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How To Transfer Designs To Wood Without Using Heat

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how to put a picture onto wood

If you want to learn all the ways we transfer designs to wood, check out The Wood Burn Book by Rachel Strauss.

To get started with a design, grab one of our free templates, check out our template books or visit the templates store!

 

top 3 ways to easily transfer an image onto wood


1.GRAPHITE

Note: you may come across carbon paper which looks the same and transfers the same. The biggest difference is that carbon is much harder to get off of the wood after the transfer so stick to graphite when you can!

how to get a design onto wood

PRO’s Only need graphite paper, design, tape and a pencil. Low cost, easy to use and does a great job transferring even detailed designs. Graphite paper can be reused numerous times, and your designs can be used again as well.

CON’s: Graphite doesn’t remove easily on wood, so you have to be really careful with the transferring (don’t press too hard). Accidental smudges can happen easily. Store graphite separately from wood to make sure they don’t rub together. If you do get any smudges or leftover graphite, there is a chance you can save it by giving it a gentle sand with a 180 to 220 grit sandpaper (a finer grit sandpaper). Here are some other ways to remove leftover lines from transferring or drawing your design.

How to transfer using graphite:

  1. After you’ve chosen a design and sized it to your sanded down wood slice; line it up and secure it using tape.

  2. Slide the graphite paper, dark side facing the wood, underneath the design.

  3. Take your pencil/pen/embossing tool and follow your design lines using light-medium pressure. Ensure you follow the design lines as closely as possible.

  4. Check on the progress of your design, but do not move around or remove the design until you check to make sure it has completely transferred.

This video below features a Woodland Snail Template by Maria Johnson maple & Fern Co. from The Community Book of Templates, Volume 2. I used transfer paper to omit having to cut up the book or print anything and just traced it right off of the page!

 
 

You can also get White Graphite

Use the same technique as graphite paper but on a dark background, like walnut wood. The darker the background, the better this method shows up!

 

2. BLUE CHACO PAPER

PRO’s: Transfers easily like graphite paper, easily removes with damp cloth. Doesn’t stain/scar wood. Can be removed entirely.

CON’s: Be careful not to use too much water. It rubs off easily, so it is not great for long-term use. Also, since it blue in colour, it’s little harder to see on the wood if your wood is light.

transfer an image onto wood

This is a special paper with blue chalk on it. It transfers much like graphite paper, but erases with just a damp cloth.

How to transfer using ChACO paper:

  1. Tape your design onto your wood, face up.

  2. Slide the blue Chaco paper underneath with the blue side facing the wood.

  3. Follow your design lines using an embossing tool or a ballpoint pen.

  4. Check on progress of transfer, and remove design and chaco paper when everything has transferred Can be used for woodburning.

  5. After wood burning is complete, you can remove the excess chaco markings with a damp cloth.

You can also use White Chaco Paper

Works the same as blue chaco paper but is great for an already darkened background, the darker the better. Can be removed with a damp cloth, sand eraser or mars plastic eraser.

3. Pencil on Paper

We like to use the Tombow Pencils $9 (6 pack) or Ticonderoga Pencils $5 (12 pack) but any pencil will do; the softer the lead, the better (ie. 10B is better to use versus a 2B or any H’s)

transfer pencil on paper.jpeg

PRO’s: It doesn’t require any fancy tools. It works well, and makes for a nice transfer. Works well for fonts and most designs.

CON’s: Time consuming, messy and can have some missing spots. Not great for really fine detailed pieces.

  1. Take your design and flip it over

  2. Blacken/shade the entire backside of your design with an extra-soft pencil, or any line that you will want transferred. Go past the lines on either side, to give yourself some wiggle room when you do the actual transfer.

  3. Flip it back over, with the blackened side down, and carefully place and secure it to the wood slice. You don’t want to rub or move it around too much, because it will rub onto the wood.

  4. Take your pen/pencil/embossing tool and go over the design with a light to medium pressure. Follow your lines as closely as possible. The more precise your transfer, the better your design will look.

  5. Ensure you have completed the transfer before removing the design.

 
 
 

Click Here to see the instructions on how to transfer your image using heat.

For more pyrography tips and tricks and to learn wood burning at your own pace from your home consider The Complete Wood Burning Toolkit.