How to Adjust Opacity in Procreate: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 19 June 2023 7 min read

Mastering the art of digital illustration can be a fun and rewarding process, especially when you know how to change opacity on Procreate. One of the most important aspects of creating eye-catching artwork is understanding and utilizing opacity. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know about adjusting opacity in Procreate, so you can create stunning visuals with ease.

Getting Familiar with Opacity

Before diving into the specifics of how to change opacity on Procreate, it's essential to have a clear understanding of what opacity is and how it differs from transparency. So let's start by breaking down these concepts.

Understanding Opacity

Opacity is a term used in digital art to describe the degree to which a color, layer, or brushstroke can block the view of the content beneath it. In other words, it's a measure of how "solid" or "see-through" something is. In Procreate, opacity values range from 0% (completely transparent) to 100% (completely opaque).

Opacity vs. Transparency

While opacity and transparency might seem like interchangeable terms, there's a subtle difference between the two. Opacity refers to the degree of "solidness" of an object, whereas transparency is the inverse of opacity, representing how "see-through" an object is. To put it simply, higher opacity means lower transparency, and vice versa. Understanding this relationship will help you make more informed decisions when adjusting opacity in Procreate.

Accessing Opacity Controls

Now that you have a solid grasp on opacity and its relationship with transparency, it's time to learn how to access and adjust opacity controls in Procreate. There are two main aspects of opacity you'll want to work with: layer opacity and brush opacity. Let's explore each of these and how they can be adjusted to achieve your desired results.

Layer Opacity

Layer opacity refers to the overall transparency of a layer within your Procreate canvas. Adjusting layer opacity affects all the content on that specific layer, making it an effective tool for blending and creating depth in your artwork. To access layer opacity controls, simply tap on the "Layers" panel and select the layer you wish to adjust.

Brush Opacity

Brush opacity, on the other hand, refers to the transparency of individual brushstrokes. Adjusting brush opacity can help you create soft, gradual transitions between colors and textures. To access brush opacity controls, you'll need to look in the brush settings panel, which can be accessed by tapping on the brush icon in the top right corner of your screen.

Adjusting Layer Opacity

In this section, we'll learn how to change opacity on Procreate by adjusting layer opacity. There are two primary methods for adjusting layer opacity—using the opacity slider and using gestures. Let's dive into the specifics of each method, so you can choose the one that works best for you.

Using Opacity Slider

The opacity slider is a user-friendly tool that allows you to adjust layer opacity with ease. Here's how to use it:

Open the "Layers" panel by tapping on the layers icon.
Select the layer you want to adjust.
Find the "Opacity" slider located at the top of the layer panel.
Drag the slider left or right to decrease or increase the opacity, respectively.
Release your finger to apply the changes.

And that's it! You've successfully adjusted the layer opacity using the opacity slider. The percentage displayed next to the slider indicates the current opacity level of the selected layer.

Using Gestures

For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, Procreate also supports gesture controls for adjusting layer opacity. Here's how to change opacity on Procreate using gestures:

Open the "Layers" panel by tapping on the layers icon.
Select the layer you want to adjust.
Place two fingers on the canvas and slide left or right to decrease or increase the opacity, respectively.
Lift your fingers to apply the changes.

Using gestures can be a bit more challenging to master, but once you're comfortable with it, it's a quick and intuitive way to adjust layer opacity.

Adjusting Brush Opacity

Another way to change opacity on Procreate is by adjusting the brush opacity. This allows you to control the transparency of your brush strokes, giving your artwork a more dynamic and layered appearance. Let's explore two methods for adjusting brush opacity—brush settings and the opacity slider.

Brush Settings

Brush settings offer a more in-depth control over the opacity of your brush strokes. To adjust brush opacity through brush settings, follow these steps:

Tap on the brush icon to open the "Brush Library" panel.
Select the brush you want to adjust.
Tap on the brush thumbnail again to open the "Brush Settings" panel.
Find the "Opacity" setting under the "Dynamics" tab.
Move the slider left or right to decrease or increase the brush opacity, respectively.
Tap "Done" to save your changes.

Now, when you draw with the adjusted brush, the opacity of your strokes will be set to the level you specified in the brush settings.

Opacity Slider

For a quicker and more straightforward way to adjust brush opacity, you can use the opacity slider in the toolbar. Here's how:

Tap on the brush icon to select your desired brush.
Find the "Opacity" slider located at the top of the toolbar.
Drag the slider left or right to decrease or increase the brush opacity, respectively.
Release your finger to apply the changes.

With this method, you can easily change the brush opacity while you're working on your artwork, allowing for more flexibility and creativity in your piece.

Blending Modes

Blending modes offer another way to tweak opacity and achieve various effects in Procreate. They determine how layers interact with each other and can be used to create depth, textures, and interesting visual styles. Let's dive into how to use blending modes and some common examples that you can try out in your artwork.

Using Blending Modes

Applying a blending mode to a layer is a simple process. Here's how you can do it:

Select the layer you want to apply a blending mode to by tapping on it in the "Layers" panel.
Tap on the "N" button located next to the layer's opacity slider.
A list of blending modes will appear. Scroll through the options and tap on the desired blending mode to apply it to the selected layer.
Adjust the layer's opacity, if necessary, to fine-tune the blending effect.

Experiment with different blending modes to discover unique effects and find the perfect style for your artwork.

Common Blending Modes

To help you get started with blending modes, here are some common ones that can enhance your artwork and how they work:

Normal: This is the default blending mode. It doesn't produce any blending effect and maintains the original opacity of the layer.
Multiply: This mode darkens the colors of the underlying layers, making it great for adding shadows or darker details to an image.
Screen: The opposite of Multiply, Screen lightens the colors of the underlying layers. This mode is perfect for adding highlights or brightening an image.
Overlay: This mode combines the Multiply and Screen effects, darkening the dark areas and lightening the light areas. It's useful for enhancing contrast and adding depth to your artwork.
Add: This mode adds the color values of the layers, resulting in a brighter image. It's great for creating glowing effects or intensifying colors.

Remember that blending modes can produce different results depending on the colors and layers in your artwork, so don't be afraid to experiment and find the best combination for your specific project!

Practical Applications

Now that you know how to change opacity in Procreate and use blending modes, let's explore some practical applications of these techniques. By applying these methods in your artwork, you can create depth, add textures, and achieve stunning watercolor effects.

Creating Depth

Adjusting opacity and using blending modes can help you create depth in your artwork. Here are some ways you can achieve this:

Use the Multiply blending mode to add shadows and darken areas that are further away from the viewer or light source.
Apply the Screen blending mode to lighten areas that are closer to the viewer or light source, creating a sense of dimension.
Combine different layers with varying opacities to create a sense of distance between elements in your artwork.

By incorporating these techniques, you can give your artwork a more realistic and three-dimensional appearance.

Adding Textures

Opacity adjustments and blending modes can also be used to add textures to your artwork, giving it a more dynamic and visually interesting look. Try these tips:

Use textured brushes with lowered opacity to create subtle, organic textures in your artwork.
Experiment with blending modes like Overlay or Multiply to blend textured layers with your base colors, enriching your art with intricate details.
Create a new layer with a texture, then adjust its opacity to control the intensity of the texture in your artwork.

With these techniques, you can transform your artwork from flat and lifeless to textured and visually engaging.

Watercolor Effects

One of the most popular uses of opacity adjustments and blending modes in Procreate is to create watercolor effects. Here's how you can achieve this:

Choose a watercolor brush (or download custom ones) and adjust the brush opacity to create translucent paint strokes.
Use layers with lower opacity to build up color and achieve the characteristic soft, blended look of watercolors.
Experiment with blending modes like Multiply or Overlay to blend colors and create realistic watercolor effects.

By mastering opacity adjustments and blending modes in Procreate, you can create stunning watercolor paintings that capture the delicate and ethereal beauty of this traditional art form.

If you're looking to improve your color palette and enhance your digital art, don't miss the workshop 'Refreshing your Colours in Procreate' by Faira. This workshop will provide you with valuable techniques and tips to help you refresh your colors and elevate your digital artwork in Procreate.