If you are looking for transfer paper to use for your art, there are several available in the market today. However, not everything you find at the top of the shelf is the best. While you are at your shopping spree looking for the right transfer paper, you will learn that cheap is expensive. On the other hand, you will also learn that not everything ridiculously pricey is the best.
So how then can you determine which transfer paper is best suited for your art? There are several factors you will need to look at to pick something suitable. Here we have listed the best that are available in the market today regardless of their prices to help you make the right choices
Kingart Graphite Transfer Paper
Take your image to the next level by tracing anything on this transfer paper. This paper works with canvas, wood, glass, metal among other mediums. This transfer paper is great for transferring photographs, sketches, and drawings to a separate surface.
To get a spitting image of the original art, all you need to do is to place this product between the original art and the surface. Stray marks can easily be rubbed to get a flawless image.
Kingart Graphite Transfer Paper packet contains 25 sheets. Each sheet of paper has sufficient space of 9’X13’ in length. It also has graphite therefore it will allow you to use as many times as you wish.
Pros
- Kingart Graphite Transfer Paper is easy to rub.
- It can be used multiple times.
- It can trace cleanly with almost all media.
- It gives great details.
- It never smudges.
- It can be used with ease.
Cons
- It can leave completely non-erasable marks on some mediums.
- It can be too dark for watercolor.
- It is a very sensitive paper and can transfer anything under slight pressure.
Richeson Transfer Paper
Richeson Transfer Paper is a paper that has it all. This paper is lightweight, smudge-proof, and erasable. It is also wax-free with a graphite-like coating. This material works great with a stylus or a pen to transfer the art.
If you need clean clear tracings with no bleed, this is the perfect product to add to your shopping list. This 24” wide roll of paper is great for multiple uses. It accommodates and allows the transfer of images in large quantities.
Pros
- No waste, no bleed.
- It gives clean and clear tracings.
- It serves multiple uses.
- It allows the transfer of hundreds of images.
- It is lightweight.
- It is smudge-proof.
- It can easily be erased.
- It has a graphite-like coating.
- It is wax-free.
Cons
- It is pricey.
Sally’s Graphite Transfer Paper
For an all-round, reliable, and greaseless paper, Sally’s Graphite Transfer Paper pops up at the top of the list. This 18” X24” sheet is clean to work with by leaving clean crisp tracings. It is also wax-free, and it allows the artist to erase any errors or stray lines made during the transfer.
Sally’s Graphite Transfer Paper has a graphite coating. This makes it easier to be used as a carbon paper to transfer or trace an art. It also works excellently for specialized purposes like transfer of sketch to other surfaces. You can also use this transfer paper to trace patterns and templates.
Sally’s Graphite Transfer Paper has 12 sheets in its packaging. These sheets are large rolls that allow you to cut and separate it to your desired size of the art. The rolls come in a handy box which transfers with very light pressure applied to it.
Pros
- It can easily be erased.
- It is a greaseless paper.
- It is clean to work with.
- It gives well defined clean and crisp tracings.
- It is wax-free.
- It has a graphite coating.
- It is easy to use.
- It can be used for both general and specialized transfers.
- The rolls are large and can be separated to fit an artist’s desired size.
- It transfers with very light pressure applied to it.
Cons
- It comes out too dark with watercolors.
- The lines can be too light to be seen.
- Minor smudging can happen.
- It is pricey.
Lazertran Transfer Paper
This revolutionary transfer paper helps an artist to transfer images to any surface for his/her desire. It is versatile and gives excellent results with any media. This waterslide transfer paper is very easy to use by using either a photocopier or a laser printer machine. This will, in turn, create color images on the transfer paper. Once you get your colored images on your Lazertan Transfer Paper, you cut and soak it in water.
The final decals can be used on wood, paper, stone, glass among other mediums. You can also use this transfer paper to transfer images into silk fabric. For this, however, you will have to use iron instead of the decal. You will never go wrong with this transfer paper as it will always give you vibrant results.
Pros
- It comes with detailed instructions.
- It can be used to transfer images to silk.
- It is versatile.
- It works with almost all media.
- It is very easy to use.
- It creates color images.
Cons
- The ink sometimes transfers into the water.
- The color on the transfer is a bit different from the original.
- The ink can smudge during printing.
- It is expensive.
Saral Wax Free Transfer Paper
This wax-free transfer paper comes in 12 ft rolls of paper. The sheets are 318mm in width. This specialized paper leaves no residue on the surface. What this means is, the pencil lines can easily be rubbed without leaving any visible marks or traces.
This transfer paper is particularly excellent whenever you want to transfer patterns to produce wax-less clean tracings. Saral Wax Free Transfer Paper works similar to carbon paper when transferring objects to another surface. It is greaseless and comes in blue, yellow, graphite, white, and red colors. These 5 colors are suitable for different surfaces.
Lines can easily be erased from the fabrics and you can easily wipe them off the ceramics and glass. Individual sheets can be overpainted and utilized for a couple of times. They are sold in rolls and the color available works with special features.
Pros
- It leaves no residue on the surface.
- Lines can easily be erased.
- It is wax-free.
- It is available in 5 colors.
- Lines can be washed out of the fabrics.
- It can be used several times.It can be overpainted.
Cons
- It can be difficult to erase carbon.
- It needs to be pressed hard for images to be visible.
- The paper can be thin in parts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using a Transfer Paper
One of the biggest inventions to be ever made in the art world is the use of Transfer paper to make art. Though they work the same way as carbon paper works, art papers for art are cleaner. A good transfer paper should be greaseless, easy to erase, wax-free and it should not leave residue on the surface.
Once you have found a good paper perfect for your art and you are ready to transfer or trace your object, you should consider avoiding the following mistakes to get perfect outstanding results.
1) Printing on the wrong side of the paper- Make sure that you print your object on the right side of the paper. Not both sides are meant for printing. Take your time to read the directions provided on the leaflet and place the paper correctly on the printer.
2) Not switching on the mirror mode- When printing on light colors, remember to set your printer on the mirror mode. Forgetting to switch on the mirror mode can give you bad and undesired results.
3) Cutting around the image clumsily- Not cutting around the image can leave you with too much fabric which will affect your outcome design. Ensure that you cut around your object as steadily and perfectly as you can.
4) Ironing on uneven surfaces- Never iron on any other surfaces apart from a flat surface. Ironing on a flat surface will help your image to attach evenly and perfectly on the fabric. Avoid using uneven surfaces at all costs because it can become costly to your creation.
5) Applying little pressure- You should not also restrain yourself from applying too much pressure. Too much pressure will ensure effective object transfer to the fabric. Most people fear that applying too much pressure would cause smudging of the color on the surface.
In conclusion, when choosing the best transfer paper, always go for something easy to use and uncomplicated. Choose something with the right characteristics that suit your art and avoid at all cost picking randomly transfer papers from the shelves.
Another thing you should learn as an artist is how to use the transfer paper well. When you purchase sheets of transfer paper, most of them will have detailed directions on how to use them.