How to Use Procreate: A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide to Drawing on iPad
Key Takeaways
- Procreate’s brush engine has over 200 built-in brushes, but you can also import custom ones.
- Layers are your best friend—use at least 3 for most projects (sketch, line art, color).
- Animation Assist turns any drawing into a frame-by-frame animation in seconds.
- Export in PNG or PSD to keep layers intact for further editing in Photoshop or Affinity.
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Getting Started: The Basics You Actually Need
When I first opened Procreate, I felt like I’d been handed a spaceship control panel. But after teaching dozens of students, I’ve learned you only need five things to start: a canvas, a brush, an eraser, a layer, and a color. Here’s how to stop fumbling and start drawing.
1. Create Your First Canvas
- Tap the + icon in the top-right corner of the Gallery.
- Choose a preset size like Screen (2048 x 2732 px) for iPad-friendly art.
- For print, pick A4 (2480 x 3508 px) at 300 DPI.
- Pro tip: Start with 2048 px on the longest side—it’s fast, and you can upscale later.
2. Master the Brushes Panel
Tap the brush icon (looks like a paintbrush) in the top toolbar. You’ll see categories like *Sketching*, *Inking*, *Painting*, and *Textures*.
My favorite beginner brushes:
- 6B Pencil (Sketching) – perfect for rough sketches, feels like real graphite.
- Studio Pen (Inking) – crisp lines, great for comic art.
- Soft Brush (Painting) – smooth blending for skin or clouds.
Real number: Procreate ships with 204 brushes. I own 30+ custom brush packs, but I only use 8 regularly. Don’t buy more until you’ve exhausted the defaults.
3. Understand Layers Like a Pro
Layers are transparent sheets stacked on top of each other. Tap the layers icon (two overlapping squares) to open the panel.
A practical layer setup for a character illustration:
- Layer 1: Rough sketch (blue pencil, low opacity)
- Layer 2: Clean line art (black ink, high opacity)
- Layer 3: Base colors (fill with bucket or brush)
- Layer 4: Shadows (multiply blend mode)
- Layer 5: Highlights (add blend mode)
Tip: Name your layers by double-tapping the layer name. It saves sanity when you have 20 layers.
Step-by-Step Illustration: Drawing a Simple Apple in 15 Minutes
Let’s put this into practice. Draw a red apple with me.
1. Sketch – Use 6B Pencil on a new layer. Draw a circle, add a stem and a leaf. Don’t worry about perfection.
2. Line Art – Create a new layer above the sketch. Use Studio Pen to trace clean lines. Lower the sketch layer opacity to 30% so it’s faint.
3. Base Color – New layer below the line art. Fill the apple shape with a flat red (#D32F2F). Use Selection tool (S icon) > Automatic to select the apple area.
4. Shading – New layer above base color, set to Multiply. Use Soft Brush with a darker red (#B71C1C) to add shadow on the right side.
5. Highlight – New layer set to Add. Use soft white brush (#FFFFFF) with low opacity (20%) to paint a small crescent on the top left.
Result: A 3D-looking apple in 5 layers and 12 minutes. I’ve done this with students in workshops, and they nail it on the first try.
Procreate Animation: Turn Your Drawing into a GIF
Animation sounds intimidating, but Procreate’s Animation Assist makes it dead simple.
1. Draw your first frame on Layer 1.
2. Tap the wrench icon > Canvas > Animation Assist.
3. You’ll see a timeline at the bottom. Duplicate Layer 1 (swipe left on layer, tap Duplicate).
4. On the new layer, move or change your drawing slightly (e.g., move the apple’s leaf up).
5. Repeat for 5–10 frames.
6. Tap Play to preview. Adjust frame delay (default 0.1s) for faster/slower animation.
7. Export as Animated GIF or MP4 from the Share menu.
Real example: I once animated a bouncing ball in 8 frames—took 20 minutes. The result was a smooth loop that looked like a pro did it.
Procreate vs. Other iPad Drawing Apps: A Quick Comparison
| Feature | Procreate (Free with iPad) | Adobe Fresco (Free tier) | Clip Studio Paint ($4.49/mo) |
| --------- | --------------------------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| Brushes | 204 built-in, custom import | 100+ live brushes, vector | Massive library, but paid |
| Layers | Unlimited (up to 250 depending on canvas size) | 10 layers in free version | Unlimited |
| Animation | Frame-by-frame with timeline | Limited to frame-by-frame | Advanced timeline + onion skin |
| Export | PSD, PNG, GIF, MP4, more | PSD, PNG, JPG | PSD, PNG, GIF, video |
| Price | One-time $12.99 | Free (with in-app purchases) | Subscription |
My take: Procreate is the best value for beginners. You get 90% of what you need for a flat fee. Fresco is good if you want vector brushes, and Clip Studio is for serious comic artists who need panel tools.
3 Illustration Tips That Saved Me Hours
1. Use Clipping Masks (long-press a layer > Clipping Mask). It locks transparency so you can only paint inside the shape above. I use this for shading without going outside the lines.
2. Reference Layers (swipe right on a layer, tap Reference). This lets you pick colors from that layer even when it’s hidden. Great for matching a palette.
3. QuickShape (draw a rough circle, hold at the end). Procreate snaps it into a perfect shape. Works for squares, triangles, and lines. I use it for geometric tattoos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I import custom brushes into Procreate?
A: Download a .brushset file from a trusted creator (e.g., on Gumroad). Tap the file in Files app, choose “Open in Procreate.” It will appear in your brush library under “Imported.” I’ve imported over 50 packs without issues.
Q: Can I use Procreate without an Apple Pencil?
A: Yes, but it’s frustrating. Your finger works for basic shapes, but pressure sensitivity is lost. For $129, the Apple Pencil (1st or 2nd gen) is worth every penny. I tried finger-drawing for a week and gave up.
Q: Why does my Procreate file crash when I have too many layers?
A: Procreate limits layers based on canvas size and iPad RAM. On an iPad Pro with 6GB RAM, a 2048 px canvas allows about 100 layers. If you hit the limit, merge some layers (swipe left on a layer > Merge Down) or reduce canvas resolution.