In this article, we will be going over some tips and tricks on how to create a new canvas, set dimensions and resolution, save canvas as a template, choose color profile, edit time-lapse recording quality, and rename and delete canvas templates.
Plus, a bonus section on my favorite templates to save you time and improve your workflow.
Press the plus sign in the top right corner of the Gallery to create a new canvas. And if you want to create a new canvas template, press the little plus just below the original plus icon.
While in canvas settings, you can tap on the "Untitled Canvas" at the top to rename it. Or when in the menu showing all your canvas templates, you can swipe to the left on any template and edit, or delete it.
This is a great way to keep your templates clean and save you time from making a new canvas each time you want to start a project.
When creating a new canvas, you can choose the width and height in pixels, and the DPI resolution. It's important to start with a decent-sized canvas and not something that is too small, as resizing a canvas later on will not increase the quality.
We recommend leaving the DPI at 300 as that will be perfect for print if you choose to in the future.
Procreate offers several color profile options: sRGB, P3, and CMYK. sRGB is the standard color profile accepted by most monitors and devices, and P3 will display the largest gamut of colors.
However, it's important to know what you're creating, and where it will be used when choosing color profiles. If you're unsure which one to use, stick with sRGB IEC61966-2.1.
Procreate also offers a built-in feature of recording time-lapse, which is pretty awesome. In the canvas creation section, you can choose the quality at which the time-lapse records.
I like to keep my settings at "2K" and "Studio Quality" to ensure a good balance between quality and file size, but you can choose a 4K recording or Lossless File size if you prefer.
In this section, you can set the default background color for the project, which can be changed once the project is open.
You also have the option to hide the background at the start if you wish. This is a personal preference and up to you.
I find myself using a few aspect ratios more than others. Here is a list of my favorites:
Aspect Ratio | Name | Size | DPI |
---|---|---|---|
1:1 | Square | 5000 x 5000px | 300dpi |
4:5 | Tall IG Post | 3000 x 3750px | 300dpi |
16:9 | Landscape Screen | 2160 x 3840px | 300dpi |
9:16 | Vertical Screen | 3840 x 2160px | 300dpi |
If these templates cause you to have not enough layers, simply divide the size by 2, and use a half smaller canvas. These sizes are intentionally large for future resizing and print.
By following these tips and tricks, you'll be able to master canvas creation in Procreate and improve your workflow. Happy creating!
]]>Procreate offers the ability to customize your gesture controls to fit your personal preferences. To access these settings:
Here, you can adjust settings such as the delay for the QuickShape and Eye Dropper tools. Experiment with these settings to find what works best for you.
In addition to these essential gestures, Procreate is constantly updating their accessibility features to assist users with any difficulty using touch gestures. Keep an eye out for new updates and features to make your editing experience even smoother.
In conclusion, mastering Procreate's touch gestures can greatly improve your workflow and make your editing experience more enjoyable. Take some time to memorize these essential gestures and customize them to fit your personal preferences. With practice, these gestures will become second nature and allow you to edit with ease.
]]>The automatic selection tool is great, but definitely has its downsides (messy, inaccurate, sometimes unpredictable).
At the same time, the freehand selection tool is time-consuming and requires a lot of precision.
Fear not, there is a way to make your life easier. The Save and Load Selections tool allows you to save your original selections and reuse them later.
Say goodbye to separate layers for each item and hello to a more efficient workflow.
When you first create your selection, save it by pressing the "Save and Load" button and then clicking the "plus" button. Now you can quickly access your saved selections and apply them to your painting.
For example, if you saved a selection of the sky, you can easily select the sky again without having to go through the process of creating a new selection. The same goes for the mountains, trees, snow, and shadows.
Saved selections can also come in handy when adding texture to specific parts of your painting. Instead of having a separate layer for each item, you can collapse them all into one layer and still be able to access your saved selections.
For example, let's say you want to add some texture to your tree. Simply select the tree layer, paint the texture, and voila! You now have a textured tree without the hassle of separate layers.
The Save and Load tool is also a great way to repeat shape language in your painting. By using your saved selections, you can create new layers and fill them in with different colors to create a repeating pattern.
For example, you can take the selection of your trees, create a new layer, fill it in with a different color, and use it as a layer for smaller bushes or trees. This can give your painting a cohesive and appealing look as the shapes mimic each other.
The Save and Load Selections tool is a valuable tool in your painting arsenal. By saving your selections, you can reuse them in different parts of your painting, create repeating patterns, and streamline your workflow. Give it a try and see how it can enhance your painting process.
If you'd like to see more about the Save and Load tool and creative ways to use it, let me know in the comments.
]]>Digital art creation has become increasingly popular over the years, and Procreate is a leading app in the digital art world. The app is only available on iPad, which may leave some artists wondering if they can access it on other devices. In this article, we will discuss the availability of Procreate on different devices and suggest some alternatives for PC and Android users.
Procreate is exclusive to iPad and is not available for PC or Android, but there are alternatives for PC and Android users.
Procreate's unique touch-focused design makes it difficult to replicate on other devices. While there are alternatives available for PC and Android users, they may not offer the same experience as Procreate.
There are several alternatives to Procreate that aim to provide good drawing tools and layers for a low budget. Some of these include:
Software | Compatible Devices |
---|---|
Clip Studio Paint | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
MediBang Paint | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
Krita | Windows, Mac, Android |
Gimp | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android |
Paint Tool Sai | Windows |
Fire Alpaca | Windows, Mac |
Alchemy | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Ibis Paint | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
While these alternatives can provide a similar experience to Procreate, to get the same touch-focused experience, you would need to use a screen tablet. Unfortunately, these can be quite expensive, with the cheapest ones being around $200 on Amazon. Additionally, screen tablets for PC or Mac are monitors and can't be used separately from your desktop. Cheap screen tablets tend to be low resolution, and dual monitor setups can be complicated and not very intuitive, depending on your graphics card. For most people, it is not very convenient to use them.
If you are looking for something that closely mimics the UI and feel of the real Procreate app, it might be worth investing in an iPad, Apple Pencil, and the Procreate app.
If you are already an iPad and Procreate user, but you find the screen too small, you can use a thunderbolt cable to project your canvas onto an external monitor. This allows you to have a bigger screen while still using the Procreate app. It's a great option for those who have trouble seeing small details or want to show their work on a bigger screen.
If you are on a tight budget, you don't have to worry about shelling out for expensive software subscriptions like Photoshop. There are some great alternatives that allow you to create digital art from your PC or Android device, and the best part is that they don't cost an arm and a leg.
Here are some affordable Procreate alternatives for desktop users:
Some of the free Procreate alternatives are nice... But it's worth noting that if you really like the look and feel of Procreate, it is best to invest in an iPad, Apple Pencil, and the Procreate app. While these desktop apps can be a good option, using a drawing tablet that connects to your device comes with an extra cost.
Procreate is a fantastic app that is specifically designed for iPad and is a great option for those who want to create digital art. It has an incredible brush system and UI that is easy to get started with. There are tons of great add-ons, like brushes, textures, and color palettes. But it's not expanding to other operating systems anytime soon.
While it's not available on PC or Android, there are some excellent alternatives that offer similar features and benefits.
When it comes to selecting a digital art creation tool, it's important to find one that suits your needs and budget. While Procreate may be the best option for iPad users, there are affordable alternatives available for PC and Android users.
At the end of the day, what matters most is finding the right tool that allows you to express your creativity and create beautiful digital art. So, take some time to explore the options available, and don't be afraid to try something new.
Procreate allows you to organize your projects into stacks, which are similar to folders. To do this, simply tap and hold on any project, then drag it onto another. Pause for a second so the color turns blue, and then release. This will organize the artwork into a folder/stack. Note: You cannot have a stack inside another stack, but you can have multiple projects in a single stack.
Easily rename a project file by tapping on the project name (below the thumbnail) and typing a new name. To delete a project, simply swipe left on the project thumbnail and press the delete button. It's important to note that if you delete a project there is no way to get it back, so be sure to periodically share your projects to another device for backup.
Procreate allows you to export your projects in various formats, such as PNG, Animated GIF, MP4, PSD, and more. To export a project, simply swipe left on the project thumbnail and press the share button. This will open the format window, where you have many options to choose from. You can also choose "select" at the top of the gallery and select multiple projects at once to export.
Procreate allows you to import files and photos from various sources, such as your iPad, files app, Dropbox, iCloud Drive, and any drives currently connected to your iPad.
If you're looking to import brushes, textures, or fonts, you'll have to import them a different way (outlined in this article).
In conclusion, mastering project management in Procreate is crucial in order to keep your projects organized, easily find what you need, and efficiently export and share your work. Remember to take advantage of the organizational features that Procreate offers and make sure to backup your projects regularly. Happy creating!
You can experiment with different types of Procreate brushes and find what works best for your style.
Some brushes, like my Creator XL Bundle, have all the brushes organized neatly into separate folders. This makes it much easier for you to find what you need, when you actually need it.
You can do a similar thing with your own brushes. Make sure to organize them in folders, just like your Procreate project files.
This might not seem important, but it helps a ton in the long run because it will consistently save you time on every project!
Enjoy creating,
Timmy
Procreate's guides and grids feature is a powerful tool that can help you achieve precise layouts, perfect centering, and create visible sections of your canvas.
In this article, we'll explore the different types of grids available in Procreate and how to use them to improve your workflow.
To turn on the drawing guide, simply tap the wrench in the top left of the screen, then choose the Canvas tab and tap the Drawing Guide button to toggle it on.
Once the grid is toggled on, you can edit your grids with the "Edit drawing guide" button.
This menu allows you to adjust the sliders at the bottom for grid size and visibility, or tap on a point to reveal the option to reset it back to its default position. You can learn to Precisely adjust sliders in procreate here!
The green point is a rotation point that can be used to adjust the 2D grid angle.
If your grid is difficult to see, you can adjust the opacity and thickness at the bottom or change the color of the grid in the Drawing Guides window.
2D Grid: These 2D Procreate grids are good for layouts, centering your designs, and creating visible sections of your canvas.
Isometric Grid: This grid overlays a perfectly isometric grid over your Procreate canvas. This helps to visualize a perfectly even 3D perspective on a 2D surface. Each angle is made up of 30 degrees and will have no distortion like a normal perspective grid would have.
Perspective Grid: The perspective grid in Procreate allows you to create your own perspective by adding, removing, and adjusting your own points. You can tap on the screen to create a new point, adjust the color, drag to change the position, and tap again to select or delete the point. With a maximum of 3 points, you can set up scenes to mimic a reference or create a new space from scratch.
Symmetry Grid: Symmetry grids create sections of the canvas that will mirror each other. The normal symmetry grid shows a vertical grid. In the bottom right corner, there is an "Options" button that displays additional settings for the Symmetry grids. You can change between vertical, horizontal, quadrant, and radial. All of these sections will mirror one another when the assisted drawing is turned on. You can also toggle the Rotational Symmetry button which will mirror the sections in a different way.
Drawing Assist is a feature that can be toggled on with any of the drawing guides and symmetry effects, but each one behaves a little bit differently.
Procreate's Drawing Assist can make drawing with grids much more enjoyable. It's like a helping hand that guides your pencil strokes along the grids!
For 2D, Isometric, and Perspective grids, the Drawing Assist option will cause your brush strokes to follow along the path of your guides. With the Symmetry Grid, turning on Drawing Assist will cause your strokes to be mirrored along the guides.
Drawing Assist can be turned on in the Drawing Guides window or in the layers panel by tapping on the layer thumbnail and pressing "Drawing Assist".
Note: Each Procreate canvas has its own grid settings, so you'll need to set this up each time you create a new project!
In conclusion, Procreate's guides and grids feature is a powerful tool that can help you achieve precise layouts, perfect centering, and help to create easily identifiable sections of your canvas. With the different types of grids available, you can experiment and find which one works best for your projects. So, take some time to explore and master this feature and see how it can improve your workflow.
Have Fun :)
To precisely adjust the brush slider in Procreate you need to tap and hold on the brush slider, then move your finger horizontally away from the slider to increase precision. This will allow you to fine-tune the brush size by moving in smaller increments.
👇🏼 Check out the video below that demonstrates this feature in action!
Having greater control over your brush size will allow you to have cleaner linework in Procreate. In some art styles, having too many conflicting line weights can really muck up your design.
In other styles, it may be welcomed, but even if you choose to use different line-weights, you don't want them to be random.
Having control is important in any case.
This precise control helps you to intentionally choose the brush size so that your drawing feels more balanced and controlled.
Maybe you're going to leave a drawing and revisit it later, without having precise control over your brush size, it can be difficult to match your previous linework.
To my surprise, not many beginners know about this rad feature. They are unaware that the precise brush slider trick can be applied across EVERY slider in Procreate!
You can tap and hold on to any slider, and move your finger perpendicular to that slider to adjust it in smaller increments. You can use this feature with color sliders, opacity sliders, canvas dimensions, and every other slider available in Procreate.
Once you get the hang of using this trick, it will become a habit in your workflow, allowing you to work quicker and with higher accuracy!
What about times when you need to save your brush size in Procreate? Is this possible? Yes!
You can easily save your brush size in Procreate by tapping on the brush slider, then pressing the plus sign to save the selected brush size. This will save the brush size directly to that brush so you can return to it anytime.
👇🏼 Check out the GIF below that shows how to save brush sizes!
You can also save multiple sizes on each brush, and on your opacity slider. This allows for far greater control in Procreate and will ensure your linework is consistent across your artwork.
I have spent a ton of time perfecting my brush sets, and most of them have pre-saved brush sizes and opacity levels so that I don't even have to think about it anymore. The features have seamlessly integrated with my workflow inside the Procreate App and I couldn't be any happier about this rad feature.
]]>To quickly import Procreate brushes tap on the brush file to automatically install it into Procreate. If that doesn't work, open Procreate and the Files app in split-screen. Once open, simply drag the files directly over into Procreate.
With this method you can install large quantities of brushes, color palettes, and fonts into Procreate just by drag-and-drop.
Now you know exactly how to import loads of creative tools inside the Procreate App. You can find tons of resources for Procreate across the web, but I'd have to recommend my best-selling Procreate bundle: The Creator XL Bundle.
My bundle has over 400 custom brushes you can download for Procreate and 60 color palettes made specifically for Procreate and fine-tuned for the Apple Pencil.
If you're interested in upgrading your artwork, improving your workflow, and having an overall-great brush pack for your creative needs - then you might want to download Procreate brushes!
I hope you learned how to add new brushes into Procreate, have a great day!
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