Creating a two-color stencil that delivers a 3D perspective. This uses SketchUp and Illustrator.
 
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Step 1: Pop into 3D

To start off with, I take a classic videogame image and import it into SketchUp. After that, trace the images to create four polygons. With the push/pull tool, grab the polygons and pull them up to create a solid shape. Double-clicking on the three remaining shapes will repeat the action and bring them up to the same height for consistency.
masmarius says: Mar 6, 2010. 10:15 AM
awesome! who doesn't love stencils anyway?
T3h_Muffinator says: Jan 25, 2007. 4:19 PM
Woah, that has an awesome effect. Once I finish coating my halfpipe in weatherproofing paint, I'm definitely going to stencil on some kind of kick-ass videogame character.... now, who will it be?
sharlston in reply to T3h_MuffinatorOct 22, 2009. 12:14 PM
tony hawks
fwjs28 in reply to T3h_MuffinatorDec 9, 2008. 4:50 PM
MARIOOOOO!!!or 1 up mushroom, that way when u fall of the pipe and kill urself u have a mushroom with an extra life....
gbosbiker in reply to T3h_MuffinatorMar 22, 2008. 4:28 PM
the ghost character from, i think its from super mario. its a cool character and it would look awesome on a halfpipe
santy22 in reply to gbosbikerNov 15, 2008. 12:00 PM
some character on a bike or rollers or skate, or maybe PAC-MAN! because pacman rocks and any surface with pacman printed on it will rock too. The same goes for mario and metroid (pixel-y version of them, obiously)
santy22 in reply to santy22Nov 20, 2008. 1:29 PM
PD:Just laminated the Space invader (with duct tape) going 2 do it soon
volquete says: Jul 10, 2009. 8:51 PM
cool
wenpherd says: Jun 2, 2009. 7:09 PM
this is so insanly awesome i cant even look
baneat says: Aug 25, 2008. 12:33 PM
Made it, thanks.
baneat in reply to baneatAug 25, 2008. 12:33 PM
Actually just used the idea of using google sketchup for the 3d part and made it up from there to make it into a stencil.
baneat says: Aug 25, 2008. 10:07 AM
Also I think you can use Photoshop instead of Illustrator to do the second part of this guide :)
fungus amungus (author) in reply to baneatAug 25, 2008. 11:06 AM
Yes, now you can. Illustrator in here is optional, however. You can do the whole thing in SketchUp if you wanted.
emuman4evr says: Aug 24, 2008. 4:42 PM
I wonder I could do this with other 3d models...
emuman4evr in reply to emuman4evrAug 24, 2008. 4:43 PM
...
HK416_1.png
baneat says: Aug 24, 2008. 4:19 PM
I could swear that's 3D
spinach_dip says: Jun 1, 2006. 12:26 AM
Nice. My compliments on your choice of subject. (Also thanks to bugmenot for the login.)
whatsisface in reply to spinach_dipOct 22, 2007. 2:33 PM
You could've done better than posting that on THIS instructable especially. I believe owned is the correct term.
SacTownSue says: Jul 3, 2007. 11:09 PM
looks great! Depending on what type of black paint you used you could try touchup with sharpie. Depending on materials and houw much you care.
Fenwick says: Jan 18, 2007. 7:11 PM
wow, this is cool! Great idea! I might have to do this once I get the chance.
erfonz says: Nov 27, 2006. 7:47 PM
This is mine. I also used your bridge instructable. I was kinda impatient in spraying it so theres a drip and a bunch of underspray
spaceinvader.jpg
fungus amungus (author) in reply to erfonzNov 30, 2006. 1:44 PM
Good stuff. Just looks like you need another coat of white on top to make it more solid. As for the drips and underspray you can have some control of it for a cool effect. Takes some practice to get the controlled slop effect, though.
kennytatheguy says: Oct 8, 2006. 1:56 AM
whaoh! when i first loked at that pic i thought it was actually a little block stick man! nice job!!
belenus says: Sep 26, 2006. 11:10 PM
couldnt you just use the same stencil, spray it, translate it up (however you want the 3d to look) and spray the topcoat?
fungus amungus (author) in reply to belenusSep 27, 2006. 10:52 PM
Not at all. That would be a repeating image and could give the impression that the top layer is floating above the surface with the bottom layer acting as a shadow if you were looking at it dead on. Which is a fine effect, but this is different. Here, the 3D program allows the object to have volume. Note how the black layer is displaced further from the bottom than the top. With a touch of practice with perspective you could do the same thing by hand if you wanted to.
dipswitch says: Sep 26, 2006. 2:24 PM
This is cool. Now if I could only figure out the getting an image and importing image to SketchUp part it will be even more cool.
fungus amungus (author) in reply to dipswitchSep 27, 2006. 10:48 PM
I did kind of skim over that part of the instructions, didn't I? If you play around with SketchUp you should be able to see how to import an image and plant it on a flat surface. Now recreate the shape by drawing it in SketchUp with the image as your guide. Then, pull it up and there you go.
pjay_dml says: Sep 24, 2006. 10:32 PM
A little shadow (hold can at a distance before applying stencil; apply oval blur) would enhance the effect.
Googlypuffs says: Aug 10, 2006. 5:01 PM
this is a great looking turnout, even with the under-spray! it gives it a little urban feel to it
houdini says: Jul 11, 2006. 10:01 AM
very nice :) I like this drawing. If you pass by Paris, do one on my door! keep on the good work
PurpleFerret says: Jul 5, 2006. 1:06 PM
Like it! =]
barnes says: Jun 23, 2006. 10:28 AM
Very cool, I'm gonna try that later.
blog.darkforestdesign.com says: May 31, 2006. 5:34 PM
The 3D effect is pretty strong, considering it's stencil-ness. Good job!
SniperNinja says: Apr 11, 2006. 8:08 PM
Cool Im going to have to try that. Is that the LoadRunner sign?
maffiou says: Feb 20, 2006. 4:00 AM
Like the idea... Cool...
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