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Want to transfer your drawings onto another surface? How about use a found photograph or printed image in an artwork? Try using graphite transfer paper, a great tool for speeding up your art-making process. It works similarly to carbon paper but is made specifically for artists and designers. While carbon paper leaves lines that stay put, graphite transfer paper, which is unwaxed, lays down a line that’s erasable. Since it’s water-soluble, it will also essentially disappear into wet paint (though watercolor artists should note that some watercolors can set graphite, making the lines permanent). Simply slip a sheet of graphite paper between your image and the drawing surface with the graphite-covered side facing downward, then use a sharp-tipped pencil or pen to trace over the contours of the image. Voilà! The image will appear on your drawing surface, ready for color washes or shading treatments. Be aware that graphite paper can leave residue on your hands, so wash them after using to avoid smudging your work. For guidance on which graphite transfer paper to buy, browse our roundup of the best options, below.
ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Saral Wax Free Transfer Paper
The first commercially produced transfer paper, Saral paper was developed in the 1950s by Sara “Sally” Albertis, an artist who was tired of making her own. This wax-free paper produces clean marks that are visible but not glaring, and they erase easily. You can even use the papers on fabrics and wash or sponge off the transferred lines. We like that they come in sets of four sheets packaged on a convenient roll to prevent tearing and creasing. They’re also well sized for a range of projects, measuring 12 inches wide by three feet long—simply cut to your preferred dimensions. Finally, this is the only option available in multiple colors, including classic graphite, red, white, and blue, which offers a very high visibility.
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Bienfang Graphite Transfer Value Pack
If you are transferring extra-large images, pick up a pack of these graphite sheets, which measure 20 by 26 inches. You can use them alone, cut them down, or place them in a grid to cover a wall. They are made with sufficient layers of graphite to result in good, crisp transfers, yet the material doesn’t leave a frustrating amount of residue on your hands, nor smudge on surfaces like canvas. Erroneous or leftover marks rub out easily with a kneaded eraser.
ARTISTS’ CHOICE
Sally’s Graphite Transfer Paper
Also made by Saral and named after the company’s founder, this product features a lighter-weight coating of graphite than Saral’s regular transfer paper. This means it is particularly good for watercolor artists and graphic designers who want a fainter line to work with; just make sure you apply consistent and even, hard pressure—but not too hard so you don’t dent your paper or canvas. Twelve 18-by-24-inch sheets come rolled in a protective box to prevent unsightly folds.
EDUCATORS’ CHOICE
Kingart Graphite Transfer Paper
This 25-sheet pack is an economical choice that yields noticeably darker lines than most graphite transfer papers. While not the ideal choice for professional works or artworks with lots of transparent paints, especially since the marks takes more effort to erase, it’s a good option for designs where it’s really helpful to have visible outlines. Use them for classroom activities and crafts with young ones, and you can create, for instance, illustrations for coloring in, practice tracing before moving onto freehand, or simply demonstrate how transfers work. They don’t require a lot of pressure to transfer, either, which is great for young ones.
A GREAT ALTERNATIVE
MyArtscape Graphite Transfer Paper
Technically a carbon paper rather than a graphite paper, MyArtscape’s transfer paper is waxed, and therefore not suitable porous surfaces or for fabric when an erasable line is needed. But because it is less messy than graphite paper and leaves a more durable mark, it is popular with crafters. The graphite paper’s 8 percent wax content ensures crisp, bold lines that won’t smudge or smear, making it useful for transferring images to plastic, wood, glass, metal, ceramic, and stone. This pack features five sheets of gray waxed carbon paper measuring 20 by 36 inches each. The sheets’ large size enables you to spread a single sheet over a large canvas. And, because of the durability of this paper, each sheet can be used multiple times.