Tracing Pads ⁽⁸⁾

Tracing Paper and Pads

Tracing paper for drawing, pattern transfer, overlays and layout work. Our range covers A4 and A3 pads in weights from 75gsm up to 115gsm, from brands including Art Spectrum and Eraldo di Paolo. Handy for illustrators, students, pattern makers and anyone moving a sketch onto a final surface.

How to choose a tracing paper pad

Start with what you're actually making. If you just want to lay a thin sheet over a reference and copy the lines, a lighter weight is fine. If you plan to trace, flip and press the drawing onto canvas or wood, you want something that handles pencil pressure on both sides without tearing.

GSM is just how heavy a square metre of paper is. Lighter pads around 75gsm are see-through and good for quick overlays. Mid-weights around 95gsm balance clarity and durability. Heavier 115gsm sheets suit repeated handling, ink work and transfer.

For an affordable first pad, the Eraldo di Paolo A4 Tracing Pad 100gsm 25 Sheets is a sensible pick. For bigger transfer jobs, the Art Spectrum A3 115gsm 50 sheet pad gives you room and strength. Once your drawing is traced and ready for colour or ink, move it onto a proper surface from our drawing pads.

Tracing paper sizes and weights

A4 pads suit sketchbook work, illustration roughs, hand-lettering and small pattern pieces. A3 pads give you the extra room for larger compositions, sewing patterns, animation roughs and transfers onto bigger canvases or boards. Sheet count matters too. Sheet count matters when comparing pads, but a 50-sheet pad is not automatically cheaper per sheet. Compare the current price, GSM and sheet count before choosing. 

How to transfer a drawing to canvas, paper or wood

Tracing is a normal part of making art. There are three practical methods.

Method 1: DIY graphite transfer. Trace your drawing onto tracing paper. Flip the sheet and shade the back of your lines with a soft graphite pencil, around a 4B or 6B. Place the sheet graphite-side down on your canvas, paper or wood panel, then re-trace the lines firmly. You'll lift a clean graphite outline onto the surface.

Method 2: Commercial graphite or carbon paper. Slide a sheet of graphite or carbon paper between your tracing and the final surface, then re-trace. We don't currently stock dedicated transfer or carbon paper, so most of our customers go with the DIY graphite method above.

Method 3: Light pad or sunlit window. Tape the original to the glass or light pad, lay fresh paper over the top and redraw. Best for paper, not canvas or wood.

For oil or acrylic painting, keep the transferred graphite lines light and remove any loose or excess graphite before painting. Heavy graphite can smudge into the first paint layer or remain visible through transparent colours. On raw wood, a lighter touch keeps the transfer crisp.

Light pads for tracing

A light pad helps when you're redrawing fine linework, cleaning up animation roughs or copying a sketch onto fresh paper. The backlight makes faint lines easy to follow without pressing hard.

Light pads are not listed in this tracing-pad collection, but Riot currently stocks an A3 Triumph LED Super Slim Light Pad in the lighting range. A sunlit window can also work for occasional paper tracing. Choose a light pad with even illumination and a surface large enough for the paper you use most often. 

Beginner, student or artist grade

Beginner. A 75gsm A4 pad is plenty for practising overlays and getting a feel for how tracing paper handles pencil and ink. Low cost, low pressure.

Student. A 95gsm pad gives you more durability for coursework, pattern pieces and repeated tracing without the sheet creasing or tearing.

Artist. A 115gsm pad in A3 suits repeated transfer work, ink and finished presentation pieces where the sheet needs to behave more like a drawing paper.

Why shop with Riot

• 40+ years supporting Australian makers across every skill level
• Brands in this range include Art Spectrum and Eraldo di Paolo 
• Customer support Monday to Friday, reply within one business day
• Shipping and returns across Australia with clear published policies

FAQs

What is tracing paper used for?

Tracing paper is a semi-transparent sheet used to copy a drawing, transfer a design onto another surface, work out overlays, or plan layouts. Illustrators use it for refining line work, sewers use it for pattern pieces, animators use it for roughs, and painters use it to transfer a sketch onto canvas or board before painting.

Tracing paper vs transfer paper vs carbon paper, what is the difference?

Tracing paper is clear and used to copy a drawing by eye. Transfer paper has a coated side that deposits pigment onto the surface below when you press on it. Graphite transfer paper leaves pencil-like marks that erase cleanly. Carbon paper leaves a darker, waxier line that doesn't erase well and is better for notes than fine art.

How do I transfer a drawing to canvas without transfer paper?

Use the DIY graphite method. Trace your drawing onto tracing paper, flip the sheet, and shade the back of every line with a soft graphite pencil. Place the sheet graphite-side down on the canvas and re-trace the lines firmly with a sharp pencil or stylus. You'll lift a clean outline onto the canvas, ready to paint.

What GSM tracing paper should I choose?

Choose 75gsm for quick overlays and roughs where you want maximum transparency. Choose 95gsm for everyday illustration and pattern work. Choose 115gsm when you're transferring, inking or handling the sheet repeatedly, as it resists tearing and creasing much better. If you're new to tracing, a mid-weight pad is a safe first choice.

What size tracing pad do I need, A4 or A3?

Pick A4 for sketchbook-scale illustration, lettering, small pattern pieces and most study work. Pick A3 if you're working on larger compositions, sewing patterns, animation sheets or transferring onto bigger canvases and boards. If you often sketch loose before tracing, a larger sketching paper pad pairs well with an A3 tracing pad.

Do you deliver tracing paper across Australia?

Yes. We ship tracing pads and the rest of our range Australia-wide. Delivery options and timing are on our shipping page, and our team is available Monday to Friday if you need help choosing the right pad before you order.

You might also need

• Artist pads
• Marker pads for bleed-proof work
• Graphite pencils
• Sketching paper
• Drawing pads