Creating Perfect Shapes in Procreate: A Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 6 min read

Mastering the art of creating perfect shapes in Procreate can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from navigating the interface, understanding the brush library, to perfecting shapes with QuickShape, adding a splash of color and texture, and finally, exporting your masterpiece. So, let's jump right in and start creating some stunning shapes in Procreate together.

Getting Acquainted with Procreate

Before we start creating shapes in Procreate, it's important to get familiar with the basics. This includes understanding how to navigate the interface, exploring the brush library, and mastering layering basics. Let's start our journey.

Navigate the Interface

When you first open Procreate, you'll notice a clean, minimalist interface. Here's a quick rundown:

The Gallery View is where you'll find all your artwork. You can organize them into stacks to keep things tidy.
The Canvas is your workspace. Tap the "+" button in the top right corner to create a new canvas.
The Toolbar, located at the top of the screen, houses powerful tools like Select, Adjust, and Actions.
The Brush Library and Colors are on the right, while Layers and the Smudge, Eraser, and Brush tools are on the left.

Take some time to explore and familiarize yourself with the interface. Knowing where everything is will make creating shapes in Procreate a breeze.

Understand the Brush Library

The Brush Library is where Procreate really shines. It's packed with a wide range of brushes, allowing you to add unique touches to your shapes in Procreate. Here's how you can make the most of it:

Tap on the Brush icon to open the library.
Scroll through the categories and tap on a brush to select it.
You can adjust the Brush Size and Opacity using the sliders on the left.
Want to customize a brush? Tap again on the selected brush and tweak the settings as you wish.

Experiment with different brushes to see how they affect your artwork. You'll be amazed at the variety of effects you can achieve.

Learn Layering Basics

Layers are a powerful feature in Procreate, allowing you to build complex shapes and effects without permanently altering your artwork. Here's how to use them:

Tap on the Layers icon to open the layers panel.
Tap the "+" button to add a new layer.
To rearrange layers, simply hold and drag them to the desired position.
Tap on a layer for more options like renaming, duplicating, or deleting a layer.

Remember, layers are your friends. They can save you from a lot of headaches, especially when you want to make changes to your shapes in Procreate.

Drawing Basic Shapes

Now that we're comfortable with Procreate's interface, brush library, and layers, it's time to dive into drawing basic shapes in Procreate. We'll start with squares and rectangles, move on to circles and ovals, and then tackle triangles and polygons. Ready to shape up?

Draw Squares and Rectangles

Let's start simple with squares and rectangles. Here's how:

Select the brush of your choice from the Brush Library.
Draw a rough square or rectangle shape on your canvas.
Hold your Apple Pencil (or your finger) still at the end of the stroke to perfect the shape automatically. This handy feature is known as QuickShape.
Resize or rotate your shape using the blue handles that appear.

And voila! You've just drawn your first shapes in Procreate. Not too hard, right?

Draw Circles and Ovals

Circles and ovals are just as easy to draw in Procreate. Here's how:

Again, select your preferred brush.
Draw a rough circle or oval on your canvas.
Hold your pencil still at the end of the stroke to activate QuickShape.
Adjust the shape using the blue handles until you're happy with it.

See, drawing circles and ovals isn't a roundabout process at all. You're getting the hang of creating shapes in Procreate!

Draw Triangles and Polygons

Feeling more confident? Let's level up to triangles and polygons. Here's the drill:

Choose your brush.
Draw a rough triangle or polygon. Remember, a polygon can have any number of sides!
Hold your pencil still to perfect the shape with QuickShape.
Adjust the shape, if needed, with the blue handles.

There you have it! You're now a pro at drawing basic shapes in Procreate. But why stop at basic? Let's move on to making these shapes perfect.

Perfecting Shapes with QuickShape

Creating basic shapes in Procreate can be a breeze thanks to QuickShape. However, perfecting those shapes requires a bit more finesse. Don't worry, we'll go through each step together. Let's start with getting those circles just right.

Use QuickShape for Perfect Circles

Perfect circles are no longer just a dream. With QuickShape, it's easy:

Draw a rough circle on your canvas.
Hold your pencil still at the end to activate QuickShape.
If the circle isn't quite perfect, don't fret. Just tap on the 'Edit Shape' button that appears at the top and adjust your circle until it's just right.

Now, wasn't that a well-rounded tutorial?

Use QuickShape for Straight Lines

Procreate isn't just for curves and circles. You can draw perfectly straight lines too. Here's how:

Draw a line on your canvas.
Hold your pencil still to activate QuickShape.
Tap on 'Edit Shape' if you need to adjust the line's angle or length.

Who knew drawing a straight line could be so straightforward?

Customize QuickShape Settings

Procreate's QuickShape isn't a one-size-fits-all tool. You can customize it to suit your needs. Here's what you can do:

Go to the Actions menu (the wrench icon) and select 'Prefs'.
Under 'Gesture Controls', select 'QuickShape'.
Here, you can adjust the delay for QuickShape to activate, or even turn off the feature if you prefer freehand drawing.

Now you can draw and perfect shapes in Procreate that are tailored to your style, adding a personal touch to every piece of artwork you create.

Adding Color and Texture

Now that you've mastered shapes in Procreate, why not bring them to life with some color and texture? Let's explore how to do just that, starting with the color dropper tool.

Use Color Dropper Tool

Adding color to your shapes in Procreate is as simple as using the color dropper tool. Here's a quick guide:

Select the color you want from the color disc.
Tap and hold anywhere on your canvas to activate the color dropper tool.
Drag the tool to your shape to fill it with the chosen color.

See? You've just added a splash of color to your Procreate shapes!

Apply Textures with Brushes

Now, let's give your shapes some texture. Procreate's brush library is just the tool for the job:

Select a brush from the library that has the texture you want.
Adjust the brush size and opacity to your liking.
Brush over your shape to apply the texture.

Voila! You've just added some depth to your shapes with texture!

Create Custom Palettes

For the artists who want a bit more control over their colors, creating custom palettes is the way to go:

Go to the palettes section and tap on the '+' sign to create a new palette.
Add colors to your palette by tapping on an empty square and selecting a color.
You can also add colors directly from your canvas using the color dropper tool.

Now, you can color your shapes in Procreate with a custom palette that's uniquely you!

Finalizing and Exporting Your Artwork

Well, we've made it! You've drawn shapes, added color and texture, and now it's time to put the finishing touches on your artwork and share it with the world.

Add Final Touches with Adjustments

Before you show off your artwork, let's make sure it's picture perfect. Procreate's Adjustments menu offers you a final opportunity to tweak your work. Here's how:

Tap on the 'Adjustments' icon - it looks like a magic wand.
Choose the adjustment you want, such as 'Brightness' or 'Contrast'.
Use the slider to adjust to your liking.

Perfect! Your shapes in Procreate now look exactly how you imagined them.

Export Artwork in Different Formats

Now, let's get your artwork out of Procreate and into the world. Procreate lets you export in different formats, so here's a quick run-through:

Tap on the 'Actions' tab and select 'Share'.
Choose the format you want, like JPEG or PNG.
Save or share your artwork as desired.

And just like that, your artwork is ready to be admired!

Finally, let's get your artwork the recognition it deserves. Sharing online is a fantastic way to reach a wider audience. Here's how to do it:

Save your artwork in a web-friendly format like JPEG.
Upload your artwork to your preferred online platform.
Add a catchy caption and relevant tags to attract more viewers.

And there it is! Your shapes in Procreate have gone from simple lines and curves on your screen to an eye-catching piece of art ready for the world to see. Bravo, you've done it!

If you've enjoyed learning about creating perfect shapes in Procreate, don't miss the workshop titled 'How to Draw A Fruit In ProCreate' by Vicky Catalan. This workshop will guide you through a fun and engaging exercise in Procreate, helping you hone your skills and create amazing fruit illustrations.