FreeCamera Mode
Rest your phone on a mug, a glass, or a stack of books. The template appears over the live view of your paper — trace what you see on screen.
How to Use Your Phone as a Tracing Projector →
Stencly · AR Drawing & TracerDraw anything.Zero skill.
Stencly turns any photo, template, or idea into an outline you can trace onto real paper — with nothing but your phone.
- Camera · Lightbox · AR
- 2,400+ templates
- Free to start
2,400+templatesThree ways to trace
Pick the mode that fits your desk, your paper, and your drawing.
Free
FreeLightbox Mode
Lay thin paper over your phone. The bright outline shines through, and a touch lock keeps it still while you draw.
How to Use Your Phone as a Lightbox for Tracing →
PROAR Mode
Snap your paper and Stencly locks the template to it. Move around, lean in, zoom — the outline stays put.
What Is AR Drawing? Augmented Reality Tracing Explained →How it works
From idea to finished drawing in four steps.
- 1
Pick something to draw
Browse 2,400+ templates across 16 categories, or make your own stencil from a photo or a few words.
- 2
Set up your phone
Prop it up for Camera, lay it flat for Lightbox, or snap your paper for AR.
- 3
Trace the outline
Tune the opacity and brightness, then follow the lines. No talent required.
- 4
Keep your drawing
Colour it in, frame it, or save the finished trace to your Photos library.
Make your own stencils
Not in the library? Start from a photo on your camera roll, or from a few words.
Photo to line art
Your pet, your kid, your car. Stencly strips any photo down to a clean outline that's easy to trace — in seconds.
Your photo
Clean line art
On your paper
Type it. Trace it.
Can't find the right template? Describe any idea and the AI draws a custom stencil for you.
2,400+ templates, ready to trace
From a five-minute doodle to a full tattoo design — there's always something to draw next.
- Animals
- Anime & manga
- Cartoons
- Faces & portraits
- Flowers & nature
- Tattoos & lettering
- Cars & vehicles
- Kids' drawings
- Food & drinks
- Fantasy & dragons
- Fashion & style
- Mandalas & patterns
- Sports
- Space & galaxy
- Famous artworks
- Seasonal & holidays
Free to start. PRO when you want more.
Camera and Lightbox tracing are free. PRO opens the full library and lets you make stencils of your own.
Free
Everything you need to start tracing today.
- Camera Mode
- Lightbox Mode
- Starter templates in all 16 categories
- Opacity and brightness controls, plus touch lock
Stencly PRO
Trace anything — including your own ideas.
- The full 2,400+ template library
- AI-generated stencils from a few words
- Turn any photo into clean line art
- Trace your own photos and artwork
- AR Mode that locks to your paper
PRO pricing is shown in the app, in your local currency.
Who Stencly is for
Anyone who wants to make something with their hands and just needs a helping hand with the outline.
- Beginners learning to draw
- Hobbyists doing quick sketches
- Tattoo artists blocking out designs
- Kids getting into art
- Parents doing art projects with kids
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any special equipment to trace with Stencly?+
No — just your phone and paper. Camera mode works with the phone propped on a stand or a stack of books, Lightbox mode uses the screen directly, and AR mode needs nothing but the phone in your hand.
What's the difference between Camera, Lightbox, and AR modes?+
Lightbox mode displays the image on screen so you trace onto thin paper laid over it — best for small drawings. Camera mode overlays the image on the live camera view of your paper, like a virtual projector. AR mode anchors the image to the paper itself so it stays locked in place even when the phone moves.
Can I trace my own photos?+
Yes — use any photo from your camera roll, pick from the 2,400+ template library, or describe an idea and let the AI generate a clean traceable stencil from it.
Is tracing cheating?+
No — tracing for practice is a technique artists have used for centuries, from the camera obscura to animation light tables. It builds line confidence, proportion awareness, and motor control that carry over to freehand drawing.
Will tracing on my phone screen damage it?+
Not with normal use. In Lightbox mode, use thin paper and light pencil pressure — modern screens are glass and much harder than graphite. Stencly's touch lock stops your strokes from moving the image while you draw.
Drawing & Tracing Guides
Learn how to trace pictures onto paper, turn photos into stencils, and use your phone as a tracing projector or lightbox.
How to Trace a Picture Onto Paper
Four ways to trace any picture onto real paper — a sunlit window, a lightbox, your phone as a virtual projector, and AR tracing. No printer needed for most.
How to Use Your Phone as a Tracing Projector
Your phone can't physically project images — but a camera-overlay tracing app does the same job. Setup, stabilisation tips, and common mistakes.
How to Use Your Phone as a Lightbox for Tracing
Turn your phone screen into a mini tracing lightbox: display the image at full brightness, lay thin paper on top, and trace. Here's how to do it safely.
How to Make a Stencil From a Photo
Turn any photo into a clean, traceable stencil: what makes a good source photo, how AI line extraction works, and how to get from stencil to finished drawing.
What Is AR Drawing? Augmented Reality Tracing Explained
AR drawing anchors a virtual image to your real sheet of paper so you can trace it — no projector, no printing. How it works and when to use it.
Does Tracing Help You Learn to Draw?
Tracing isn't cheating — it's how artists have trained for centuries. What tracing actually teaches, its limits, and how to use it deliberately.
Start drawing today
Download Stencly free and trace your first stencil in minutes.