How to Use Procreate: 5 Top Tips

Our 5 top tips will help you learn how to use Procreate. We will show you what you need to know with step-by-step instructions and visual guides. Procreate is a fantastic drawing app for designers, creatives and crafters. We know you’re going to love learning how to use Procreate.

We will be using these Zodiac SVG Signs during this tutorial.

Tip 1 - Create a New Canvas

The Procreate app can be downloaded from the App Store. When you open Procreate, you will see the Gallery where you can view saved files, pre-installed Procreate files or create a new canvas.

Tap on any of the files to open or tap on the “+” icon on the top right corner of the screen to create a new canvas. The drop-down menu will provide a selection of canvas sizes. Each new canvas that is created will be stored in this menu.

Follow our helpful guide for the step-step process of creating a custom canvas.

Tip 2 - Procreate Gestures Control

It's a good idea to become familiar with gestures in Procreate. Gestures are movements made with your Apple Pencil or fingers to activate an action. We have created a visual guide on how to use gestures to help you get started.

Tip 3 - Navigate the Interface

Let’s take a look around the app’s interface. First, we want to open our chosen image. If you have already created a canvas, tap on Gallery and then tap on Import to select your chosen image.

Your newly created canvas will be saved to your Gallery files to be used whenever you want. Each time you tap on Gallery, your design will be saved. Take note that once you do this, you can’t undo any actions.

The Actions Menu

The Actions menu panel is next to the Gallery button, and is also known as the wrench tool with various settings.

Add Settings Menu

Under the Add menu you can add text, insert a file or photo, take a photo and also Cut, Copy and Paste.

Canvas Settings

In the Canvas settings you can crop or resize the canvas, edit animation, set up drawing guides, and also add a reference photo.

The Canvas Information tab allows you to edit the canvas dimensions, layers, colors and so on.

Share your Design in Different Formats

Tap on the Share menu button for the different formats available including animation formats. Here you will export your final design. Tap on any of the formats under Share Image, and then select a location to save the design to.

Video and Time Lapse Recording

Did you know that you can record each step of your design process? It's a great way to connect visually with your viewers. Move the slider for Time-lapse Recording to the right. Your steps will be recorded in Procreate, and then you can tap Time-lapse Replay.

Preferences Menu

The Prefs menu allows you to change the interface, adjust for left and right-handed users, customize Gesture controls, or edit the pen pressure.

Help Navigation Guide

The Help dialog guide allows you to restore purchases, download the 3D pack, includes a handbook and instructions, support and more.

The Adjustments Panel

Here you can edit with Hue, Saturation and Brightness, or add a Gaussian Blur. Find these settings and more under the Adjustments Panel.

Selection Tool Settings

The Selection Tool or “S” icon menu will open at the bottom of the screen. Create selections with the automatic feature, freehand or use the rectangular or elliptical shapes.

We selected the Ellipse and used an Apple pencil to draw the selection around the design. Outside the selection, what isn't selected turns into moving diagonal lines.

Go ahead and add color, an adjustment or draw something. Your edits will be contained within that selection. Tap back on the “S” icon to deselect. Let's take a quick look at the Color Panel before moving on.

Use the Colors Panel

The Colors panel is the circular icon found on the top right corner. Upload your purchased or FREE color palettes or use the pre-installed palettes.

To fill the design with color, first tap the color circle and choose a color. The color will now show as the active color in the circle.

Next, tap + drag the color circle over to your design.

If the color doesn’t fill the entire design, drag your Apple Pencil or finger to the right to carry on adding the fill.

The Transform Button

Next is the Transform button or arrow shaped tool. Select and move the design around on the canvas, rotate it, resize using the side and corner handles, keep the adjustments uniform, distort or warp as needed.

Brush Library

In the Brush Library you will find all of your Procreate brushes and stamps. With Procreate brushes, tap + drag your Apple pencil or finger across the canvas to get a continuous design or flow of “paint”.

To use the Procreate stamps, tap once on the screen to add the stamp to your canvas. For each tap, a stamped image will be added. After installing your brushes, make sure to organize them to keep your library nice and tidy.

Adjust Brush Size and Opacity

The Brush Size and Opacity panel is located on the left side. This can be adjusted by tapping on Actions > Prefs and tapping on the slider for Right-hand Interface.

The top slider adjusts the Brush Size while the bottom slider adjusts the Opacity. Tap the square in between to bring up the eyedropper tool. At the bottom of the panel are the Undo and Redo arrows.

Let's have a look at the Layers panel next before moving on to the Smudge and Eraser tools.

Layers Panel

The Layers Panel is located on the top right corner and looks like two sheets of paper. Creating your design in layers allows you to edit each part separately. The number of layers you can create will depend on your device's storage.

We first want to create a new layer. Tap on the Layers panel, and then tap on the “+” icon to add a new layer. With this layer selected, edits will only apply to that layer.

We then selected a color and applied brush strokes around the design.

Check out our helpful tutorial on how to use layers in Procreate. You can also change the opacity of a layer, add a clipping mask or even copy multiple layers to a new canvas.

The Smudge and Eraser Tools

The Smudge Tool is the hand icon while the Eraser Tool looks like a typical eraser. Under both menus you have the same brushes and stamps as those found under the Brush Library.

Quickly toggle between the tools with a simple tap and hold. Make sure that the Brush Library icon is selected, then tap + hold on the Smudge or Eraser tool.

A notification at the top of the screen will tell you that the current brush is now being used.

The Smudge tool was used to smooth out the brush strokes but it also works great when blending colors. Did you know that there is more than one way to blend colors in Procreate?

We then toggled over to the Eraser tool. Texture was created by removing areas of color around the design.

Tip 4 - Draw Perfect Lines with Quickshape

Draw a perfect circle or a straight line quickly and easily with Quickshape in Procreate. Draw your shape, hold down one finger on the screen to smooth it out, and then place a second finger on the screen to make a perfect shape.

Tip 5 - Copy and Paste Feature

There are a few ways that you can copy and paste in Procreate. This depends on what you want to do with your design. Copy over your design to a new canvas, duplicate single elements or use the selection tool.

We first selected our layer, and then tapped on Actions > Add > Copy.

Once you tap Copy, the menu will then only allow you to Paste.

After pasting, the Transform menu will pop up with the copy placed directly over the original, but on its own layer. You can now move it around, change the color and edit it as you want.

Bring your designs to life with tons of features available in Procreate. With the tips in this tutorial, you can start creating digital art immediately. From there on, you can learn more advanced tools and techniques!