Underlagetrensing

Underlagetrensing is a technique used to reproduce a design by tracing the outlines from a base drawing onto a new surface. The term is commonly encountered in Danish-speaking contexts and is associated with methods that transfer existing lines without redrawing the entire composition.

The technique typically involves a translucent intermediary layer, such as tracing paper, placed over the original. A light source or a viewing table helps illuminate the lines, allowing the designer to trace them onto the target surface with a pencil, ink, or other marking tool. Alternatives include carbon transfer methods or mechanical devices that guide the tracing, such as pantographs, to maintain scale and accuracy.

Practice and workflow commonly follow a few steps: prepare and secure the base drawing, select an appropriate tracing medium and target surface, align the two sheets precisely, and carefully trace the visible lines. After tracing, the transfer is checked for accuracy and any necessary adjustments are made before finalizing with the chosen media, whether it be ink, paint, or digital reproduction.

Variants of underlagetrensing include digital equivalents, where scanned lines are vectorized or traced using drawing software, effectively replacing physical tracing with a digital transfer. In traditional contexts, the method remains valued for its simplicity, low cost, and the ability to produce multiple reproducible copies while preserving the original drawing.

Applications span architectural and industrial drafting, pattern making, map reproduction, and art or craft projects that require faithful line transfer. See also tracing, transfer drawing, and pattern making.