3 Simple Techniques for Smooth Blending in Procreate

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 4 min read

Procreate is a powerful digital art tool, and with a little know-how, you can create stunning, smoothly blended artwork right on your iPad. Today, we're diving into simple techniques to achieve smooth blending in Procreate, making your digital art more realistic and visually appealing.

1. Get Familiar with Procreate Tools

Before you start blending, it's important to understand the basics of Procreate. This includes the brush library, brush settings, and layers—each playing an integral role in smooth blending in Procreate.

Exploring the Brush Library

The first step is to familiarize yourself with the numerous brushes available in Procreate. For smooth blending, the Soft Brush, as highlighted in the top search results, is a great starting point. However, don't limit yourself—every brush can be used to blend, provided you adjust the settings correctly. This exploration will allow you to discover brushes that best suit your artistic style and blending needs.

Adjusting Brush Settings

One thing that sets Procreate apart is the customizability of its brushes. You can adjust the opacity, flow, and size of your brushes. For smoother blending, you might want to lower the opacity and flow. This allows you to build up colors gradually, leading to a more seamless blend. Remember, the goal is to create a smooth transition between colors, so keep tweaking your brush settings until you get it right.

Experimenting with Layers

Working with layers is like having an unlimited number of canvases to experiment with. You can add a new layer for each color and blend them together. This way, if you're not happy with the result, you can delete or adjust a single layer without affecting the rest of your artwork. This feature is particularly useful for smooth blending in Procreate—it allows you to perfect your blends without risking your entire piece.

2. Master the Smudge Tool

Now that you're comfortable with Procreate's tools, let's move on to mastering the Smudge Tool—a key player in achieving smooth blending in Procreate. This tool can be your best friend or worst enemy, depending on how you use it. The trick is to understand its mechanics and practice with it regularly.

Choosing the Right Smudge Brush

Did you know you can select any brush from your library to use as a smudge brush? That's right! Each brush will give a different texture and finish, so don't hesitate to experiment. For smooth blending, a soft brush like the Airbrush or the Soft Brush often works well. However, there's no hard and fast rule here—it's all about what works for you and your art.

Controlling Smudge Strength

One mistake artists often make is having the smudge strength turned up too high. This can result in a muddy mix of colors rather than a smooth blend. By lowering the smudge strength, you can control the amount of color being pushed around. This gives you more control and aids in achieving that perfect, smooth blend in Procreate.

Practicing Smudge Techniques

Now, it's time to practice. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your Procreate blending skills. Set aside some time each day to just play around with the Smudge Tool. Try different smudge brushes, play with the smudge strength, and test out various techniques. Over time, you'll find what works best for you and your smooth blending in Procreate will improve.

3. Utilize Blending Modes

Great job on mastering the Smudge Tool. Now, let's turn our attention to another powerful feature of Procreate — blending modes. Blending modes can truly take your art to a whole new level by allowing you to mix colors and layers in a variety of ways. Let's dive into how you can use them for smooth blending in Procreate.

Exploring Different Blending Modes

Procreate offers a plethora of blending modes — Normal, Multiply, Overlay, Add, Subtract, just to name a few. Each mode interacts with your colors and layers differently. For instance, Multiply darkens colors, while Add lightens them. To achieve smooth blending in Procreate, it's important to understand how each mode works and when to use them. Don't be afraid to experiment!

Applying Blending Modes to Your Art

Blending modes aren't just for fancy effects. They can also be used to enhance your smooth blending in Procreate. For instance, if you're painting a sunset, you might use the Add mode to lighten the colors and create a glowing effect. Or if you're adding shadows, you might use Multiply to darken your colors. Remember, blending modes are tools — it's up to you how you use them in your art.

Experimenting with Blend Modes

At the end of the day, the best way to understand blending modes is to experiment. Take a simple painting and apply different blending modes. See what happens. Not all results will be beautiful, but that's okay. This is how you learn. Through experimentation, you'll gain a deeper understanding of blending modes and how they can enhance your smooth blending in Procreate.

If you're excited about mastering Procreate and looking to take your skills to the next level, check out the workshop 'Animating with Procreate and Photoshop' by Nyanza. This workshop will teach you how to create stunning animations using both Procreate and Photoshop, expanding your creative possibilities and elevating your digital art game.