
Studying the way to use Procreate will open up every kind of alternatives. Procreate has shortly turn into my go-to digital portray app. Due to the portability of the iPad Professional, its enchantment to me was to have the ability to create high-resolution digital work from wherever, with the identical high quality you’d discover in a desktop program.
Procreate’s clear and easy interface makes it welcoming to new and novice artists alike, and as soon as paired with the Apple Pencil, I discovered it to really feel probably the most pure manner to attract digitally. Don’t be fooled by appearances, although: this software gives all of the instruments you’ll have to create higher-level art work. The extra I take advantage of this app, the extra new instruments, changes and shortcuts I discover.
For this workshop, I’ll be portray solely utilizing the Procreate app (learn our Procreate overview). The method is much like working in Photoshop: making use of a number of layers, color adjusting and utilizing a wide range of brushes. The entire brushes I take advantage of are straight from the Procreate library, however the app permits for simple import of downloaded or imported brushes as properly (learn our information to create customized Procreate brushes). I attempt to work within the least quantity of layers doable, so it feels extra like portray on a canvas.
I made a decision to pay homage to traditional fairy story illustrations for this piece – on this case, Snow White and the poison apple. I like the previous storybook work, and determined to attempt my tackle the subject material.
Chrissie is a Connecticut-based illustrator who has created art work for comedian books, posters and toy designs. She has a curious assortment of all issues yeti-like.
The right way to use Procreate to color a traditional fairy story scene
Procreate tutorial: my brushes
Listed here are the brushes I will be utilizing on this workshop.
Customized brushes: Flat brush
I take advantage of this brush, much like a chalk, for many of my portray and rendering.
Arduous Airbrush
Best for finer detailing and highlights, resulting from its opacity and hardness.
Brush Pen
That is my favorite brush for inking as a result of it has a wide range of line weight.
6B Pencil
That is my go-to for sketching. Tilt the pencil to realize a softer impact.
Procreate tutorial: create a fairy story scene
I hope you take pleasure in this Procreate tutorial and discover it helpful in your personal apply. Learn the complete Procreate overview for extra on this digital portray software program and the way it works.
01. Beginning with a sketch
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
Procreate has a terrific choice of ‘Sketch’ brushes, and my go-to is the 6B Pencil brush. I loosely sketch out the idea of Snow White and the apple, not worrying an excessive amount of about particulars and specifics, however simply blocking in very normal concepts. I do know I can change and tighten concepts in a while, so I preserve the sketch easy.
02. Refining the thought and inking
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
Subsequent, I decrease the Opacity of the pencil sketch layer. I create a separate layer on prime and select the Brush Pen from the Calligraphy Menu. I select a darkish brown color to ink, avoiding black (for now) for a softer look. Utilizing easy strokes, I ink over the drawing.
03. Blocking in flat colors
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
Now having each the sunshine pencils and inks, I merge the 2 layers and set the mixed layer to Multiply. Then I create a layer beneath after which fill the background with a inexperienced color utilizing the Paint Bucket device. Subsequent, I choose the Arduous Airbrush and fill within the very fundamental, flat colors of the drawing which are beneath the strains.
04. Know your mild supply
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
I choose the Flat Brush and set its brush properties to Multiply, earlier than selecting a grey-blue color. I resolve that one mild supply ought to are available in from the left, so I evenly paint in a skinny layer of shadows on the determine and begin to outline her form. I sort out a little bit of the shadows within the background on the identical time.
05. Utilizing the paint brushes
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
Now that I’ve the fundamentals laid out, I create a layer on prime and set the Flat Brush properties again to Regular. I eye-drop the colors, then select lighter colors to push issues ahead and darker colors to tug issues again. I additionally attempt to decide on colors which are already on the display screen, which retains the color palette cohesive.
06. Pushing the values
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
Now that the fundamental textures are painted on Snow White’s face, gown and hair, I create a Multiply layer on prime. Nonetheless utilizing the Flat Brush, I evenly go over the portray with a darkish brown color to accentuate the shadows. I additionally make the 4 corners darker, which locations extra emphasis on the centre of the portray.
07. Portray over shadows
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
I like to select a lighter color (on this case, a light-weight turquoise/blue) and paint contained in the shadows. I do that in skinny, gradual layers and construct up the Opacity the place it’s closest to the sting or the place it’s the darkest. This will help to create a rim lighting impact.
08. Enjoying round with Curves
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
Procreate has completely different color adjustment choices. I like to make use of the Curves device to play with distinction, and Colour Steadiness to tweak the colors within the shadows, midtones and highlights of the portray. Since I’m working in a single layer at this level, the changes change all facets of the piece.
09. Engaged on the background
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
Utilizing the identical ideas as portray Snow, I begin defining the background. I take advantage of colors which are native to the portray, eye-dropping yellow for highlights and darkish browns for shadows. I slowly begin to render out the leaves, roof tiles and wooden grain, nonetheless utilizing the Flat Brush.
10. Including the main points
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
After utilizing the Flat Brush for the majority of the portray, I choose a Arduous Airbrush to give attention to particulars, decreasing the diameter to make the comb head smaller. Since this brush is opaque, I attempt to make daring selections in color and highlights, giving the portray a crisper look.
11. Brighten the scene with the Colour Dodge setting
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
Now transferring on to a tender airbrush, I choose an area yellow color and set the comb properties to Colour Dodge. Then I very evenly paint in some highlights across the leaves, wooden and face of Snow White. I attempt to preserve these highlights to a minimal to keep away from a closely airbrushed look.
12. Going a bit additional
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
Subsequent I swap again to the Arduous Airbrush and add components that weren’t initially in my sketch. I paint in some timber, flowers and a delicate background to recommend a forest location. I take advantage of the Brush Pen from the Calligraphy menu to color tree branches and grass blades, as a result of it tapers off properly on the ends.
13. Adopting a special perspective
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
All through the method and extra typically on the finish, I wish to flip the canvas horizontally. If one thing appears off, seeing the mirrored model of the portray normally helps to establish any issues. That is additionally a good way to verify symmetry. The portray ought to make sense each usually in addition to mirrored.
14. Step again, make some adjustments
(Picture: © Chrissie Zullo)
I really feel like I’ve come to some extent the place the portray is nearly full. Utilizing the Arduous Airbrush, I search for locations so as to add minor particulars and make any changes and tweaks. That is additionally the purpose the place I play with the Curves and Colour Changes one final time. And with that, the portray is completed!
Procreate tutorial: skilled ideas
Wish to do that for your self? Listed here are a number of extra prime ideas that I take advantage of to make issues simpler in Procreate.
Secrets and techniques of the layers
When you’ve got a number of layers that you’re prepared to mix, you possibly can place two fingers on the highest and backside layer and “push” them collectively. Urgent the layer as soon as reveals completely different choices, equivalent to locking transparency, filling, merging or masking. Swipe a layer left to Lock, Duplicate, and/or Delete.
Speedy Minimize, Copy & Paste
After making a range utilizing the choice key, use three fingers and swipe in a downward movement on the iPad display screen. This brings up a shortcut menu with the choices of Minimize, Copy and Paste individually, in addition to Minimize & Paste or Copy & Paste to hurry issues up.
Import information and pictures
If you wish to drop a picture for reference that you just’ve discovered on-line, merely maintain down the picture, double-tap the house button to deliver up the applying tabs, and drop it into Procreate. This may drop and picture with out having to reserve it or manually copy. This works for brush information, too.
Get extra Procreate tutorials in ImagineFX
This content material initially appeared in ImagineFX journal, the world’s main digital artwork and fantasy artwork journal. ImagineFX is on sale within the UK, Europe, United States, Canada, Australia and extra. Restricted numbers of ImagineFX print editions can be found for supply from our on-line retailer (the transport prices are included in all costs)
Alternatively, you possibly can entry us immediately via our digital choices:
• Apple app (for iPad or iPhone)
• Pocket mags (multi-platform app, nice for Android customers)
• Zinio (multi-platform app for desktop or smartphone)
• Amazon Kindle