How to transfer a picture to wood

How to transfer a picture to wood is one of the most asked questions I get!
One of the easiest ways to transfer your picture on to wood is by printing out the picture that you want to use. Whether you choose to use a photograph or line art to trace on to your wood is entirely up to you. You don’t need anything fancy to get started.

Materials needed:

Reference picture / line art
Pen or pencil
Graphite or carbon paper
Wood
Tape
Eraser

Reference picture, or line art and Graphite or carbon paper, I’m using carbon paper here because that’s what I already had in the draw.

- If you don’t have either graphite or carbon paper, then don’t worry you can use your pencil to scribble across the back of the design, making sure you cover the whole picture.

- Then follow the rest of the guide, but DO NOT use the eraser at the end.

How to transfer a Reference picture to wood, you need a reference picture, line art and carbon paper

Tape, eraser, pencil and your prepped wood, if your not sure how to prep your wood then please see the How to prep your wood guide.

Tools for transferring a picture to wood Tape, eraser, pencil, and live edge wooden board.

Position the picture onto the wood. It’s really important to tape it down so it doesn’t move. ( TIP: stick the tape to the top you are wearing before you tape it to the wood, I know… I know…. this sounds crazy, but it just makes sure that when you peel it off your wood later, it doesn’t peel the wood fibres too).
Once you’ve taped it down place the carbon paper underneath the picture. Making sure it is shiny side down.

Getting ready to transfer a reference picture. Picture taped to the wooden board, and carbon paper place underneath.

Then using your pen or pencil you trace over all the lines that you want, you can trace as much or as little as you like. When you have finished, you can remove you paper and you should be left with all the lines you drew out.

Transferring all the lines with a pencil.

Then the last thing to do is to use the eraser to erase some of the dark carbon lines, and you will be left with some faint lines that are perfect for a pyrography guide.