ARTNews may receive an affiliate commission if you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website.
Want to transfer your drawing to another surface? What about using found photographs or printed images in works of art? Try graphite transfer paper, a great tool for speeding up the art creation process. It works similar to carbon paper, but is designed specifically for artists and designers. Carbon paper leaves lines that remain intact, but unwaxed graphite paper leaves lines that can be erased. Because it is water-soluble, it virtually disappears in wet paint (although watercolor artists should note that some watercolors may harden the graphite, making the lines permanent). Simply place a piece of graphite paper between the image and the drawing surface, graphite side down, and trace the outline of the image with a sharp pencil or pen. Look! The image will appear on the drawing surface, ready to be washed or shaded. Please note that graphite paper may leave marks on your hands, so wash it after use to avoid staining your work. To find out which graphite transfer paper to buy, check out our roundup of the best options below.
ARTnews recommends Saral Waxless Transfer Paper Saral paper was the first commercially produced transfer paper, developed in the 1950s by Sarah “Sally” Albertis, an artist who was tired of making her own. This waxless paper creates a clearly visible but subtle mark that is easy to wipe off. You can even apply the paper to the fabric and then wash off or remove the transferred lines with a sponge. We love that they come in sets of four and come in a convenient roll to prevent tearing and creasing. They’re also sized for a variety of projects: 12 inches wide by 3 feet long—just cut them to your desired size. Finally, it is the only option available in a variety of colors including classic graphite, red, white and blue for maximum visibility.
We also like the Bienfang Graphite Transfer Value Pack. If you need to transfer very large images, grab a stack of these 20″ x 26″ graphite sheets. You can use them individually, cut them, or place them in a grid to cover a wall. They’re made from just enough layers of graphite to provide a nice, crisp transfer, but the material doesn’t leave nasty marks on your hands or stains on surfaces like canvas. Errors or remaining marks can be easily erased with an eraser.
Artist’s Choice Salal Graphite Transfer Paper, also manufactured by Saral and named after the company’s founder, has a lighter graphite coating than regular Saral transfer paper. This means it is especially suitable for watercolor artists and graphic designers who want to use lighter lines; just press evenly and evenly, but not so hard that you damage the paper or canvas. Twelve 18″ x 24″ sheets are supplied in protective packaging to prevent unsightly folding.
Kingart Teachers’ Choice Graphite Transfer Paper This 25-pack is an economical choice that produces significantly deeper lines than most graphite transfer papers. While it’s not ideal for professional pieces or artwork with a lot of clear paint, especially since it takes more effort to erase the mark, it’s a great choice for designs where a visible outline really helps. Use them for classroom activities and crafts with your kids – for example, you can create illustrations for coloring, practice outlining before freehand drawing, or just demonstrate how transfer works. They also don’t need much pressure to transfer, which is good for young people.
A great alternative to MyArtscape graphite transfer paper. Technically speaking, MyArtscape transfer paper is carbon paper rather than graphite paper, and it is coated with wax, so it is not suitable for porous surfaces or fabrics where erasable lines are desired. But because it is less messy than graphite paper and leaves a more permanent mark, it is popular among crafters. Graphite paper’s 8% wax content produces crisp, bold lines that won’t smear or smudge, so it can be used to transfer images onto plastic, wood, glass, metal, ceramic and stone. This set contains five sheets of gray wax paper, each measuring 20 x 36 inches. Large paper format allows you to place one sheet on a large canvas. And thanks to the durability of the paper, each sheet can be used several times.
Post time: Sep-05-2024