Turn a tablet or laptop into a light box for tracing. Lay thin paper over the bright white screen and the lines underneath show through, so you can trace drawings, lettering and patterns.
How to trace on a screen
- Lay the tablet or laptop screen flat and turn the brightness all the way up.
- Press F or the fullscreen button so the whole screen is white.
- Place the drawing you want to copy on the screen, with a sheet of thin paper on top.
- Tape the two sheets together so they do not shift, then trace with a pencil, pressing lightly.
Protect your screen
Use a pencil or a soft felt pen and press lightly. A hard point can mark the glass. A clear plastic sleeve or a screen protector between the paper and the screen adds safety.
Touches can reach a touchscreen through thin paper. On an iPad, Guided Access locks the screen to this page, so stray touches do nothing.
Which paper works best
Tracing paper and thin printer paper work best. Thicker paper and card let little light through, so turn the room lights down to make the lines stand out.
Questions
Can I use an iPad as a light box?
Yes. Open this page in Safari, turn the brightness all the way up and lock the screen rotation. Turn off True Tone and Night Shift so the white stays neutral.
Is a screen bright enough to trace through paper?
Through thin paper, yes. For thicker paper, darken the room and use full brightness.
Will tracing damage my screen?
Not if you press lightly with a pencil and keep a plastic sleeve or screen protector between the paper and the glass.
Is it free?
Yes. There is no account, no download and no time limit. It runs in your browser and never asks for camera, microphone or location access.