Abstract: A blank for forming a stencil screen for silk screen or electrostatic stencil printing is disclosed. The screen includes a resilient, high tensile strength, porous substrate such as a monofilamentary nylon or stainless steel 200-mesh screen. A light radiation absorbent, self-combustible, ink-resistant, ink-impervious and tough film is applied to the screen, suitably a combustible black nitrocellulose film or a black cellulose ether film containing finely dispersed nitrate or perchlorate. The film is selectively removed by directly pulsing high-intensity light of over 10 joules per square inch for a short duration of 1 to 50 milliseconds in the form of an image pattern to ignite and completely combust the film only in said areas during the duration of the pulse.