5 Easy Steps to Color Like a Pro on Procreate

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 7 min read

Unlocking your artistic potential with Procreate has never been easier. With this guide, you'll be able to learn how to color on Procreate like a pro in just five easy steps. Whether you're a beginner or an existing user looking to enhance your skills, these hands-on tips and techniques will help you master the art of coloring on Procreate, turning your digital art dreams into reality. So, let's dive into the vibrant world of Procreate!

1. Get Familiar with Procreate

Before you start coloring, it's important to get comfortable with Procreate's environment. This powerful digital art tool is packed with features that can help you create stunning artwork, provided you know how to harness them effectively. Let's get started:

Understanding the Interface

Procreate's interface is intuitive and streamlined, designed to keep your focus on the canvas. Here's a quick rundown:

The toolbar sits at the top, housing options like brush size, opacity, and the smudge tool.
On the top right, you'll find the layers panel and the actions menu, which contains options for sharing, canvas information, and more.
The brush library and color picker are located on the right side of the screen.
The slider on the left can be used to adjust brush size and opacity.

Explore Tools and Brushes

Now that you're familiar with the interface, it's time to explore the tools. Procreate offers a wide range of brushes for different textures and effects. Here's how you can make the most out of them:

Explore the pre-made brushes in the brush library.
Experiment with different brushes on a blank canvas to understand their effects.
Customize brushes to suit your needs by tapping on a brush and adjusting its settings.

Learn About Layers

Finally, understanding how to use layers is a game-changer when it comes to learning how to color on Procreate. Here are some key points:

Creating layers: To create a new layer, tap on the plus icon in the layers panel.
Organizing layers: You can rearrange layers by pressing, holding, and then dragging them to the desired position.
Layer opacity: To change a layer's opacity, tap on the 'N' button next to the layer and adjust the slider.

Understanding Procreate's interface, exploring its vast collection of tools and brushes, and learning about layers is the first step towards mastering how to color on Procreate. So go ahead, play around, experiment, and get comfortable with the app.

2. Choose Your Colors

Once you've familiarized yourself with Procreate's interface, the next step in learning how to color on Procreate is to choose your colors. With Procreate's extensive color options, you can bring your art to life in the colors of your choice.

Use the Color Picker

The Color Picker is your gateway to millions of colors. To use it:

Tap on the color circle in the top-right corner of the screen.
Choose between the disc, classic, value, or palette tabs to pick your desired color.
You can also enter specific hexadecimal color codes if you have them.

Create a Color Palette

Procreate allows you to create custom color palettes. This means you can save your favorite colors for easy access later. Here's how:

In the Color Picker, go to the Palettes tab.
Tap on the + sign to create a new palette.
Tap on a square in your new palette and then select a color to add it.
Repeat the process to add more colors to your palette.

Mix and Match Colors

Did you know you can mix colors just like you would with real paint? The trick is to use the smudge tool. Here's how you can blend colors:

Select the Smudge tool from the toolbar.
Choose a brush. The Soft Brush is often a good choice for blending.
Drag the Smudge tool over the colors you want to blend.

Choosing and managing colors is an integral part of learning how to color on Procreate. Remember, the colors you choose can significantly impact the mood and tone of your artwork. So take your time, experiment, and find the palette that best represents your creative vision.

3. Start Coloring

Now that you've picked your colors, let's dive right into the next part of learning how to color on Procreate—actually applying those colors to your art.

Color-in Basics

Coloring in Procreate is as simple as selecting a brush, choosing a color, and drawing on the canvas. But to get the best results:

Use layers: Start with broad strokes on a bottom layer and then gradually add details on top layers.
Change brush size: Smaller brushes can be used for detailed parts while larger brushes are useful for coloring larger areas.
Adjust brush opacity: Lowering the opacity can help in blending colors.

Use the Fill Tool

Procreate’s Fill tool can color large areas in a single tap. Here’s how:

Select the color you want to use in the Color Picker.
Draw an outline of the area you want to fill.
Drag the color circle into the area, and it’ll fill up with the selected color.

Coloring Techniques

There are several coloring techniques you can use in Procreate:

Stippling: Involves creating a pattern with dots of varying sizes and colors.
Gradients: Use the Soft Airbrush to create smooth transitions between colors.
Hatching: This involves drawing parallel lines close together. Changing the direction of the lines can create interesting textures.

As you practice how to color on Procreate, remember that the best coloring technique is the one that helps you realize your unique artistic vision. So don't be afraid to experiment and develop your own style!

4. Add Shading and Texture

Adding depth and texture to your digital art is a huge part of learning how to color on Procreate. Shading and texture can make your work come to life, giving it a three-dimensional look that's sure to impress.

Shading Basics

Shading is the process of adding varied tones to create the illusion of light and shadow. Here's a basic approach to shading:

Decide on your light source: Knowing where the light is coming from will guide you on where to place shadows and highlights.
Start with a mid-tone base color: This will serve as your general color before adding darker and lighter shades.
Add shadows: Use a darker shade of your base color to create areas of shadow. These should be on the side opposite your light source.
Add highlights: Use a lighter shade of your base color to create areas of light. These should be on the side closest to your light source.

Texture Effects

Texture in Procreate can be achieved in a variety of ways. You can use textured brushes, apply grain, or even import textures. However, a simple way to start is by playing with the brush settings:

Grain: This setting can give the brush strokes a textured look. Try a high grain setting for a rougher texture, or a low setting for a smoother one.
Scatter: This setting can scatter the brush strokes, which can create a speckled or gritty effect.

Use Blending Modes

Procreate's Blending Modes are a powerful tool for adding depth and complexity to your coloring. They allow you to blend layers in different ways, creating a wide variety of effects. Here are a few you might find useful:

Multiply: This mode darkens the colors, making it great for adding shadows.
Screen: This mode lightens the colors, perfect for adding highlights.
Overlay: This mode can intensify colors, which can add drama to your work.

Learning how to color on Procreate is an exciting journey. Through shading and texture, you can bring your art to life in ways you never thought possible. So go ahead and explore these techniques—the canvas is yours to command!

5. Polish Your Work

Now that you've learned how to color on Procreate, it's time to take your artwork to the next level. Polishing your work is the final and perhaps most rewarding step. This involves fine-tuning your piece with adjustments, adding highlights, and finalizing your work for presentation.

Adjust Color Balance

Color balance is an essential part of how to color on Procreate. It involves tweaking the colors in your artwork to ensure they harmonize well. Here's how you can adjust the color balance:

Select the layer you want to adjust.
Tap the 'Adjustments' button and select 'Color Balance'.
Adjust the sliders for Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights to achieve your desired balance.

Add Highlights

Highlights add sparkle to your artwork. They can make your piece pop and give it a more realistic look. Here's how to add highlights:

Select a bright color for your highlight. It can be a lighter version of your base color or a completely different color for a striking effect.
Choose a soft brush and lightly brush over the areas you want to highlight.
Remember, your light source will determine where to place your highlights.

Finalize Your Work

Finalizing your work involves checking all the elements of your artwork and making the necessary adjustments. Here are some points to consider:

Check your color balance: Make sure your colors harmonize well.
Inspect your highlights and shadows: Ensure they’re consistent with your light source.
Review your texture: Look for any areas that might need more texture or less.

Polishing your work is a satisfying process. It's where you see all your hard work come together into a piece that you can proudly show off. Remember, learning how to color on Procreate is about exploration and creativity, so have fun and keep experimenting!

If you're looking to enhance your coloring skills in Procreate, don't miss out on the workshop 'Refreshing your Colours in Procreate' by Faira. This workshop will provide you with valuable tips and techniques to refresh your color palette and take your digital art to the next level.