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Learn to Draw with Procreate
This article will cover the Procreate Basics all beginner Digital Artists should know to start making digital art in Procreate.
Starting with Procreate
In my opinion, Procreate is one of the best apps to get started making digital art. It’s a powerhouse of creativity, designed to help artists of all skill levels bring their imaginations to life. Truly the perfect software for all beginner digital artists, like me. Today let’s explore some essential tips and tricks to help you get started with Procreate and make your digital art journey a breeze
Related Post: How to Start Digital Art From Scratch
Procreate Drawing Trips
Procreate is packed with features that can take your drawings from good to great at the tip of your fingers. These are a few tips to every beginner should keep in mind:
- Master Gestures: Procreate supports various gestures that can speed up your workflow. Changing direction in your design doesn’t mean starting over anymore. Instead, tap with two fingers on your screen to undo your last strokes and three fingers to redo. Learn these gestures and more to save time and improve efficiency.
- Utilize QuickShape: As a beginner, straight lines and perfect shapes are difficult. The Quickshape feature helps you create perfect shapes in seconds so you can keep drawing.
- Experiment with Brushes: Procreate offers a vast array of brushes that mimic real-life textures and effects. Don’t stick to just one brush—experiment with different types to find what works best for your style or surprise yourself with something new!
- Use Layers to Your Advantage: Layers are a game-changer in digital art. They let you separate different elements of your drawing. Layers make the sketching process as you can edit and adjust anything without affecting the whole piece.
Procreate Basics: Lines in Procreate
Lines are the foundation of any drawing, and mastering them in Procreate is crucial. Here’s what you need to know:
- Stabilization Settings: If your lines tend to be shaky, use the stabilization settings under the brush options. This feature smooths out your lines, making them look more polished and professional.
- Pressure Sensitivity: Procreate’s brushes respond to the pressure you apply with your Apple Pencil. Practice varying your pressure to see how it affects line thickness and texture.
Tip: One of the best ways to practice Pressure Sensitivity is to write words. Calligraphy often uses different pressures to create certain letters. Spend 30 minutes writing your name in Procreate and familiarize yourself with how different pressure looks with the Apple Pencil.
How to Draw Straight Lines in Procreate
Drawing straight lines in Procreate is a breeze:
- Draw and Hold: Simply draw a line and hold your pencil on the screen for a second. Procreate will automatically straighten the line for you.
- Line Tool: Use the QuickShape tool by drawing a line and holding it, then place a finger on the screen to make the line snap perfectly horizontal, vertical, or at a 45-degree angle.
Procreate Basics: Shapes in Procreate
Shapes are another crucial element in your drawings. Here’s how to master them in Procreate:
- QuickShape Tool: Draw a rough shape and hold your pencil to let Procreate perfect it. Touch the screen with another finger to constrain it to a specific dimension, such as a perfect circle or square.
- Selection Tool: Use the selection tool to create custom shapes. Draw around the area you want to shape and use the transform tool to adjust it as needed.
How to Color Inside the Lines in Procreate
Coloring inside the lines can be tricky on a digital canvas, but Procreate makes it simple with these techniques:
- Alpha Lock: Use Alpha Lock on a layer to paint only within the existing pixels. This is perfect for adding details and shading without going outside the lines.
- Clipping Masks: Create a new layer above your base layer and set it as a clipping mask. Anything you draw on this layer will only appear within the boundaries of the layer below it.
- Color Fill Tool: Drag a color from the color wheel in the top right corner with the Apple Pencil to the section you want to fill. Release pressure and the color will automatically fill the space.
Note: If the section is not completely closed, the color fill tool will color the whole page instead of the intended section.
Procreate Basics: Layers in Procreate
Layers are fundamental in Procreate. They help you organize and separate different parts of your artwork:
- Creating and Managing Layers: Add new layers for different elements of your drawing. You can also use different layers to separate different steps of your artwork. For example, you can have a layer for your sketch, then the color, and finally the highlights and shadows.
Tip: Rename the layers to keep track of what’s on each one.
- Layer Opacity: Adjust the opacity of layers to create transparency effects, great for shadows and highlights.
- Layer Blending Modes: Experiment with blending modes to see how layers interact with each other. This can create some stunning effects and make your art shine.
How to Use Layers in Procreate
Layers can seem daunting at first, but are really helpful once you know how to use them. These are ways layers can help your process as you draw:
- Start with a Sketch Layer: Begin your drawing on a sketch layer. Get out all of your ideas and don’t worry about it looking perfect. Then when you are ready to start drawing, lower its opacity and create a new layer on top for your line art.
- Color on Separate Layers: Keep your colors on separate layers from your line art. This makes it easy to adjust colors without affecting the lines. You can also do the same for highlights and shadows. Add them to new layers so that you can change these elements without affecting the whole piece.
- Use Layer Groups: Organize your layers into groups. This is especially useful for complex drawings with many elements.
Beginner Digital Art Ideas
Now that you have the basics down, here are some fun and easy digital art ideas to get you started:
- Zentangle Art: Dive into the world of Zentangle, a method of creating beautiful images using structured patterns. It’s a great way to relax and improve your line work. Start with simple patterns and gradually combine them to create intricate designs.
- Sacred Geometry: Explore the fascinating world of sacred geometry, which involves drawing geometric shapes and patterns that hold spiritual significance. Use Procreate’s symmetry tools to create perfectly balanced designs, and experiment with different shapes like circles, triangles, and hexagons.
- Digital Handlettering: Practice your typography skills with digital handlettering. Start with basic letterforms and then move on to more elaborate scripts. Procreate offers a variety of brushes that mimic calligraphy pens, making it easy to achieve beautiful results.
- Henna Doodles: Get inspired by the intricate patterns of henna art. These designs typically feature floral and paisley motifs, and you can use Procreate’s brushes to mimic the look of henna on paper. It’s a great way to practice your drawing precision and attention to detail.
- Abstract Art: Experiment with abstract shapes and colors. This is a great way to get comfortable with Procreate’s tools without worrying about realism. Let your creativity flow freely as you explore different color palettes, brush textures, and composition techniques.
With these tips and ideas, you’re well on your way to creating amazing digital art in Procreate. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep experimenting and have fun with your creative journey!
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