Combining Brushes in Procreate: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 19 June 2023 7 min read

Procreate has become a popular digital art tool, offering a wide range of brushes and features to create stunning artwork. One of the most powerful aspects of Procreate is the ability to combine brushes, allowing artists to achieve unique effects in their work. In this step-by-step guide, we'll explain how to combine brushes in Procreate to help you level up your digital art skills.

Understanding Brush Types

Before we dive into combining brushes, it's important to understand the different types of brushes in Procreate. There are three main categories: Procreate default brushes, importing custom brushes, and creating your own brushes. Let's explore each of these in more detail.

Procreate Default Brushes

Procreate comes with a variety of pre-installed brushes, including pencils, inks, paints, and textures. These brushes are designed to mimic traditional art mediums, making it easy for artists to transition from physical to digital art. Some popular default brushes in Procreate are the 6B Pencil, Dry Ink, and Gouache Paint. Familiarizing yourself with these brushes is a great starting point for learning how to combine brushes in Procreate.

Importing Custom Brushes

Many artists have created custom brushes for Procreate that you can import into your brush library. These brushes can be found online, often for free or for a small fee. Importing custom brushes can expand your creative options and provide unique textures and effects for your artwork. Popular sources for custom brushes include Gumroad, Creative Market, and Procreate's own forums. Remember, when importing brushes, always respect the creator's licensing terms and give credit when appropriate.

Creating Your Own Brushes

Procreate also allows you to create your own custom brushes, giving you complete control over the brush's appearance and behavior. Creating your own brushes can be a fun and rewarding process, allowing you to tailor your brushes to your specific style and needs. To start, open the brush library and tap the "+" symbol to create a new brush. From there, you can adjust settings such as shape, grain, and dynamics to create your desired effect. Once you've created your own brushes, you can use them in combination with Procreate's default or imported brushes to achieve unique results in your artwork.

Now that we have a better understanding of the different types of brushes in Procreate, let's learn how to combine brushes to enhance our digital art creations.

Combining Brushes

Combining brushes in Procreate can help you achieve unique and interesting effects in your artwork. There are two main techniques for combining brushes: using brush blending modes and layering brush strokes. Let's take a closer look at both of these methods and how they can enhance your digital art.

Using Brush Blending Modes

Brush blending modes are a powerful tool for combining brushes in Procreate. These modes determine how the colors of your brush strokes interact with one another, creating various effects. Here's how to use brush blending modes to combine brushes in Procreate:

Select a brush from your brush library.
Open the brush settings panel by tapping the brush icon at the top of the screen.
Scroll down to the "General" section and locate the "Blend Mode" dropdown menu.
Experiment with different blend modes, such as Multiply, Overlay, or Screen, to see how they affect the interaction between your brush strokes.
Continue painting with your selected brush and blend mode, layering strokes and colors to create unique effects.

Blending modes can help you achieve a wide range of effects, such as adding texture, depth, or glow to your artwork. Don't be afraid to experiment with different blend modes to find the perfect combination for your creative vision.

Layering Brush Strokes

Another way to combine brushes in Procreate is by layering brush strokes on separate layers. This technique allows for greater control over the appearance and interaction of your brush strokes, providing endless possibilities for your artwork. Here's how to layer brush strokes in Procreate:

Create a new layer by tapping the "+" icon in the Layers panel.
Select a brush from your brush library and begin painting on the new layer.
Create another new layer and choose a different brush to paint with.
Repeat this process, adding new layers and brush strokes, to create a complex and dynamic composition.
Adjust the opacity, blend mode, or order of the layers to fine-tune the appearance of your combined brush strokes.

Layering brush strokes can help you create intricate and detailed artwork, allowing you to experiment with various brushes and techniques. Don't forget to play with layer settings, such as opacity and blend modes, to further customize the look of your combined brush strokes.

Now that we've covered the basics of combining brushes in Procreate, let's move on to working with brush settings to further enhance your artwork.

Working with Brush Settings

Brush settings are an essential aspect of mastering how to combine brushes in Procreate. They allow you to customize your brushes and create unique effects in your artwork. Let's explore some of the key settings that can help you get the most out of your brush combinations.

Adjusting Brush Opacity

Adjusting the opacity of your brushes can create subtle, nuanced effects in your artwork. Lowering the opacity allows for softer, more transparent strokes, while higher opacity results in bolder, more opaque strokes. To adjust brush opacity:

Select a brush from your brush library.
Find the opacity slider at the top of the screen.
Slide the opacity slider left or right to decrease or increase the opacity of your brush strokes.
Test your brush strokes on the canvas to see the effect of the adjusted opacity.

Experimenting with brush opacity can help you achieve a wide range of artistic effects, such as layering colors, creating depth, or adding subtle textures to your work.

Tweaking Pressure Sensitivity

Pressure sensitivity is another important aspect of combining brushes in Procreate. This setting allows you to control how your brushes respond to the pressure you apply with your stylus or finger. To tweak pressure sensitivity:

Select a brush from your brush library.
Open the brush settings panel by tapping the brush icon at the top of the screen.
Scroll down to the "Dynamics" section and locate the "Pressure" settings.
Adjust the sliders for "Opacity" and/or "Size" to control how the brush responds to pressure.
Test your brush strokes on the canvas to see the effect of the adjusted pressure sensitivity.

Customizing pressure sensitivity can help you create more expressive and dynamic brush strokes, mimicking the feel of traditional art tools like pencils, brushes, or charcoal.

Fine-Tuning Brush Settings

Procreate offers a wide range of settings for fine-tuning your brushes, allowing you to create the perfect combination for your specific needs. Some additional settings you may want to explore include:

Spacing: Adjusts the distance between brush stamps, affecting the smoothness or texture of your brush strokes.
Scatter: Controls the randomness of brush stamps, creating more natural, organic effects.
Flow: Determines the rate at which paint is applied to the canvas, allowing for controlled or loose brush strokes.
Wet Mix: Simulates the behavior of wet media, such as watercolors or oil paints.

Don't be afraid to dive deep into the brush settings and experiment with different combinations to find the perfect settings for your artwork. The more you explore, the more you'll discover how to combine brushes in Procreate to create truly unique and captivating art.

Procreate Brush Resources

As you continue to learn how to combine brushes in Procreate, it's essential to have access to a variety of resources to expand your knowledge and brush collection. In this section, we'll explore some valuable resources for finding brush packs, learning from tutorials, and joining Procreate communities.

Finding Brush Packs

Brush packs are a great way to quickly expand your brush collection and experiment with new styles. There are many places to find Procreate brush packs, both free and paid. Some popular sources include:

The Procreate forums, where artists share their custom brushes.
Online marketplaces like Creative Market, Gumroad, or Etsy, which offer a wide range of Procreate brushes created by talented artists.
Social media platforms like Instagram, where artists often share their brushes or provide links to their brush packs.

When searching for brush packs, look for those that align with your artistic style and interests. Trying out new brushes can inspire you to explore different techniques and help you develop your unique artistic voice.

Learning from Tutorials

Tutorials can provide valuable insights and tips on how to combine brushes in Procreate effectively. Many talented artists create tutorials in various formats, such as blog posts, videos, or step-by-step guides. Some popular platforms for finding Procreate tutorials include:

YouTube, where you can find countless video tutorials on Procreate techniques and brush usage.
Art and design blogs, which often feature guest artists sharing their tips and tricks for using Procreate brushes.
Procreate's official website, which offers a range of resources, including tutorials and brush guides.

As you explore tutorials, remember that practice is key. The more you experiment with different brushes and techniques, the more confident and skilled you'll become in combining brushes in Procreate.

Joining Procreate Communities

Connecting with fellow Procreate users can provide valuable support, feedback, and inspiration as you learn how to combine brushes in Procreate. There are several online communities where you can share your work, ask questions, and learn from others. Some popular Procreate communities include:

The official Procreate forums, which offer a wealth of information and resources from both the Procreate team and fellow users.
Facebook groups dedicated to Procreate users, where you can share your work, ask for advice, and connect with like-minded artists.
Online art platforms like DeviantArt or Behance, where you can create a profile, showcase your Procreate artwork, and connect with other artists.

By engaging with these communities, you'll gain access to a wealth of knowledge, inspiration, and support to help you master the art of combining brushes in Procreate.

If you're looking to hone your digital drawing skills, don't miss out on the workshop 'How to Draw A Fruit In ProCreate' by Vicky Catalan. This workshop will guide you through the process of creating a beautiful fruit illustration using the ProCreate app, making it the perfect resource for artists of all levels.