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How to Trace or Transfer to Watercolor Paper – Four Ways!

October 30, 2019 by Hannah Stevenson 14 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more about my disclosure.

A tutorial on how to trace or transfer an image onto watercolor paper.

Here at Lily and Thistle, we have so many fun projects designed to help you gain confidence in watercolor and have a fun and relaxing experience in the process.  Today I thought I’d show you four ways you can transfer (or trace) the templates we have made available to you onto your choice of watercolor paper.  You can use this technique for your own drawings as well. 

Because watercolor is not an opaque medium, it’s easy to see the lines you make under your painting.  It’s much better to work your drawing out first and then transfer it so you don’t have any eraser marks or lines where you don’t want them.

So with that, let’s get started!

Supplies:

  • 140lb Watercolor Paper (this is my favorite)
  • Printable Pattern (included in the Lily & Thistle Watercolor School or the Free Resource Library)
  • Graphite Paper or Window, iPad, Lightboard (see below)
  • Pencil
  • A Kneaded Eraser (perfect way to make your lines faint but not too faint that you can’t see them)

FREE WATERCOLOR PATTERNS AND PROJECTS!

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Method #1: Your Window

Hot tip: You have a light board (actually a whole bunch) right in your home: WINDOWS! This is one of my favorite ways to transfer images to watercolor paper because it’s free, easy, and so accessible.

Just a few things to remember: adhere your template and watercolor paper with tape that will be easy to remove from both your paper and your window and don’t press too hard with your pencil.

Method #2: Your iPad or Tablet

If you are working on your project at night or in the early hours of the morning (my favorite time), windows will obviously not work. You might not be aware of this, but you actually have a light board on your iPad!

I have an app that I love to use on my iPad.  It’s called the Softbox app . Once you download the app, go to the color settings and put it on the white setting.  Tada! You now have a perfect light board!

Method #3: An LED Lightboard

A few years ago, I invested in this awesome lightboard.  I use it a lot for paper doll projects and other illustration work. It’s very skinny which makes it easy to store and pull out when I need it. If you are getting serious about art and want something that is specifically designed for tracing, I’d recommend this!

Method #4: Graphite Paper

Graphite paper is also a great option. Graphite paper is basically a thin piece of paper coated on one side with a smooth layer of graphite and another side that is not coated. This is how you use it:

  1. Place the graphite paper coated side down on your watercolor paper.
  2. Tape your drawing right-side-up in place on top of it.
  3. Use a pencil (or even a pen) to trace the drawing onto the working surface.
  4. When you’re finished tracing, simply remove the drawing and graphite paper.

A sheet of graphite paper can be used many times over so one sheet goes a long way.  One warning: it is easy to create smudges on your paper where you don’t want them. You can usually erase but sometimes if you rub too hard against your paper or push too hard with your pencil, it doesn’t erase as easily.

BONUS TIP FOR TRACING ON WATERCOLOR PAPER

You can actually make your own graphite paper! Just use a pencil, shade one side of a piece of paper with several layers of graphite, and voilà! You have your own graphite paper! Just as I mentioned before, be careful with smudges and you should be fine.

FREE WATERCOLOR PATTERNS AND PROJECTS!

Subscribe (FREE) and I'll send you a password giving you instant access to all of our Lily and Thistle resources: Courses, templates, patterns, how-to's and more! You will also get my weekly newsletter full of great resources for your art!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get your password!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

I hope you found these tips helpful! Transferring onto the proper paper is such an important part of watercolor art so pick your favorite method and see what it does for you.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I am so happy to help.

And remember, your life is your art.

Your friend,

-Hannah

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How to trace or transfer images on to watercolor paper. Four fast and easy ways!

Filed Under: Learning Resources - Kids, My Creative Life, My Favorite Supplies, Nature Study, Watercolor Projects, What's Working for Us

Previous Post: « How to Watercolor Paint Mushrooms – Easy Tutorial for Beginners and Kids
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yvonne Duncanson

    May 15, 2020 at 3:56 am

    Hi, thanks for your tracing tips. Why didn’t I think of windows. The I Pad tip is great also.

    Reply
  2. Eileen

    May 29, 2020 at 8:47 am

    Wow, I got the soft box app for my iPad and it works great for tracing. Thank you so much.😃

    Reply
    • Hannah Stevenson

      May 30, 2020 at 1:37 pm

      YAY! Yes, it was a great find! Glad you are finding it helpful. Cheering you on from here! – Hannah

      Reply
    • Nuzhat

      July 15, 2020 at 3:14 pm

      Thank you for the tracing tips.

      Reply
      • Hannah Stevenson

        August 25, 2020 at 3:44 am

        You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
  3. Andi Schroeder

    May 31, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    Thank you Hannah for the great tips! Glad to find you!
    Andi

    Reply
    • Hannah Stevenson

      June 1, 2020 at 2:25 pm

      You’re so welcome Andi! Cheering you on from here!

      Reply
  4. Joan Sweet

    June 21, 2020 at 7:43 am

    I print out an image from my computer, turn it over and use a watercolor pencil and color the backside of the image. Then I place the page on my watercolor paper and trace the design. When I begin to paint, the watercolor pencil marks blend with my paint and voila no marks showing through

    Reply
    • Hannah Stevenson

      June 23, 2020 at 7:12 am

      Joan,
      Thanks for this! What a great idea!

      Reply
  5. Pat Lemmon

    August 9, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    Thank you for information. Especially IPad use. I have a light board, Not a very good Watercolor painter, but do enjoy it.

    Reply
    • Hannah Stevenson

      August 11, 2020 at 5:49 am

      So glad it was helpful! I’m sure you’re better than you think! I’m cheering you on from here.

      Reply
  6. Maria

    September 22, 2020 at 4:57 am

    Hi Hanna, thank you so much for sharing! Tracing newbie here! I’m sorry, but I’m not sure how the kneading eraser fits in to this equation. Would you happen to have a video of your process? Thanks?

    Reply
    • Hannah Stevenson

      September 24, 2020 at 9:16 am

      Hi Maria,
      Yes! Check out the flower heart tutorial here https://www.lilyandthistle.com/watercolor-flower-tutorial-beginner/ (it’s an older video but it should help explain the kneaded eraser well). 🙂

      Reply
  7. Fran

    January 6, 2021 at 8:04 am

    I just discovered Pinterest and am overjoyed at all the resources available. I am an 80 yr old Great Grandmother and just taking up watercolors. Just learning by watching demonstrations on line. Love watercolors and wish I had started earlier. Thanks for the tracing tips.

    Reply

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