Sketches are the first step in creating artwork and give you a chance to work out a lot of the details. They can become quite messy, but when you are ready to move to your final drawing paper, it’s important to be able to transfer the details you want in a clean way.
In this blog I will show you 3 essential techniques as well as some ways to customize the last technique.
Sometimes your paper is so thin, like marker paper or visual bond, that you can simply put your sketch underneath the page to trace over it. In most cases however, the paper is too thick for this, so you need a light source to illuminate the sketch.
Regardless of the technique, one thing to remember is that it is best to tape your sketch to the final paper before transferring, simply to avoid your sketch moving before completion.
1. Using a Window
For some papers, you can tape the sketch to the back of the paper and tape that to a window so you can trace your drawing onto your paper.
2. Pencil on Back of Paper
You can make pencil marking on the back of your drawing. Once you tape it to your final paper, you can just trace your design and the remove it. While this is an easy way to transfer to your final paper, your sketch will be essentially destroyed in the process.
3. Graphite (transfer) Paper
Graphite paper is just tracing paper that has been coated with a layer of pencil (graphite). Instead pf marking the back of the paper with pencil, you just slide a sheet between your sketch and the paper you are transferring it onto.
If you don’t want to damage your original sketch, you can put a sheet of tracing paper over it and trace over that. You can find them in Art Supply stores, but the good news is that making your own is very easy.
Making your own Graphite Paper
To make your own graphite paper you need:
- Tracing paper
- Graphite pencil. HB is the one most used in schools, but softer ones like 4B or 6B will give you a stronger result. You can learn all about graphite pencils in my upcoming post.
- Rubbing Alcohol spray: You can get a bottle at a dollar store, and they usually have water mixed in, which is OK.
- Soft cotton balls or wipes: I used Webril cotton wipes but since I go through a pack in about 15 years, it’s really my personal preference from my student years. You can probably use regular cotton.
You will make markings on your tracing paper and once you have covered the area you want, you can spray the alcohol onto the pad or the marking and in swirling motions, gently rub it . This will bind the graphite to the paper so that it only comes off with pressure from your tracing pencil.
Making Your Own Pastel Tracing Paper
Sometimes, like when you want to draw on dark paper, regular graphite tracing paper will have enough contrast to help you. This is when you need to make your own using pastels. With the wide selection of colors I have in my set, I always find something that works well. The process is exactly the same as making the graphite paper.
To make your own pastel paper you need:
- Tracing paper
- Pastel: I use Nupastel hard pastels from Prismacolor which are like chalk, but any pastel will work as long as it’s not the oil ones.
- Rubbing Alcohol spray: You can get a bottle at a dollar store, and they usually have water mixed in, which is OK.
- Soft cotton balls or wipes: I used Webril cotton wipes but since I go through a pack in about 15 years, it’s really my personal preference from my student years. You can probably use regular cotton.
You will make markings on your tracing paper, or scrape off powder with a cutter and once you have covered the area you want, you can spray the alcohol onto a pad, since the spray will blow away the powder. With swirling motions, gently rub the pastel into the paper, as this will bind the graphite to the paper so that it only comes off with pressure from your tracing pencil.
You can use it like any other transfer paper to transfer your drawing.
Final Notes
Don’t forget to check my video on my youtube channel for more information on all the techniques I’ve spoken about.
