How to prepare a mimeograph stencil by hand

Here are the materials and equipment needed to prepare a mimeograph stencil by hand:

• Mimeograph stencils
• Stencil correction fluid
• Stylus

• Plastic tape
• Glass or Formica™ surface
• Light table
• Marking pen
• Scissors
• Paper clips
• Thin cardboard

Here is the prerequisite to preparing a mimeograph stencil by hand:

Indicate the page margins, either by

• drawing them on the layout guide
• drawing them directly on the stencil with a felt marker, or
• cutting out a cardboard frame and placing it on top of the stencil. The inside of the frame serves as a margin marker.

Here are some guidelines to follow when you prepare a mimeograph stencil by hand:

• Use a light table or strong light under your work so you can see the layout page through the stencil.
• Keep the cutting tool in an almost upright position.
• Draw clean, uninterrupted marks.
• Press firmly, but not too hard.

• Scratch off the wax only. Do not cut all the way through the wax sheet.

  Tip:	When you hold the stencil up to the light and look through it, you should see uniform light through the letters or lines, but no holes.

• Where you want two cut lines to meet and form an angle: end, rather than begin, your stroke at the angle so the stencil won't tear.
• Carefully check a stencil for errors and uncut lines before you begin printing with it.

1. Tape a layout guide onto a hard surface such as glass or Formica.
2. Place the wax sheet of the stencil over the layout guide.

   Tip:	If the stencil has a bottom page or a carbon, make sure it is out of the way and not between the stencil and the hard surface.

3. Make sure you can see the layout guide through the stencil.
4. Position the stencil carefully, lining up the center and all margins.
5. Tape the stencil down so it is secure, or fasten the layout guide to the stencil with tape or clips.

   Illustration

6. Draw or write carefully directly on the stencil .

   Illustration

7. Correct any mistakes immediately.

   See:	How to correct a mimeograph stencil

8. Check the completed stencil and make any final corrections.

   Tip:	Hold it up to a light to see where lines have not been cut well.

9. Redo any lines that have not been cut cleanly.

• Task module: How to prepare a mimeograph stencil by hand
• In task module: Preparing mimeograph stencils
• In task module: Using a silk-screen printer
• In task module: Printing literacy materials
• In task module: Producing printed materials, by Anne Klaassens (contributor), Robin Rempel (contributor), Trudy K. Stewart (general editor, contributor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), Glenys Waters (contributor), Diane Wroge (contributor), and Adelle R. Walter (illustrator)
• In task module: Developing instructional materials, by Trudy K. Stewart, Leah B. Walter (contributor), and Trudi C. Hunt (contributor)
• In task module: Developing an instructional program, by Kenneth A. Boothe (contributor), Patricia M. Davis (contributor), Trudy K. Stewart (general editor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), Glenys Waters (contributor), and Adelle R. Walter (illustrator)
• In task module: Implementing a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In modular book: Implement a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler) and Leah B. Walter (compiler)
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 8 December 1998

© 1999 SIL International