when cutting or a special plotter. This will make it possible to draw a picture with the smallest details.

Stencils for cars

They come in several types depending on whether reuse is possible:

  1. Disposable. They can be made of cardboard, thick paper or self-adhesive film. They are very convenient if you need to fulfill an individual order, they can be fixed on any surface and there is no risk that the paint will get under it. Use masking tape for additional fastening not necessary. In addition, they are very convenient to remove from the surface - you just need to pull the free edge.
  2. Reusable stencils. They are used in the application of simple and multi-layer patterns and are usually made of polyvinyl chloride. You can give it the perfect shape simply by cutting the plastic with a plotter.

This type is fixed on the treated surface. spray adhesive , and so that the stencil does not come off during operation, you can additionally fix it with tape. The subject of drawings on them is the most diverse, cool stencils for cars are especially popular.

In work, such stencils are convenient, but have some disadvantages:

  • They are not flexible enough.
  • Even with secure fastening, there is a risk of ink leaking under the stencil.
  • They can only be used on a perfectly flat surface.

After making the stencil, it remains only to apply a drawing to the body of the iron horse. It is necessary to remember the importance of preparatory work, drawing a picture on an incorrectly or insufficiently prepared surface is fraught with defects. In some cases, the drawing will need to be reapplied, after completely removing the old coating from the surface of the body.

Airbrush - view visual arts, in which masterpieces of painting are created with the help of an “air pen” (a stream of sprayed paint).
The main tool for drawing an image on the body is an airbrush
Airbrush images have become widespread on the transport bodies of cars. The use of drawings pursues the following goals:

  1. The car becomes original, it stands out in the stream of identical cars and attracts the attention of others.
  2. The second reason follows from the first - cars that are different from others are less likely to be stolen, as they immediately catch the eye and are remembered.
  3. Airbrushing is an alternative. Airbrush drawings are applied not only for decoration, but also to mask surface defects, chips, scuffs).

The main application of the image on the body - airbrush. With the tool creates a flow of paint and regulates its application. Airbrush draws the background, the finest lines and details.

Experienced masters of body painting a set of paints to apply an image to the car. If you want to decorate a car yourself without having the relevant work experience, use auxiliary tools - car stencils. With their help, the image is carefully transferred to the body and drawn. Templates will not allow you to deviate from the initially chosen proportions and will reduce the mistakes typical for beginners to a minimum.

We will tell you what the patterns and stencils on the car body are, what their varieties are, and we will acquaint readers with the process of making them with your own hands.

Car templates

airbrushing on cars are presented in specialized stores at a low price. outlets offer all sorts of options ready-made stencils: animals, patterns, movie characters, anime and others. A common theme in the design of a car body is a flame, with which car owners emphasize swiftness and speed. Fire stencils for airbrushing different sizes and variations can be purchased both in stores and on the Internet.

But, since the main purpose of applying an image to the body is to express the individuality of the car owner, it is better not to use ready-made airbrushing. Motorists have one way out - to make a stencil for airbrushing with their own hands.


Stencils and paints for airbrushing on cars are presented in specialized stores at a low price

Template types

Stencils for drawing an image on a car body perform different functions, differ in durability and methods of application.

In count reuse car stencils are disposable and reusable. For the manufacture of disposable templates, thick paper, cardboard or self-adhesive film for airbrushing. Reusable airbrush stencils are made from durable materials(polyvinyl chloride and other types of plastic). A novice master rarely encounters reusable patterns, since he does not need to repeat the same pattern several times.

According to the tasks performed, stencils for cars are divided into the following types: patterns, reference and local blanks. Each type of template is used for a specific job, so they are made from different materials:

  • Patterns are used for drawing curvilinear elements (arcs, silhouettes, etc.). With their help, you can draw in a short time complex elements: flames, abstract motifs, rhombuses, circles and others. Since the shape of the patterns is rarely tied to a single image, they are used many times and are made of durable plastics.
  • The purpose of the support blanks is to transfer the contours of the pattern to the surface of the body. They represent the outline of the future image. The main reasons for their use are the protection of the body from the ingress and localization of the pattern. They are used once, so it is better to make such a stencil with your own hands from film or paper.
  • A local or temporary stencil is used to draw a specific element within a drawing (parallel lines, streaks, ornaments or fonts). Such stencils are cut out of paper or self-adhesive film.

Complex drawings for airbrushing on cars require the use of several types of templates at once, so it’s better to learn how to make them yourself.

Materials used

To make stencils for airbrushing on cars, the following types of materials are used: paper, cardboard, self-adhesive or special film for templates, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and others. The main requirement for the material is its flexibility. The blank must fit snugly against the surface of the body so that paint does not leak under it. The second requirement is strength, the material should not collapse upon contact with the paint. It is important that the edges of the material do not bend or deform during application.


Stencils for drawings on a car made of self-adhesive films

Simplify the manufacture of blanks stencil film for airbrushing, which is purchased in specialized stores. This material is a transparent film coated on one side with an adhesive. Thanks to the transparency on the film, you can manually copy the image. It is also easy to cut a template out of it and firmly attach it to the body.

Stencils of drawings on the car, made of self-adhesive films, are easily fixed on the body. For strong fastening of other materials, it is better to use spray adhesive. It will provide good adhesion, and after detaching the template, it will be easily washed off the body.

Template making

To make a stencil, you do not need special skills or tools; every car owner can handle this task.

The work begins with the selection of a drawing and its development. The image is drawn on whatman paper by hand or created using graphics. computer program. After creating a sketch, it is better to print stencils on a printer. After the life-size image is ready, each element is carefully analyzed and determined which areas need stencils and which the artist will draw by hand. For example, a tiger stencil for airbrushing consists of a reference template with the contour of an animal and a template for drawing stripes.

First, a reference template is made - it follows the contours of the drawing. For minor details of the image, other blanks will be needed. To properly design and make a stencil for airbrushing, follow these rules:

  1. Use one blank cutout for certain color on the image. That is, the presence of other colors is not allowed in the element that is drawn according to this template.
  2. To keep the edges of the template clear, use sharp tools. Remember, any error when cutting (a jagged or jagged edge) will be reflected in the drawing. A sharp stationery knife is suitable for cutting out of paper. To work with thick cardboard or plastic, it is better to use special tool- plotter.
  3. It is better to fix paper and film before cutting on cardboard or other dense substrate so that they do not move or tear during operation.

Working with film materials and plastics is complex and laborious process

Making stencils for paintingfrom paper - a procedure with which it is better for a beginner to start the learning process. The selected image is printed on a printer or applied to a sheet of paper manually. Stencils of patterns for cutting out of paper are fixed on a dense substrate and carefully cut out with a sharp clerical knife.

Advice! When cutting a line, do not lift the knife from the paper, it is better to cut in one motion. Otherwise, nicks and torn areas will form on the paper.

Working with film materials and plastics is a complex and time-consuming process. Since reusable templates are made from them, it is better to take the material with a sketch to the plotter workshop.

Pattern options

According to their subject matter, there are 2 types of templates for automotive airbrushing:

  1. Commercial - representing corporate logos, advertising, etc.
  2. Non-commercial - images on any topic, in all styles and genres.

Image sizes differ: from compact bright accent on details to an extensive picture that occupies the entire surface of the body - it all depends on the tastes and wishes of the car owner.

Images of landscapes, animals, military style, Khokhloma painting, dragons, fire from under the hood and abstract themes are popular.

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With the help of drawings made in shades of the main body color, they achieve a visual change in its proportions, make the car more elegant, and emphasize the advantages of the model. Cars painted "under the tree" or "under the granite" are popular. Some originals apply images not only to the body, but also to the interior, under the hood, in the trunk. There are even craftsmen decorating the bottom of the car, along with the transmission and suspension.

Drawing technique on various surfaces with the help of a special spray gun is called airbrushing. Drawing is possible both by hand and using stencils for airbrushing.

Airbrushing on a car

If the car owner wants to stand out from the faceless mass of the same type of cars, then the best choice for him - the application of an individual pattern. Its size, design and complexity depend only on the owner's imagination and wallet.

Car enthusiasts, and especially car enthusiasts, may not be afraid to meet a similar car on the road, because airbrushing allows you to make a car a piece that reflects the style or lifestyle of its owner. In addition, the cost of the car when performing airbrushing will not only not fall, but will also increase by at least 10%.

It must be remembered that drawing a picture is practically full painting car, requiring high skill from the performer and certain conditions from his place of work.

Therefore, ordering an automobile airbrush in a dusty garage on the outskirts of the city without viewing the artist's already completed drawings is the height of recklessness.

Stencils - types and methods of manufacture

Professional automotive airbrush artists who have completed dozens of works prefer not to use stencils, as it is believed that their use does not allow for clear boundaries of paint colors, especially after covering the entire image with several layers of varnish to hide the difference in their height. But if automotive airbrushing is not a hobby, but a type of income, and the artist values ​​​​his own strength and time, then the use of templates is worthy alternative completely hand painted.

Stencils are divided into types depending on the possibility of reuse.

Disposable - it is convenient to create such stencils for performing individual orders or occasional work. Disposable stencil can be made:

  • from self-adhesive film;
  • cardboard or thick paper.

Self-adhesive stencils, thanks to the adhesive backing, are ideally fixed on almost any surface without the need for additional fixing. In addition, the adhesive substrate also performs a protective function against ink leakage under the template. They are also easy to remove: just pull the edge.

Reusable - such stencils are convenient for applying both relatively simple and multi-layered images. Reusable stencils are usually made:

  • Made of plastic, made by plotter cutting.
  • From thick polyvinyl chloride or metal-plastic.

The stencil is fixed with aerosol glue, and for greater reliability it is also fixed with adhesive tape. The main disadvantages of their use are poor flexibility and the possibility of paint flowing beyond the boundaries of the future image, so experts recommend fixing reusable airbrush stencils only on straight surfaces.


According to its purpose, the stencil can be of the following types:
  • Reference - necessary to maintain the proportions of the image object when it is transferred to work surface(made from plain paper and most often disposable, as paper becomes unusable due to exposure to automotive paint).
  • Local - necessary to draw any details of the image or achieve a certain color effect, as well as to make copies of the same element (most often made from self-adhesive paper or from the same plain paper).
  • Pattern - a reusable stencil, made mainly of plastic and used to quickly draw silhouettes or image elements.

Where can I get airbrush stencils?

Option 1 - do it yourself.
The easiest way is to make a disposable template from plain paper or self-adhesive film, for which a drawing selected for airbrushing is made by hand, and then its contours are cut out.

Option 2 - download from various thematic sites or forums.
There are a lot of resources on the network that allow you to download templates. Of course, it is unlikely that you will be able to download some exclusive or complex stencil for free, but if the master does not have sufficient drawing skills, then the costs will be quite justified. Next, you need to print the stencil and cut out the contours in the same way. A printout of the drawing can also be done in a plotter workshop.

From the very beginning, airbrushing has been a way to distinguish a car from the crowd with the help of an individual pattern on the hood, doors and other elements of body structures. Some car owners use this approach to car decoration in order to hide body damage. But the owners of SUVs, applying a pattern to the body of the rear spare tire, also try to make it more original and noticeable. The development of this branch of the art industry has led to the fact that airbrushing is becoming more and more popular, and in order to reduce the price of the service, while maintaining the quality of the picture, stencils for airbrushing on cars have appeared on the market. It's either full drawing, or its elements that are already pre-cut on the template and by installing it on the car body, you can quickly and easily apply the desired image, even without any artist's skills.

What are airbrush stencils used for?

  1. Speeding up the drawing process. Due to the fact that many car owners select elements similar in design, such as images of animals, skulls, fire and other drawings, all this has led to the fact that the masters compile entire template catalogs, among the options of which the client’s decision is formed on one or another image.
  2. Accuracy and accuracy of work. Even without having years of experience, using templates for airbrushing on a car, you can accurately apply a picture without paint streaks around the edges, or distortion of the shape of the image itself.
  3. You can apply elements of any complexity.
  4. You will already know in advance what the drawing looks like, which cannot be said in the case when the artist draws at his own discretion, and there is a possibility that he will not make the format that you need.

As you can see there are many advantages. Of the minuses, one can single out the uniformity of the image, and it is for this reason that individual airbrush artists, even after the appearance of stencils, are loaded with work.

To apply a drawing, you can turn to a workshop where professionals will do everything for you, or you can apply airbrushing using a stencil with your own hands. For independent work you will need to find a vector image on the Internet, there are actually a lot of them, and in the future, following the technology, apply the desired pattern to the car body. In addition to paid templates, there are a number of free stencils on the Internet that you can use.

Template types

According to the method of use, all airbrush stencils can be divided into two types:

  • disposable. Mostly used by beginners. You can buy them on the market, or you can make yourself from film or paper materials. Throw them away after use.
  • reusable. These are templates made of plastic, thick film or cardboard. They are used on the stream, in the same auto repair shops and airbrush studios. Have more complex algorithm production and the price tag is higher, but in the future they pay for themselves very quickly.

What materials are stencils made from? There are several options:

  • lead foil.
  • cardboard or thick paper.
  • films, both self-adhesive and conventional.
  • plastic.

In my own way functional purpose templates are:

  • local. Basically it is made of film. Temporarily applied to the surface of the part and removed after paint treatment. In most cases, the entire drawing is transferred at once.
  • support. These are stencils from more dense materials like plastic or cardboard. Are characterized reusable. With its help, both the entire image and its individual elements are applied.
  • template for airbrushing. It is also made of dense materials like cardboard or plastic. Allows you to apply geometric figures, the contours of the picture, or individual geometric shapes, like tongues of flame.

How to make a stencil for airbrushing?

The entire production process of such a template can be divided into three main steps.

Step 1. Design search. For beginners, you can choose any vector template from the Internet, drawing your own images is much more difficult and time consuming - it will take a long time. But if you have the desire and experience, you can try.

Step 2. Transferring the pattern to the stencil material. For these purposes, plotters are used, or conventional printers, in the case of film.

Step 3. Cut out the template with a sharp clerical knife. This work must be done very carefully so as not to damage the borders of the template.

Some masters use the movable type of templates. They are made from transparent plastic or thick film.

Recently, self-adhesive film has been in high demand among car owners who have decided to do their own airbrushing on a car body using stencils. We will talk about its use below.

Pattern Types

All manufactured templates can be divided into two types:

  • commercial. These can be company logos that need to be applied to a whole fleet of cars.
  • non-commercial, which are used by car owners to highlight their vehicle from the crowd.

The drawings of airbrush stencils themselves differ in size, genre, color.

If we talk about the most popular artistic types of images, then these are:

  • image of animals (wolf, tiger, bear).
  • birds (eagle, owl, hawk).
  • the fire.
  • landscapes.
  • night sky.
  • dragons and other fantastic creatures.
  • also have unique solutions decorating body elements under a tree or granite.

In fact, there can be many such options, here everyone chooses what he likes.

Airbrush application technology using self-adhesive film

The whole process can be divided into step by step instructions.


Here is a video example of the work.

This completes the airbrush application process using a film template. As you can see, there is nothing complicated here.

And how did you apply airbrushing to your car and what was the result? We will be grateful for your comments below.