Procreate has become one of the most popular digital art applications, offering a wide range of powerful tools and features for artists. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced digital artist, these 10 tips and tricks to use Procreate like a pro will help you make the most of Procreate and enhance your digital art creations. Let’s dive in!
- Customize Your Brushes
- Take Advantage of Layers
- Utilize Blend Modes
- Master the Selection Tools
- Use the QuickMenu Feature
- Experiment with Effects and Adjustments
- Take Advantage of the Reference Feature
- Explore Time-lapse Recording
- Organize your Artwork with Folders and Stacks
- Join the Procreate Community
Customize your brushes
Procreate provides an extensive library of brushes, each offering unique characteristics. However, don’t be afraid to experiment and customize them to suit your style. Adjust brush settings such as size, opacity, and flow to achieve the desired effect.
Explore the Brush Studio to create your own custom brushes, tailoring them to meet your specific artistic needs. This level of customization will allow you to create artwork that stands out and reflects your unique artistic voice.
Take advantage of layers
Layers are a powerful organizational tool in Procreate, allowing you to separate and manipulate different elements of your artwork. Utilize multiple layers to work on specific parts of your composition, such as backgrounds, line art, and color. Adjust layer opacity and blending modes to experiment with different effects and create depth in your artwork. This flexibility will give you greater control over your creative process and enable you to make changes easily without affecting the entire composition.
Utilize blend modes
Blend modes in Procreate enable you to blend colors and layers in various ways, adding visual interest and depth to your artwork. Experiment with different blend modes to achieve stunning effects, such as overlaying textures, creating gradients, or adding luminosity to your colors. Understanding and utilizing blend modes will allow you to create artwork with captivating visual impact.
Master the selection tools
Procreate offers a range of selection tools that allow you to isolate and manipulate specific areas of your artwork with precision. Whether you need to make adjustments, apply effects, or create precise edits, mastering the selection tools is essential. Familiarize yourself with basic selections like rectangles and circles, as well as more advanced options such as the freehand and magic wand tools. With these tools at your disposal, you can refine your artwork with accuracy and efficiency.
The Selection tool can be found by tapping on the “S” icon in your top toolbar in Procreate. Once you open the Selection tool, you’ll see a few options – Automatic, Freehand, Rectangle, and Ellipse.
10 Tips And Tricks To Use Procreate Like A Pro
Procreate’s QuickMenu is a customizable popup menu that gives you instant access to your most frequently used tools and actions. Customize this menu with your preferred brushes, functions, and shortcuts to streamline your workflow. By setting up the QuickMenu with the tools you use most often, you’ll save valuable time and maintain a smooth creative process.
Tap Actions > Prefs > Gesture controls > QuickMenu, and toggle any shortcut to activate QuickMenu.
Experiment with effects and adjustments
Procreate offers a wide array of effects and adjustments that can elevate your artwork to new levels. Explore options like Gaussian Blur, Noise, Color Balance, and Hue/Saturation to add depth, texture, and atmosphere to your compositions. Experimenting with these effects and adjustments will give your artwork a professional finish and allow you to create unique and captivating visuals.
Take advantage of the reference feature
Procreate’s Reference feature allows you to import images or photos directly into your canvas, serving as a visual guide and inspiration for your artwork. Whether you’re working on character designs, landscapes, or still life, having references readily available can greatly improve the accuracy and quality of your artwork. Use the Reference feature to compare proportions, study details, or capture specific color palettes. By incorporating references into your workflow, you’ll create artwork that feels more grounded and lifelike.
Explore time-lapse recording
Procreate’s time-lapse recording feature allows you to capture your entire drawing process as a video. It’s not only a valuable tool for reviewing your workflow but also an opportunity to share your artistic process with others. Time-lapse recordings can be used to create engaging content for social media or serve as a personal archive of your artistic journey. By recording and analyzing your process, you can identify areas for improvement and gain insights into your artistic techniques.
Organize your artwork with folders and stacks
As your collection of artwork grows, organizing your files becomes essential. Procreate offers a convenient way to manage your artwork by allowing you to create folders and stacks. Create folders to group related pieces or projects, and use stacks to further categorize folders based on themes, styles, or time periods.
This organizational system ensures easy access to your artwork and a clutter-free workspace, allowing you to stay focused on your creative process.
10 Tips And Tricks To Use Procreate Like A Pro
Join the Procreate community
One of the greatest benefits of using Procreate is being part of a vibrant and supportive community. Engage with fellow Procreate users, share your artwork, and seek feedback from other artists. Join online forums, social media groups, and art communities dedicated to Procreate. By connecting with like-minded individuals, you can exchange ideas, learn new techniques, and gain inspiration from a diverse range of artists. The Procreate community is a valuable resource that can motivate and encourage you on your artistic journey.
In Conclusion,
By implementing these 10 tips and tricks, you can harness the full potential of Procreate and enhance your digital artwork. Customizing brushes, mastering layers, utilizing blend modes, and exploring various tools and features will allow you to create artwork that is uniquely yours. Taking advantage of time-lapse recording, organizing your artwork, and engaging with the Procreate community will further enrich your artistic experience. Embrace the power of Procreate and let your creativity flourish in the digital realm.
Naturally, you can ask me anything you are wondering on Instagram and check it for more drawings. For more Art & Architecture content, check out my other free resources here. And if you are interest in behind-the-scenes projects and advice about your own project, you can find me on Patreon!
10 Tips And Tricks To Use Procreate Like A Pro