Use Pathfinder Tool Unite to combine

all complicated shapes

NO
There are no connections
(bridges) to the white spaces
(islands) of space
These will punch out on
stencil machine and not
be part of design
Must make a connection
between white spaces,
look at examples on right

Use Pathfinder Tool Minus Front

and create bridges to islands

Select both shapes, Unite

YES

ready for stencil machine

To Prepare image for Stencil Machine use these steps:

1. MUST BUILD BRIDGES TO ALL ISLANDS (WHITE LINES TO ALL WHITE SPACES)
NO WHITE ISLANDS
2. STRUCTURAL AND SYLISTIC REASONS FOR BRIDGE CONNECTIONS
3. SELECT ALL
4. NO FILL/BLACK BORDER
5. SELECT TYPE ONLY (IF THERE IS TYPE--must be a stencil-style font),
TYPE MENU<CREATE OUTLINES
6. UNGROUP ANY GROUPS