How to Create Custom Stickers on Procreate: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 19 June 2023 7 min read

Creating custom stickers is a fun and exciting way to express your creativity. In this step-by-step guide, you'll learn how to make stickers on Procreate—an iPad app that's perfect for artists and designers alike. With Procreate's powerful tools and intuitive interface, you'll be designing and printing your stickers in no time.

Getting Familiar with Procreate

Before diving into sticker creation, it's important to get comfortable with Procreate's interface and features. In this section, we'll cover the basics, including understanding the interface, choosing the right brushes, and working with layers.

Understanding the Interface

Procreate's interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Here's a quick rundown of the main elements you'll encounter:

Gallery: The starting point where all your artwork is stored. You can create new pieces or open existing ones from here.
Canvas: The workspace where you'll create your stickers. You can customize the canvas size to fit your project's needs.
Toolbar: Located at the top of the screen, the toolbar contains essential tools like brushes, eraser, smudge, and more.
Layers Panel: Found on the right side of the screen, this panel lets you manage and organize your artwork using layers.
Color Picker: The circular icon at the top-right corner allows you to select and adjust colors for your brushes.

Choosing the Right Brushes

Procreate offers a vast selection of brushes to suit any artistic style. To make stickers on Procreate, you'll want to focus on a few specific brushes:

Sketching Brushes: Use these for creating your initial sticker design. The "6B Pencil" brush is a popular choice for sketching.
Inking Brushes: These brushes are perfect for outlining your sticker. The "Technical Pen" or "Studio Pen" brushes are great for clean, crisp lines.
Coloring Brushes: Fill in your design with vibrant colors using brushes like "Soft Airbrush" or "Hard Airbrush."
Texture Brushes: Add depth and detail to your sticker with texture brushes like "Grunge" or "Charcoal."

Feel free to experiment with different brushes to find the ones that best fit your artistic style and sticker design.

Working with Layers

Layers are essential when learning how to make stickers on Procreate, as they allow you to work on different parts of your design without affecting the whole piece. Here are some tips for working with layers:

Creating Layers: Tap the "+" icon in the Layers Panel to create a new layer.
Organizing Layers: Drag and drop layers to rearrange them in the stack. This affects how they appear on the canvas.
Layer Opacity: Adjust the layer's transparency by tapping the "N" icon and moving the slider.
Merging Layers: Pinch two layers together to merge them into one, or use the "Merge Down" option in the layer menu.

By mastering layers, you'll have better control over your sticker design and make the creation process smoother.

Designing Your Sticker

Now that you're familiar with Procreate's interface and features, it's time to start designing your custom sticker. In this section, we'll cover sketching the initial idea, adding color and shading, and finalizing the design.

Sketching the Initial Idea

Every great sticker begins with a solid concept. Keep these tips in mind as you sketch your initial idea:

Brainstorm: Jot down ideas or create a mood board to help you visualize your sticker concept.
Choose a Theme: Select a theme that reflects your personal style or interests, like animals, plants, or pop culture references.
Keep It Simple: Remember, stickers are relatively small, so avoid overly complex designs that may not be easily recognizable.
Sketch on a New Layer: Create a new layer for your sketch, so you can easily edit or remove it later.

Once you have a clear vision for your sticker, use your chosen sketching brush to draw the basic shape and outline on the canvas.

Adding Color and Shading

With your sketch in place, it's time to bring your sticker to life by adding color and shading. Follow these steps to create a vibrant and eye-catching design:

Create a New Layer for Coloring: Place this layer below your sketch layer, so the colors won't cover your outline.
Select Your Colors: Use the Color Picker to choose the perfect hues for your sticker. Consider using a limited color palette for a cohesive look.
Fill in the Base Colors: Using a coloring brush, fill in the main areas of your design with your chosen colors.
Add Shading and Highlights: Create a new layer above the base colors and use a lower opacity brush to add shadows and highlights. This adds depth and dimension to your sticker.

Don't forget to periodically zoom out and view your sticker at a smaller size to ensure it remains visually appealing and easy to understand.

Finalizing the Design

With your colors and shading in place, it's time to finalize your sticker design by refining the details and cleaning up your outline. Here's how:

Create a New Layer for Inking: Place this layer above all other layers to ensure your clean lines are visible.
Trace Over Your Sketch: Using an inking brush, carefully trace over your sketch to create a polished outline. Don't be afraid to make small adjustments to improve the overall look of your sticker.
Hide or Delete the Sketch Layer: Once you're satisfied with your inked outline, hide or delete the sketch layer to reveal your finalized design.
Make Final Adjustments: Take a moment to review your sticker and make any necessary tweaks to the colors, shading, or line work.

With these steps complete, you now have a custom sticker designed in Procreate, ready for exporting and printing.

Exporting and Printing

Once your custom sticker design is complete, it's time to export and print your masterpiece. We'll cover exporting your sticker, finding the right printer, and choosing the best sticker paper.

Exporting Your Sticker

Procreate offers several file formats for exporting your artwork. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to export your sticker:

Choose Your File Format: For sticker printing, we recommend using either the PNG or JPEG format, as they maintain high image quality and support a wide range of printers.
Open the Export Menu: Tap the Actions icon (wrench) in the top-left corner, then select "Share" from the menu.
Select Your Format: Choose either PNG or JPEG as your export format.
Save Your File: Choose a convenient location to save your file, such as your device's gallery or a cloud storage service.

With your sticker exported, you're ready to move on to the printing process.

Finding the Right Printer

There are many options when it comes to printing your stickers. Consider these factors when choosing a printer:

Print Quality: Look for a printer that offers high-quality prints to ensure your stickers look their best.
Compatibility: Ensure the printer is compatible with your chosen sticker paper type and file format.
Cost: Compare prices between various printers to find one that fits your budget.

You can opt for a home printer or use a professional printing service, depending on your preferences and budget.

Choosing the Best Sticker Paper

Selecting the right sticker paper is essential for creating durable and professional-looking stickers. Here are some factors to consider when choosing sticker paper:

Material: Sticker paper is available in various materials, such as matte, glossy, clear, or waterproof vinyl. Choose a material that best suits your design and intended use.
Adhesive Strength: Consider whether you need a permanent or removable adhesive for your stickers.
Printer Compatibility: Ensure the sticker paper is compatible with your chosen printer.

After selecting the perfect sticker paper, load it into your printer, and print your custom stickers. With your stickers printed, you're ready to share and sell them to the world.

Now that you've learned how to make stickers on Procreate and print them, it's time to share your creations with the world and potentially make some income. Let's explore promoting your stickers on social media, selling on Etsy, and joining sticker communities.

Social media platforms are great for showcasing your custom stickers and reaching a wider audience. Here are some tips for promoting your stickers on social media:

Choose the Right Platforms: Use popular platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, where visual content thrives.
Share High-Quality Images: Post clear and attractive images of your stickers to grab attention and showcase their quality.
Use Hashtags: Include relevant hashtags like #procreatestickers and #customstickers to increase the visibility of your posts.
Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments and messages, and be active in the community to build a loyal following.

By effectively promoting your stickers on social media, you can attract potential customers and grow your brand.

Selling on Etsy

Etsy is a popular online marketplace for handmade and unique items, making it an ideal platform to sell your custom stickers. Here's how to get started selling on Etsy:

Create an Etsy Account: Sign up for an account and set up your shop, including a shop name, banner, and description.
List Your Stickers: Add your sticker designs to your shop, including high-quality images, a detailed description, and pricing information.
Offer Customization Options: Allow customers to request custom designs or modifications to increase sales and make your shop stand out.
Manage Inventory and Shipping: Keep track of your stock, and be prepared to ship orders promptly to maintain customer satisfaction.

Selling on Etsy can provide a steady income source and help you reach a global audience interested in your custom stickers.

Joining Sticker Communities

Joining sticker communities can be a great way to connect with fellow sticker enthusiasts, share your work, and get valuable feedback. Here are some ways to get involved in the sticker community:

Participate in Online Forums: Join forums like Reddit's r/stickers or r/procreate, where you can share your stickers, ask questions, and learn from others.
Attend Sticker Events: Look for local or online sticker-related events, such as sticker swaps, conventions, or workshops.
Collaborate with Other Artists: Partner with other artists to create unique sticker collaborations, or exchange ideas and tips.

Being an active member of sticker communities can help you grow as an artist, gain valuable insights, and make lasting connections with like-minded individuals.

With these tips on sharing and selling your custom stickers, you're well-equipped to showcase your creations and turn your passion for designing stickers on Procreate into a rewarding hobby or even a business. Good luck, and have fun sharing your stickers with the world!

If you're looking to improve your digital drawing skills, don't miss the workshop 'How to Draw A Fruit In ProCreate' by Vicky Catalan. This workshop will help you master the techniques needed to create stunning digital illustrations of fruits using the popular ProCreate app. Boost your digital art game by learning from the best!