5 Simple Steps to Turning Off Symmetry in Procreate

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 6 min read

Demystifying Procreate and its many features is a lot easier than you might think. One function that often stumps users is the symmetry option, particularly when it comes to turning it off. Fear not, dear reader, as I’m here to guide you through the process. By the end of this blog, you will know exactly how to turn off symmetry in Procreate in five simple steps. Let's dive in!

Step 1: Get Familiar with Procreate

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of turning off symmetry in Procreate, it’s important to get comfortable with the basics of the app. Here, we'll talk about understanding the workspace, exploring the brush library, and using the color picker.

Understanding the Workspace

Procreate's workspace is your canvas and it's where all the magic happens. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

The top bar holds your Gallery (where all your art lives), the tool options, and the Actions menu (the little wrench icon).
Down the side, you'll find your brush library, eraser, layers, and color picker. Each one of these is a door to a world of creativity.
Take a moment to tap around and see what happens. Trust me, you can't break anything.

Exploring the Brush Library

Procreate is known for its extensive brush library. It's easy to feel like a kid in a candy store here, but don't be daunted. Here's a quick rundown:

Brushes are grouped into sets — from sketching to painting, to textures and elements, there's a brush for every creative whim.
Tap on a brush to select it. You can adjust its properties using the sliders in the Brush Studio.
Remember, the aim is to get a feel for them — you don't need to master every brush right away.

Using the Color Picker

Procreate's color picker is a deceptively powerful tool. It might look simple, but it's your gateway to unlimited hues. Here's a teaser of what it can do:

Tap the circle to open the Color Picker. You can select a color using either the Disc, Classic, Value or Palette options.
The Disc option is a color wheel, while the Classic view gives you a spectrum slider along with brightness and saturation controls.
Value lets you input specific color values. Palette allows you to create, save, and organize color palettes.
Have fun experimenting with different colors! You never know what might inspire you.

Alright, now that you've got the hang of the Procreate workspace, let's dive into the world of shapes and symmetry.

Step 2: Draw a Basic Shape

Now, we're going to put those tool skills to use and draw a basic shape. Don't worry, it's as easy as pie. We'll talk about choosing your brush, drawing your shape, and adjusting line thickness.

Choosing Your Brush

The brush you choose can make a big difference to your final artwork. Let's see how to pick the right one:

Open the Brush Library and pick a set that suits your needs. For basic shapes, the Inking or Sketching sets are a good starting point.
Tap to select a brush. You can preview its stroke in the top right corner of the Brush Library.
Feel free to experiment with different brushes. Remember, the best brush is the one that feels right to you.

Drawing Your Shape

Ready to draw your first shape? Just follow these steps:

With your brush selected, use one finger to draw on the canvas.
Don't worry if it's not perfect — that's where the fun is! You can always undo any stroke by tapping with two fingers.
Try drawing a few different shapes. Practice makes perfect, after all.

Adjusting Line Thickness

Adjusting the thickness of your lines can add depth and interest to your shapes. Here's how:

The slider on the left side of the screen controls your brush size. Slide it up for thicker lines, down for thinner ones.
Remember, different brushes will have different results, so don't be afraid to mix it up!

Good job! You've now mastered drawing basic shapes in Procreate. This is the first step in mastering the art of symmetry — and, of course, learning how to turn off symmetry in Procreate.

Step 3: Activate Symmetry

Let's move on to a fun part of Procreate — activating symmetry. This feature lets you create mirrored images with ease. But before we learn how to turn off symmetry in Procreate, let's first learn how to turn it on.

Finding the Assistive Tools

Assistive tools are like your little helpers in Procreate. Here's how to find them:

Tap on the wrench icon at the top left corner of the screen, and select the "Canvas" option.
You'll see an option labeled "Drawing Guide". Switch it on to activate the assistive tools.

Activating Symmetry Mode

Now you're ready to use symmetry. It's a piece of cake, watch:

With the Drawing Guide turned on, tap "Edit Drawing Guide". This opens a new menu with several options.
Select "Symmetry". You'll see a vertical line appear on your canvas — this is your line of symmetry.
Any stroke you make on one side of the line will be mirrored on the other. Try it out!

Testing Your Symmetry

No better way to understand symmetry than to give it a whirl. Here's a quick exercise to test it:

Draw a heart shape starting from the line of symmetry. You'll see it mirrored on the other side.
Try with different shapes. Explore how symmetry can add a unique touch to your art.

Awesome! By now, you should be comfortable with using symmetry in Procreate. But as artists, sometimes we need to break away from symmetry to let our creativity loose. That's why next, we're going to learn how to turn off symmetry in Procreate.

Step 4: Turn Off Symmetry

Turning off symmetry in Procreate is as simple as flipping a switch. Just like you turned it on, you can easily switch it off when you want to add a dash of asymmetry to your artwork.

Locating the Symmetry Settings

First, let's navigate back to where the symmetry settings are. Here's how:

Tap on the wrench icon at the top left corner of your screen.
Select the "Canvas" option.
Tap on "Edit Drawing Guide" — this is where you'll find the symmetry settings.

Deactivating Symmetry Mode

Now that you're in the right place, let's learn how to turn off symmetry in Procreate:

In the "Edit Drawing Guide" menu, tap on "Symmetry".
Switch off the option labeled "Drawing Assist".
And just like that, symmetry mode is turned off!

Checking Your Work

Did it work? There's an easy way to check. Try drawing a shape — any shape will do. If the shape doesn't appear on the other side of the line, you've successfully learned how to turn off symmetry in Procreate. Give yourself a pat on the back!

Turning off symmetry lets you create more organic, freeform shapes. It's a valuable skill that can open up new possibilities in your digital art. So keep practicing, and remember: art is all about expressing your unique style — symmetry or no symmetry.

Step 5: Practice Makes Perfect

Now that you've mastered how to turn off symmetry in Procreate and are well on your way to becoming a Procreate pro, it's time to practice and experiment. Remember, practice is the key to mastery in any skill, and digital art is no different.

Experiment with Different Shapes

Start by trying to draw different shapes. Circles, squares, triangles, stars — no shape is off-limits. This will help you get a feel for drawing without the symmetry tool. You might notice that your drawings have a more organic, hand-drawn feel to them. That's the beauty of asymmetry!

Try Out Various Brushes

Next, why not try out different brushes? Procreate has a plethora of brushes for you to explore. From inky pens to soft pastels, each brush can add a unique touch to your artwork. So, go ahead and play around with them. You may find a new favorite brush in the process!

Remember, the most important part of learning how to turn off symmetry in Procreate — or learning any new skill, for that matter — is to have fun and experiment. There's no right or wrong way to create art. It's all about expressing yourself and letting your creativity flow. So go on, grab your iPad and start creating!

If you enjoyed learning about turning off symmetry in Procreate and want to continue exploring this powerful design tool, don't miss the workshop 'How to Draw A Fruit In ProCreate' by Vicky Catalan. This workshop will guide you through the process of drawing a fruit using Procreate, helping you to further enhance your digital illustration skills.