How to Color Line Art in Procreate: 7 Easy Steps for Beginners

Published on 19 June 2023 8 min read

Step 2: Select a Color Palette

Step 5: Add Shadows and Highlights

Step 7: Final Touches and Export

Coloring line art in Procreate can be a fun and exciting way to bring your digital illustrations to life. In this blog, we'll walk you through 7 easy steps on how to color line art in Procreate, perfect for beginners who want to learn the ropes of this powerful design tool. With a little practice, you'll be on your way to creating stunning artwork in no time!

Step 1: Prepare Your Line Art

Before you start coloring, it's important to prepare your line art properly. This will ensure that your coloring process goes smoothly. Here's what you need to do:

Import your line art: Open Procreate and create a new canvas. Tap the wrench icon in the top left corner, then select "Add" and "Insert a photo" to import your line art image.
Separate the line art: If your line art is on a white background, tap the "N" icon on the layer and adjust the blending mode to "Multiply." This will make the white background transparent, allowing you to color underneath the lines easily.
Create a reference layer: To make coloring even more efficient, tap on the layer thumbnail and select "Reference." This will allow you to use the line art as a reference when filling in colors, ensuring you stay within the lines.
Organize your layers: It's a good idea to keep your line art on a separate layer at the top of the layer stack. This will prevent any accidental changes to the lines while you're coloring.

Now that your line art is prepared, you're ready to learn how to color line art in Procreate by choosing a color palette, creating color layers, and more!

Step 2: Select a Color Palette

Choosing the right color palette is crucial to the success of your artwork. A well-balanced palette can make your piece visually appealing and help convey the desired mood. Here's how to select a color palette for your line art in Procreate:

Consider the mood: Think about the atmosphere or emotions you want your artwork to evoke. Are you going for a bright and cheerful look, or something more moody and dramatic? This will help guide your color choices.
Choose your colors: Start by selecting a few base colors that work well together. You can use the color wheel in Procreate to pick harmonious colors or find inspiration from existing color schemes online. Remember, you can always adjust your colors later if needed.
Create a color palette: To keep your colors organized, create a new color palette in Procreate by tapping the plus icon in the Color Palettes panel. You can add colors to your palette by dragging and dropping them from the color wheel or by using the eyedropper tool to sample colors from reference images.
Consider contrast and variety: Make sure your palette includes a mix of light, dark, and mid-toned colors. This will provide contrast and help your artwork stand out. Don't be afraid to use a few unexpected or bold colors to add interest and variety.

With your color palette selected, you're one step closer to mastering how to color line art in Procreate. Next up: creating color layers!

Step 3: Create Color Layers

Organizing your colors in separate layers is a great way to stay organized and maintain flexibility as you work on your piece. Follow these steps to create color layers in Procreate:

Start with a new layer: Create a new layer by tapping the plus icon in the Layers panel. This will be your first color layer, so make sure it's placed beneath your line art layer.
Label your layers: To stay organized, it's a good idea to rename your layers according to their purpose. You can do this by tapping the layer thumbnail and selecting "Rename" from the menu.
Use clipping masks: Clipping masks are a fantastic feature in Procreate that allows you to paint within the bounds of an existing layer. To create a clipping mask, swipe right on your color layer with two fingers. This will ensure that your color stays within the lines of your line art, making the coloring process easier and cleaner.
Create additional layers: As you add more colors to your piece, create separate layers for each one. This will give you greater control over your artwork and allow you to easily make changes or adjustments as needed.

With your color layers set up, you're ready to start painting! Let's move on to the next step in our guide on how to color line art in Procreate: painting the base colors.

Step 4: Paint the Base Colors

Now that your layers are organized, it's time to bring your artwork to life by painting the base colors. These are the main colors that will define the overall look of your piece. Let's dive into how to color line art in Procreate with these simple steps:

Select your color: Choose your first base color from the color palette you created earlier. You can do this by tapping the color icon in the top-right corner and selecting the desired hue from your palette.
Select the right brush: To paint the base colors, you'll want a brush with a solid fill and clean edges. Procreate has a wide range of brushes to choose from, so experiment with different options until you find one that works best for your style.
Paint on the appropriate layer: Make sure you're painting on the correct color layer you created earlier. This will ensure that your colors stay organized and separated, making it easier to make changes later on.
Fill in large areas: Start by painting the larger areas of your line art, using smooth strokes to cover the entire space. Don't worry about getting too close to the edges — the clipping mask will keep your colors within the lines.
Refine the edges: Once you've filled in the larger areas, zoom in and carefully paint along the edges of your line art. This will help create a clean, polished look and ensure that all areas are properly colored.
Repeat for all base colors: Continue painting the base colors for each section of your artwork, using separate layers for each hue. This will make it easier to adjust colors and add shading later on.

With your base colors applied, you're well on your way to learning how to color line art in Procreate. Next up: adding shadows and highlights to give your artwork depth and dimension.

Step 5: Add Shadows and Highlights

Shadows and highlights are essential for giving your artwork a realistic, three-dimensional look. In this step, we'll show you how to color line art in Procreate by adding depth and dimension to your piece. Follow these steps to create stunning shadows and highlights:

Create a new layer for shadows: Tap the "Layers" icon and create a new layer above your base color layers. Rename it to "Shadows" to stay organized. Set the blending mode to "Multiply" and lower the opacity to around 40% to create a semi-transparent shadow effect.
Select a shadow color: Choose a darker version of your base color for the shadows. You can do this by selecting the base color and dragging the color picker towards a darker shade within the same hue family.
Choose a soft brush: For painting shadows, you'll want a brush with a soft edge, like the "Airbrush" or "Soft Brush" in Procreate. This will help you create smooth, gradient-like shadows and avoid harsh lines.
Paint the shadows: Think about where your light source is coming from and paint shadows on the opposite side of the line art. Use a light touch and gradually build up the intensity of the shadows for a more natural look.
Create a new layer for highlights: Similarly, create a new layer for highlights above the shadows layer and rename it to "Highlights." Set the blending mode to "Screen" or "Add" and lower the opacity to around 40% for a subtle highlight effect.
Select a highlight color: Choose a lighter version of your base color for the highlights. You can do this by selecting the base color and dragging the color picker towards a lighter shade within the same hue family.
Paint the highlights: With the same soft brush you used for shadows, paint the highlights on the side of the line art where the light source is coming from. Remember to use a light touch and build up the intensity gradually for a more realistic look.

By adding shadows and highlights to your artwork, you're elevating your piece and mastering the process of how to color line art in Procreate. The next step will help you blend your colors for seamless transitions.

Step 6: Blend Colors

Blending colors is an important technique to create smooth transitions and avoid abrupt color changes in your artwork. In this step, we'll teach you how to color line art in Procreate by blending your base colors, shadows, and highlights for a polished look. Follow these simple steps to blend your colors like a pro:

Select the right brush: To blend colors in Procreate, you'll want to use a brush that is specifically designed for blending, such as the "Smudge" tool. You can find this tool by tapping on the brush icon with the finger symbol.
Adjust the brush settings: Before blending, you need to adjust the brush settings to fit your needs. Tap on the "Smudge" tool and select a brush that suits your style, such as the "Soft Brush" or "Airbrush." You can also adjust the brush size and opacity for better control.
Blend the colors: With the "Smudge" tool selected, gently brush over the areas where your base colors, shadows, and highlights meet to create smooth transitions between them. Use a light touch, and avoid over-blending to maintain the integrity of your colors and the overall shape of your artwork.
Refine your blending: As you blend, you may notice that some areas still need adjustment. Feel free to go back and forth between the "Paint" and "Smudge" tools to add more color or blend further until you achieve the desired result.

By blending your colors, you're one step closer to mastering how to color line art in Procreate. The final step will show you how to add finishing touches and export your masterpiece.

Step 7: Final Touches and Export

Now that you've learned how to color line art in Procreate and blended your colors beautifully, it's time to add some final touches and export your masterpiece. Here's what you can do to polish your artwork before sharing it with the world:

Review and adjust layers: Take a moment to review all your layers and make any necessary adjustments, such as tweaking color intensity, opacity, or blending. This is your last chance to perfect your artwork before exporting it.
Add effects and textures: To give your artwork a more distinctive look, consider adding effects or textures. Procreate offers various built-in effects, such as "Noise," "Halftone," and "Gaussian Blur," that you can experiment with to enhance your artwork. Don't forget to create a new layer for each effect to keep your work organized.
Sign your work: Add your signature or watermark to your artwork to show that it's your creation. You can either hand-write your signature using the "Brush" tool or create a custom watermark using the "Text" tool.
Export your artwork: To export your finished piece, tap on the wrench icon in the upper left corner, then tap "Share" and select your preferred file format, such as PNG or JPEG. Save your file to your device, iCloud, or other cloud storage services, or share it directly to social media platforms.

Congratulations! By following these seven easy steps, you've successfully learned how to color line art in Procreate and created a stunning piece of art. Keep practicing and experimenting with different techniques, brushes, and color palettes to continue improving your skills and developing your unique style.

If you're interested in taking your digital art skills to the next level, don't miss out on the workshop titled 'Refreshing your Colours in Procreate' by Faira. This workshop will provide you with the techniques and insights you need to refresh and enhance your color palette in Procreate, elevating your digital artwork to new heights.