How to Use Registration Marks to Repeat Stencil Designs

How to Use Registration Marks to Repeat Stencil Designs

How to Stencil Video Tutorial - So you’re looking to create a gorgeous wallpaper look using wall stencils, aren’t you? But how do you continue an allover design with a single stencil sheet? We’ve got the answer for you… and the secret is right on your stencil! All Royal Design Studio stencils are repeatable patterns that include built-in registration marks to help you line up and repeat your design perfectly. Watch this Stencil Basics video below and learn how to use 3 different registration marks. These simple instructions help you create perfect patterns every time! 

Stencil Basics VIDEO Tutorial: How to Use Registration Marks to Repeat Stencil Designs Across Accent Wall - Royal Design Studio Wall Stencils

So you’re looking to create a gorgeous wallpaper look using wall stencils, aren’t you? But how do you continue an allover design with a single stencil sheet? We’ve got the answer for you… and the secret is right on your stencil! All Royal Design Studio stencils are repeatable patterns that include built-in registration marks to help you line up and repeat your design perfectly. Click play to watch this Stencil Basics video below and learn how to use 3 different registration marks. These simple instructions help you create perfect patterns every time!



How to Use Window Registration Marks

Our most common type of registration is window registration marks and is found on most of our Allover Pattern Stencils. These window registration marks are design elements cut into each side of the stencil so you can easily line up the next repeat of the pattern over previously painted areas. Follow these simple tips so you can stencil a custom wallpaper effect on an accent wall in just a matter of hours:

  1. Place and secure your stencil onto the wall using a bubble level and painter’s tape. This will be your first repeat.
  2. Paint your first repeat using a Royal Stencil Brush or foam roller and tray. Don’t forget to offload excess paint onto a paper towel to avoid bleed-unders!
  3. Move and reposition the stencil by aligning the window registration marks with the matching painted design elements. These painted design elements should be visible through the window registration marks. Take your time aligning and matching up these marks before stenciling again. Repositioning your next repeat will work whether you repeat left, right, up, or down. The choice is yours!
  4. Continue to paint more repeats until the accent wall is completely stenciled. Periodically check the stencil repeats with a bubble level to make sure you are keeping the designs straight.
  5. As you complete more stencil repeats you will find that there will be times when you need to match the painted design elements and window registration marks on two different sides.

Pro Tip! We find that stenciling from top to bottom in vertical rows is the best approach to keeping the repeated designs straight.

How to Use Dashed Line Registration Marks

Some of our Allover Stencil Patterns use dashed line registration marks. This type of registration works similarly to window registration, but instead uses dashed lines to outline design elements on each side of the stencil.

  1. Place and secure your stencil onto the wall using a bubble level and painter’s tape. This will be your first repeat.
  2. Paint your first repeat using a Royal Stencil Brush or foam roller and tray. Don’t forget to offload excess paint onto a paper towel to avoid bleed-unders! The dashed line registration marks are used for stencil placement ONLY and are NOT meant to be painted. Try to avoid painting over these dashed lines so that they aren’t transferred onto the wall. These dashed line registration marks are meant to be seen through, not painted through!
  3. Move and reposition the stencil by aligning the dashed line registration marks directly over the outer edges of the painted repeat. Take your time aligning these marks before stenciling again.
  4. Continue to paint more repeats until the accent wall is completely stenciled. Periodically check the stencil repeats with a bubble level to make sure you are keeping the designs straight.

How to Use Pinpoint Registration Marks

We use a system of pinpoint registration marks on many of our repeating Border Stencils, as well as on multi-layer stencils. Pinpoint registration marks are simple triangle shapes cut into the stencil that you will mark onto your surface to help you line up the stencil perfectly to complete the design.

  1. Place and secure your stencil onto the wall using a bubble level and painter’s tape. This will be your first repeat.
  2. To avoid marking your surface, place small pieces of tape under the pinpoint registration marks. Use a pen or pencil to draw the shape of the triangle marks onto the tape. You can also use a soft lead pencil or watercolor pencil instead of tape and remove the marks from the wall afterward with an eraser.
  3. Paint your first repeat using a Royal Stencil Brush or foam roller and tray. Don’t forget to offload excess paint onto a paper towel to avoid bleed-unders!
  4. Move and reposition the stencil by aligning the 2 pinpoint registration marks with the matching painted design elements. Take your time aligning and matching up these marks before stenciling again.
  5. Continue to add tape and drawing the registration marks until the desired area is stenciled. Periodically check the stencil repeats with a bubble level to make sure you are keeping the designs straight. If you are using multi-layer stencils, these pinpoint registration marks will help you line up the next layer perfectly as well!
  6. When you are finished, simply remove the tape from the wall to remove the drawn registration marks. Now you have a perfectly positioned and repeated border design!

 

Check out all of our Stencil Basics videos for need-to-know tips and tricks on how to stencil perfectly and create pretty pattern that you’ve always wanted!

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