Whether you’re just starting out on the adventure of learning a new software, or been plugging away at your favourite program for years, there’s always some nifty little trick you wish you’d known sooner. And that’s exactly why we sought out the expertise of a panel of Procreate masters to share their favourite tips.
1 DRAW USING THE SYMMETRY GRID
There are a multitude of drawing assist tools that will help with your art, but the Symmetry tool is a great way to create uniform pieces. You can create unique shapes or use the tool to draw symmetrical faces like the piece shown left. To change the centre point of the grid, simply move around the blue dot. You can also customise the Symmetry tool to sit horizontally, vertically and at any angle in between.
We’ve covered everything from shortcuts to workflows, so beginner, intermediate or veteran, get ready to find out which Procreate pointer will change your game!
Artist PROFILES
Kei-Ella Loewe
LOCATION: The Netherlands
Kei-Ella is a South African digital artist currently living in The Netherlands. She started teaching herself how to illustrate with Procreate software in 2021. http://keiella.art
Sweeney Boo
LOCATION: Canada
When she’s not busy drawing witchy girls and hairless cats, Sweeney is working with major comic publishers. She has also authored and illustrated graphic novels. www.sweeneyboo.com
Alexandra Zutto
LOCATION: US
Alexandra is an artist and illustrator based in Brooklyn. She has a talent for 3D-style artwork that features a vast array of colours, abstract shapes, and natural elements. https://bit.ly/3Ok5Bkw
Kate Correa
LOCATION: US
Kate is a Chilean-American visual development artist and illustrator based in New Jersey. She is keen to pursue a career in vis dev, layout, and background painting. https://bit.ly/3MCI4tO
Mygel Edoloverio
LOCATION: Philippines
Born and raised in Manila, Mygel is a package of illustrator, animator and 3D artist. Over time, he has developed a love for using strong, warm colour palettes. www.mziegfield.com.
2 CLIPPING MASK LAYERS
Most of my artworks have a line-art layer on top and my fill or shape layers underneath. Each shape layer has a few layers above it as clipping masks so I can shade, detail and play with colour more easily.
Kei-Ella Loewe
3 THE VERSATILE GAUSSIAN BLUR
The Gaussian Blur setting is the perfect way to achieve a uniform, soft blur effect on your creative pieces. This can be used to blend colours for your backgrounds, create a motion blur look (although there is a specific motion blur effect) or produce a soft glow for your lighting effects. It’s a great tool to play around
