In this tutorial we will cover the basics of how to use Procreate. This is a beginner tutorial meant for those who aren’t familiar with Procreate but want to learn the functions on how to start. For live expert guidance while making awesome posters, cards, videos, and more with the popular digital art tool Canva, join our live online class led by an expert and designed by professionals from Google, Stanford, and MIT.
Have fun with a Procreate beginner tutorial
How do you start using Procreate? Today we’ll explain the basic tools and functions for Procreate in 10 simple steps! And in the process you’ll make an Among Us Character to help you learn the initial setup steps and uses of basic tools on Procreate.
1. Create a new canvas
Once you open Procreate you will see the gallery view where you can browse your artwork. Press the “+” sign to create a new canvas. It’ll give you a variety of canvas size options, but you could also create your own. A square canvas is easily shareable on most platforms so let’s go ahead and choose that one for the sake of this tutorial.
2. Adjust brush size and opacity
Once you click on your canvas, there will be a toolbar on the bottom left corner. This tool bar controls your brush. The top slide controls the size of your brushes while the slider on the bottom controls your brush’s opacity. You can play with opacity and layering different colored strokes to get a neat overlay effect!
3. Choose your brush
Procreate comes with many preset brushes in the app. You can access them by clicking the brush icon in the top right hand corner. There’s different categories for the different textures the brushes have. You can also download and make your own brushes (which will be discussed in another tutorial).
4. Add a reference photo
Sometimes it is good to look at inspiration or reference photos when drawing. Rather than switching from the Procreate app and where the photo is located, you can import one onto your canvas. First click on the wrench icon on the top left corner. It will open the options menu. Click on the “+” add option . Underneath, there will be some options, including one to insert a photo!
You can insert a photo from your photo gallery on your iPad whether it be a downloaded image from the internet or a photo you have taken previously by clicking the “insert a photo” option. You can also take your own photo within the app by clicking the “take a photo” option.
5. Add Layers
Layers will arguably be the most important and useful tool in the app. To add a layer click on the two overlapping squares icon in the top right corner. The order in which they are in matters, with the top layer overlaying all the layers below it. Usually, we make a layer every time we have a new color added in the illustration, but you can also make a new layer for each individual shape so you can move and manipulate it all you’d like.
You can also make the layers invisible by unchecking the box next to the layer. You can also manipulate how the layers interact with each other by pressing on the “N” next to your layer. This tutorial has a section all about layer modes that we won’t get into here but I encourage you to check out and try!
6. Choose color
In the top right hand corner there is a circle with a color on it. You can click on it and choose the color you want your brush to draw in.
You can also pick a color from within the canvas or a photo you have imported by holding your finger down onto one spot on the screen until the circle of color appears. Drag this circle to what color on the screen you want to pick.
7. Quickly Fill in Color
You can quickly fill in big closed shapes with a single color by pressing down on the color button on the top right corner and drag it to the shape you desire to fill. The color will look like a circle while you drag but once you let go, the shape that it is over will be filled! If the color ends up filling your whole canvas, that means that there was an opening somewhere in your shape. You can undo this action, close the shape up and try again in this case.
You can do this with each shape you draw. Every character, including the Among Us Characters are made out of different, simple shapes once you break them down like we did in the image below with our layers.
After drawing in the shapes that make up the character and adding black lines to outline it, you have a little Among Us character!
Is Procreate easy for beginners?
Yes Procreate can be easy for beginners! Anyone with an interest in art , an iPad and $5 can create on Procreate. There’s no wrong way! Procreate makes it easy to use and learn, and with all the tutorials on the internet (including this one) you’ll be able to master it in no time.
What is the best way to learn Procreate?
The best way to learn Procreate is by doing. So, create as much as you can! One helpful way to build your skills is through online Procreate classes for kids. Live classes help provide a clear learning path and immediate feedback from an expert. You can also guide your own learning journey by making up projects from the skills you want to learn and tutorials you look up. Soon you’ll not only be able to use Procreate with ease but you’ll have a beautiful gallery of your own creations to share with everyone.
Want to learn more about Procreate?
Check out Procreate tips for beginners. It’s the perfect tutorial for once you master the basic tools of Procreate and want to take your art to the next level.
Up next, learn even more about graphic design. And learn how to make awesome posters, cards, videos, and more with the popular digital art tool Canva, in our live online award-winning class led by an expert.
Written by Ashley Velasquez. As a visual learner growing up in the age of technology, she was fascinated by the graphics and videos that would dance on early computer screens. As she started pursuing Visual Communications in college, she found that design involved in translating information, ideas and opinions onto endless platforms.
