DIY Stencil? Why not?

[Well Fed Games]

In my Ms Pac Cab conversion, I would love to put some modern pac art on the sides... probably one ghost chasing pac man on one side, one ghost chasing Ms Pac on the other (basically, like the 1st intermission in Ms. Pac). I can use illustrator to make the images, and am thinking about some large prints on 11x17in paper to make my own stencils... print out a few copies, use a craft knife to cut out each color, stick with some sort of temp spray adhesive,  and paint (maybe even with standard spraypaint). Any reason why this wouldn't work? Anyone else made your own stencils?

[bleargh]

I've seen several guys online making stencils out of bristol board that they're using for pinball machines, but that's a slightly different application; in their case it'd be Ok to have a bit of bleed/fuzziness around the edge of the stencil as that's how it would've looked back when they were done in the 70s.

I've got a 1976 Williams Space Odyssey pinball machine here that I'm going to repaint in the coming weeks, so I'm also looking to see what other people are doing w.r.t. stencils.  I'm toying with the idea right now of tracing the artwork that's on it right now by laying down wax paper, tracing the outlines, and then cutting it out directly on that and using spray-tack to hold it down while I repaint w/spray can.  Again, though, that fuzzy/rough look around the edges of the stencil would be ok for my purposes.

[Necroticart]

I've used frisket for air brush illustration it works great. The only thing is you have to be careful when cutting the frisket it's a plastic like material and it's easy to cut into the surface when cutting out areas to paint.

here's some videos to help watch both parts

[Well Fed Games]

So I suppose paper would absorb the paint/let it pass through? Ideally if I could print something out, and then cut it into a stencil, it would reduce some operator error (I am better with photoshop brushes than real brushes). I am wondering about using an old style classroom overhead projector to trace/paint right onto the side of the cabinet. Thanks for the suggestions, looks like some good options here!

[Necroticart]

frisket basically takes the paint it definitely does not pass through you just have to stick the frisket back over the parts you already painted. As for the projector idea how do you think most fine artists do their large canvas work these days doing a small sketch and blowing it up is a lot easier than drawing or painting something large and getting it proportional. 

[Well Fed Games]

Very interesting... I hadn't heard of frisket before, I can see how that would be perfect for Arcade stencils. Definitely what I will use if I go for stencil cutouts. Thanks! 

[bleargh]

Where are you guys getting your Frisket?  Up here in Canada I've yet to speak to anyone at a hobby, craft, or print shop that has even the foggiest idea what it is... 

[Necroticart]

This is where I order mine go with the Extra Tack Matte roll it's easier to work with.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/grafix-frisket-film/

[dfmaverick]

Ebay?

[jennifer]

        Vector your photoshop [inkscape works well], and cut it on a plotter cutter. They are soooo very awsome!! A roll of stencil film
and transfer tape and your in.

[bleargh]

Thx for the pointers!

[rikitiki]

I've seen several guys online making stencils out of bristol board that they're using for pinball machines, but that's a slightly different application; in their case it'd be Ok to have a bit of bleed/fuzziness around the edge of the stencil as that's how it would've looked back when they were done in the 70s.

I've got a 1976 Williams Space Odyssey pinball machine here that I'm going to repaint in the coming weeks, so I'm also looking to see what other people are doing w.r.t. stencils.  I'm toying with the idea right now of tracing the artwork that's on it right now by laying down wax paper, tracing the outlines, and then cutting it out directly on that and using spray-tack to hold it down while I repaint w/spray can.  Again, though, that fuzzy/rough look around the edges of the stencil would be ok for my purposes.

This one?

http://www.thisoldgame.com/products/space-odyssey-pinball-stencil-set

Seriously vector your image and have it plotter cut youll save ALOT of time
verses printing and hand handcuttin paper tiles
and if you hand cut friskety youll have to do it on the cab
or  use transfer tape to keep it all together when your apply it

[bleargh]

This one?

http://www.thisoldgame.com/products/space-odyssey-pinball-stencil-set

Seriously vector your image and have it plotter cut youll save ALOT of time
verses printing and hand handcuttin paper tiles
and if you hand cut friskety youll have to do it on the cab
or  use transfer tape to keep it all together when your apply it

Yup, that's exactly the one.  And yeah, its not super simple with nice straight lines on it; good number of curves, clouds, etc.

One other idea I'd read elsewhere... using wax paper to help trace the design, then laying that out on top of "shelf paper" and cutting the stencil in that.  When its time to apply, stick the shelf paper down, paint, pull it off.  Does mean "one use only", but I only need to do each side once.

I'll give a ring around town, though, and see what it'd cost to have it cut by a plotter, versus ordering the stencil set.

Appreciate all of your input!

[Well Fed Games]

Yeah, worst part is, I would leave the cab as-is, beat to hell and all, because it looks like it should- an almost 30 year old arcade cab! But, someone painted a black border around the edge, which covers a bunch of the original art, and it just drives me crazy! The hand-wear I see on similar cabs looks way better than that!

As far as an update goes, I am still up in the air, as far as getting side art printed, DIY stenciling, freehand painting it with help of a projector, or just leaving the sides plain blue.