Learn all about the Cricut Brightpad and Brightpad Go. This Cricut craft accessory is a portable light box that helps make weeding, tracing and various craft projects a little easier by adding extra light right where you need it.
The Brightpad is a companion to the Cricut cutting machine family, however, you don’t need a Cricut machine to use the Brightpad. Use the Brightpad with your Cricut projects and other illustration and craft projects. Read below to find out how to use it and why you might need it.
Cricut BrightPad Get Started Guide
The Cricut BrightPad is a crafting tool that helps add backlit light source to your project table. This is a portable tool so you can easily pack it up in a backpack and take it with you and use on the go. The Bright Pad Go, with its wireless functionality, is especially travel friendly.
What is the Cricut BrightPad
The Cricut Bright Pad is a light box allow you to easily apply a light source under a project.
How does the BrightPad work?
The BrightPad (and BrightPad Go) is a light box style tool that you can use add light from behind or under a project. There are no settings other than choosing how bright you’d like the light to be. Depending on which BrightPad you have, plug it in to turn it on or charge the the battery.
Just look how easy it is to see these cut lines in the holographic glitter vinyl below. This material is so difficult to weed because detailed cuts easily get lost. But, with the BrightPad, the light shines through the cut lines and weeding goes much quicker!
To use the BrightPad:
- Place it on your work surface and turn it on with the power button
- Adjust the light to the brightness you prefer.
- Place your project on top of the BrightPad, allowing the light to shine through your project.
For weeding, adjust the light until you can see the cut lines in your material. For tracing, first place the design you’d like to trace then place your paper or other material on top. The light should allow you to see the original design under your blank paper. Trace however you’d like.
Take a look at this video to see the Bright pad in action.
What projects can I make with the Cricut BrightPad?
The Cricut Bright Pad is perfect for projects that need some extra light, especially under or behind the project. Two common project types that benefit from this kind of added light are tracing and weeding.
For tracing, placing a light behind a design, the art is easier to see to trace on the top paper. I used to tape my art ideas up on the patio door and then trace… no more! The BrightPad makes tracings so much easier without the need of a big, bulky light table.
When weeding, a backlit light source of a light box helps to illuminate the cut lines much better. The Bright Pad also helps light up a project when working with a number of material layers.
Make a quick phone case design with the help of the Cricut Brightpad Go.
I created a quick phone case design using Cricut Design Space, my Cricut Joy, the Brightpad Go and some holographic vinyl plus transfer tape (ohhh sparkly!). You can use a Brightpad and any Cricut machine you’d like.
Go to the project canvas, follow the on-screen instructions to cut the vinyl. Place the vinyl (with backing) on the Brightpad and adjust the lighting until you can see the cut lines. Use a weeding tool to weed the design as needed. With a piece of transfer tape, apply the vinyl design to your phone case. That’s it!
More ways to use a BrightPad:
- Coloring intricate designs
- Working on paper crafts in dim lit areas or at night
- Hand lettering practice without printing new sheets over and over
- Layering project pieces together
- Lining up vinyl layers before applying to your project
The Cricut BrightPad (and BrightPad Go) is the perfect companion tool when create art with the Cricut Pens or Infusible Ink too.
What is the difference between the Cricut BrightPad and Cricut BrightPad Go?
The Cricut BrightPad and BrightPad Go are very similar. The main difference is the Go version is wireless. They are about the same size (9.5″ x 11″) and weight. Both devices have a power button and multiple lighting strengths that can easily be adjusted with a simple button control. Both come with a power cord as well.
Is a BrightPad worth it?
The BrightPad makes weeding or tracing projects easier. I think it’s a fantastic tool to help with these types of projects. The BrightPad is lightweight and easy to use. While it’s not a required too when making Cricut Projects, it sure does come in handy, especially if you work with a fine detail, multi-layers or illustrations.
