How to Use Tracing Paper to Transfer a Drawing

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Tracing paper is a semi-transparent paper you can use to trace an image or drawing. Once you've traced an image onto tracing paper, you can easily transfer it to another piece of paper or even a canvas. Just make sure you're using a graphite pencil so your drawing shows up clearly when you transfer it!

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   Place a sheet of tracing paper over a drawing or image you want to trace. The simpler the image you use, the easier it will be to trace. Make sure the entire image is covered with the tracing paper.^[1]

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   Use masking tape to hold the tracing paper in place. Fold the edges of the tracing paper over the edges of the paper the original drawing or image is on and tape them down. If the tracing paper is smaller than the piece of paper you're tracing over, tape the corners of the tracing paper to the front of the other paper.^[2]

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   Trace the original image onto the tracing paper with a graphite pencil. Don't use a pen, marker, or colored pencil or you won't be able to transfer your traced image onto another sheet of paper. Carefully follow the lines of the original image with the pencil. Don't worry about tracing the shading in the original image. Just focus on getting all the lines from the original image onto the tracing paper.^[3]

   • If the tracing paper slips out of place as you're working, line it back up using the lines you've already traced.
   • Erase mistakes with an eraser, but be gentle so you don't tear the tracing paper.

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   Remove the tracing paper. Peel off the tape that was holding the tracing paper in place, and set the sheet of tracing paper next to the original image. Look at the two side by side. They should look identical (except for any shading and coloring). If you notice you missed a spot, place the tracing paper back over the original drawing and trace over the line you missed.

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   Find something you want to transfer your traced drawing onto. Use a sheet of sketchbook paper, watercolor paper, a canvas, or any other medium that pencil will show up on. Make sure you're transferring the traced drawing onto something that's light-colored so the pencil shows up.

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   Tape your traced drawing face down on your new medium. Use masking tape or office tape. Position the tracing paper so the traced drawing is lined up with the spot you want it to transfer onto. The side of the tracing paper you drew on should be facing down.^[4]

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   Rub the back of the traced drawing to transfer it onto the medium below. Use your pencil, the end of a marker, or another hard object. Apply pressure as you rub over all of the lines in your traced drawing. The pressure will cause the graphite on the other side of the tracing paper to transfer onto the medium below it.^[5]

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   Remove the tracing paper. Peel off the tape and set the tracing paper aside. There should be a faded copy of the drawing you traced on the new medium. If there are spots that didn't transfer, fill them in with the pencil.^[6]

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   Finish your transferred drawing. Go over the lines with the pencil so they're more defined. When you're finished, you can leave it as is or enhance your drawing with ink, colored pencil, or paint.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How do I transfer my image from the tracing paper to another paper without the image ending up backwards?

  

  Flip your tracing over and cover the drawing area part of it with a layer of graphite. Use an HB pencil. Then flip your tracing over and position it on your drawing paper. Put a second piece of tracing paper over the first piece, so that you can clearly see your first trace and retrace the drawing. Use a sharp H or 2H pencil. Use medium pressure. The result will be a transfer image of your original tracing onto the drawing paper, a mirror image.

• Question

  Is a mechanical pencil acceptable to use? Or is a graphite pencil strictly required?

  

  Mechanical pencils are graphite pencils. Most pencils are HB, your mechanical pencil likely is too.

• Question

  How can I trace something onto a waterproof page?

  

  You can trace by putting the image you want under the waterproof page and tracing it. If you can't see your image, put the image and waterproof paper on a light source.

• Question

  How can I answer one of the community questions?

  

  Go to the "Help Us" section on the top bar, and click "More Ideas." The "Answer Community Questions" page should be on the top left box.

• Question

  Does tracing paper come in different thicknesses? Mine seems too thick to work.

  

  Yes, it comes in various thickness (weights); it sounds like yours is the thicker, which is why the opacity is poor.

• Question

  What if I don't want the image to flip?

  

  Audrick Rodano

  Community Answer

  Then don't flip it. If your use of the tracing paper is just making copies, then there's no need for flipping it.

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Things You'll Need

• Graphite pencil
• Tracing paper
• Masking tape

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To use tracing paper, start by placing it over a drawing or image you want to trace and taping it down so it stays in place. Then, use a graphite pencil to trace the original drawing onto the tracing paper. When you're finished, remove the tracing paper and tape it face down on your new medium. Next, firmly rub the back of the traced drawing using a pencil, marker, or another hard object. Finally, remove the tracing paper to reveal the transferred drawing on your new medium. For tips on how to trace a drawing correctly, keep reading!

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How to Use Tracing Paper to Transfer a Drawing

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Tracing-Paper

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