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I am looking to transfer/trace a short message onto the wooden surface below. However, after trying a few methods including using white chalk and then going over the image with a pen, I wasn't able to get a clean outline of the words.

The surface I am looking to transfer to measures 8.5 cm x 14 cm. The text I will be tracing/transferring will be 7 cm x 3.5 cm. Each letter is 1.4 cm in height. This is supposed to be a personalisation option so the letter sizes will vary for obvious reasons but won't exceed the sizes given.

I am looking for a rough outline of the white letters, which I will then go over with a marker pen to achieve my desired result. I have attached a picture of what kind of result I am interested in (but for letters instead of a rose).

I am pondering using transfer paper but am unsure if it will work on a black surface. Does anyone have any suggestions?

enter image description here enter image description here

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    What have you looked at/tried? What equipment do you have available to you? What sort of finished result are you interested in? Please add some details, right now this is far too open-ended for a good answer.
    – Allison C
    Commented Dec 14, 2023 at 15:14
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    Much better info, voted to reopen... I notice that the surface is fairly rough. That will make transferring and painting/writing the lettering more difficult. Would recommend some sanding between coats of paint.
    – rebusB
    Commented Jun 23 at 16:03
  • I still do not understand what you want to achieve. You say "words" and then you show the contours of a rose bud. Did you try to make one or more stamps (depending of the number of shapes), apply paint on the stamps, and then "stamp" the destination surface? Quite similar with the kindergarden toys, but with the size and content of your desire. The first material which comes to mind is polystyrene, for the ease of use.
    – virolino
    Commented Jul 5 at 9:55
  • If you check my text I very clearly say that words are what I am using to trace if you read the description above.
    – Artsywolf
    Commented Jul 6 at 10:16

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I've done something similar with white transfer paper and it worked really well.

I'm sure you know regular carbon / transfer paper. There are options in white or yellow instead of black / blue. I think they are mostly marketed for tailoring and much harder to find, so an online order is probably your best option. I also once saw a package of 10 black and 3 white transfer papers in an office supply shop.

As an alternative, you can rub white tailors chalk on a sheet of paper and use that as transfer paper. Tailors chalk is extremely cheap and the very cheap stuff usually contains some waxy component that makes it stick to the paper. After transferring it to the wood it survives light touches without rubbing off immediately. Regular school or play chalk lacks this waxy component and comes off the paper and wood too easily when you place your hand on it.

The disadvantage of all mentioned methods is that they contain some wax that stays on the wood. In my case I cut the sections away, so it wasn't an issue. I suggest you check first that your marker can paint over the lines without coming off.

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You might be able to use a print and go over it with a perforation wheel that makes tiny holes in the lines and then draw chalk over top? Or Graphite paper instead of just transfer paper. It'll be different/difficult to see but might be a more effective tool. Good luck!

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The easiest way, if you can get your hands on the technology, would be projecting an image of the text onto the board. You can use a digital projector set up on table top since the target is small. Get a used slightly obsolete one for cheap since you do not need 4k resolution for it to be effective. There are analog projectors as well but those may actually be harder to get your hands on.

In the case of using a digital project you make the artwork on the computer or scan in hand drawn work first. An analog projector would work straight from the hand drawn work or a print if it is done digitally first.

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