A metal screen material (32) having a flat side, in particular electroformed screen material, preferably seamless cylindrical screen material, comprises a network of dikes (34) which are connected to one another by intersections (36), which dikes (34) delimit openings (30). The height of the crossing points (36) is not equal to the height of the dikes (34). The metal screen material (32) or a combination thereof with a perforating screen (17) can he used as a perforating stencil for the perforation of film material (2), for example made from plastic material.