Blick Art Materials
01-26-2011, 09:41 AM
Transfer Paper vs. Tracing Paper
Commonly labeled as the same paper, transfer papers and tracing papers are not one in the same.
Tracing papers are described as light weight vellum, often not exceeding a 25lb weight. They are most commonly used as a working surface on top of a drawing or layout where one would trace directly on to the paper to visualize the final piece without being committed to finalizing the detail. Architects will often use several layers of drafting vellum to visualize the construction of a building before completion. Artists a like will use it as rendering in their drawing process. As well as quilters to serve as a template guide.
Transfer papers, on the other hand, work like a carbon copy, in that one side of the paper is coated with graphite or other transferable coatings. One would lay paper or other surfaces down on the table top, lay the transfer paper with graphite side down, then lay their sketch down on top of the transfer paper. Often tracing papers will be used as the sketching paper. By retracing the lines of the sketch, the graphite gets transferred to the final piece for further work to be done on that surface. Transfer papers allow one to polish their drawings without a lot of erase marks and corrections.
FAQs:
Are there different types of transfer papers besides graphite?
Transfer paper is available in graphite; which is often used for drawing renderings, blue; which is non-photographic for bright line and decorative painting, yellow; which is good on metal, glass and other non-porous surfaces, white; which is good for dark surfaces, such as black drawing papers, and red; which is good for ceramics, because it won’t smudge from the surface and holds a crisp line.
-Kristal F.
Product Information Specialist
For further assistance using art supplies, feel welcome to contact our Product Information Department at
1-800-933-2542 or e-mail us at info@dickblick.com (info@dickblick.com). Hours of operation: M-F, 8:00am-5:30pm CST.
Commonly labeled as the same paper, transfer papers and tracing papers are not one in the same.
Tracing papers are described as light weight vellum, often not exceeding a 25lb weight. They are most commonly used as a working surface on top of a drawing or layout where one would trace directly on to the paper to visualize the final piece without being committed to finalizing the detail. Architects will often use several layers of drafting vellum to visualize the construction of a building before completion. Artists a like will use it as rendering in their drawing process. As well as quilters to serve as a template guide.
Transfer papers, on the other hand, work like a carbon copy, in that one side of the paper is coated with graphite or other transferable coatings. One would lay paper or other surfaces down on the table top, lay the transfer paper with graphite side down, then lay their sketch down on top of the transfer paper. Often tracing papers will be used as the sketching paper. By retracing the lines of the sketch, the graphite gets transferred to the final piece for further work to be done on that surface. Transfer papers allow one to polish their drawings without a lot of erase marks and corrections.
FAQs:
Are there different types of transfer papers besides graphite?
Transfer paper is available in graphite; which is often used for drawing renderings, blue; which is non-photographic for bright line and decorative painting, yellow; which is good on metal, glass and other non-porous surfaces, white; which is good for dark surfaces, such as black drawing papers, and red; which is good for ceramics, because it won’t smudge from the surface and holds a crisp line.
-Kristal F.
Product Information Specialist
For further assistance using art supplies, feel welcome to contact our Product Information Department at
1-800-933-2542 or e-mail us at info@dickblick.com (info@dickblick.com). Hours of operation: M-F, 8:00am-5:30pm CST.