How to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists

Co-authored by Kathy Leader

Last Updated: December 15, 2022

Did you know that tracing paper is regular paper treated to produce a translucent paper? If you're in a pinch though, typing paper could be used in its place. To get the best outcome from your tracing project, follow these suggestions.

Steps

1
Place a picture on a flat, smooth surface and secure it with tape.
2
Lay the tracing paper over it and secure it with tape.

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3
Using a pencil, trace the picture with as much or little detail as you need.
4
Once you have finished tracing the picture, remove the picture from underneath the tracing paper.
5
Turn the tracing paper over. Place it so that the tracing is face down and the blank side of the paper is facing up.
6
Coat the whole blank side of the paper with graphite (lead). Do this using your pencil.
- To coat the blank side of the tracing paper, hold your pencil almost completely sideways with the lead touching the paper and move your pencil lead back and forth to create an even coat of gray or black surface.
7
Obtain a new surface, such as drawing paper, to transfer your drawing.
8
Place the drawing paper on a flat, smooth surface and secure it with tape.
9
Place the tracing paper gently on top of the drawing paper with the graphite surface face down. You may secure it in place as well.
10
Trace the image, with pressure, onto the drawing paper.
- The aim is to press hard on the lines so that the graphite transfers to the paper.
11
Gently remove the tracing paper when you have completed tracing the drawing. You will now have your transferred drawing on your desired surface.

Community Q&A

Question

What If I want to make the drawing bigger than the original?

Community Answer

Scan the image and increase its size, then reprint it. Then trace the bigger image.
Question

Can we use butter paper instead?

Community Answer

Yes, you can. Parchment paper or baking paper also works like tracing paper.
Question

What if I don't want it to be mirrored?

Community Answer

If you follow these steps, it won't be mirrored. If you skipped the step where you coat the back side with graphite and used your first set of lines to trace over, it would be mirrored.

Warnings

If you are wearing a long-sleeved shirt, you will want to roll up the sleeves to prevent lead from transferring onto them.

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You may want to wear clothes that you won’t mind getting dirty.

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