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

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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

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists
    Place it so that the tracing is face down and the blank side of the paper is facing up.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists
    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.
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  8. Watermark wikiHow to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists
    You may secure it in place as well.
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists
    • The aim is to press hard on the lines so that the graphite transfers to the paper.
  11. Watermark wikiHow to Trace Using Only Tracing Paper and Pencil Lead for Visual Artists
    You will now have your transferred drawing on your desired surface.
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Community Q&A

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  • 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.
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    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 27
  • Question
    Can we use butter paper instead?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. Parchment paper or baking paper also works like tracing paper.
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  • 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.
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      Tips

      • If it is a drawing with a small amount of detail, it would be quicker to graphite coat only the areas that need transferring to another surface.
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      • You may need to sharpen your pencil often.
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      • You may want to put a blank sheet underneath the tracing paper while applying graphite to backside of it to protect your work surface and to make your tracing lines more visible.
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      Warnings

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      Things You'll Need

      • Tracing paper
      • A picture
      • Pencil sharpener
      • A pencil
      • Masking tape
      • Old clothes
      • Drawing paper or another surface to transfer your tracing

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