How to Erase in Procreate: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 19 June 2023 8 min read

Learning how to erase in Procreate is an essential skill for beginners who want to create digital art with ease. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of erasing in Procreate, helping you understand the eraser tool and its features, as well as providing helpful tips and troubleshooting common issues. Let's dive in and master the art of erasing in Procreate!

Understanding Procreate Eraser Tool

The Procreate eraser tool is a powerful feature that allows you to clean up your artwork and make adjustments as needed. To use the eraser tool effectively, it's important to understand its basic functions, the different types of erasers available, and how to adjust their settings.

Eraser Tool Basics

The eraser tool in Procreate is pretty straightforward:

Select the eraser icon in the toolbar at the top of the screen.
Choose a brush from the Brush Library to use as your eraser.
Start erasing parts of your artwork by simply drawing over them.

Remember, the eraser works on the currently active layer, so be sure you're on the correct layer before you start erasing.

Brush vs Soft Eraser

Procreate offers two main types of erasers: brush erasers and soft erasers. Brush erasers use the same brushes you use for painting, allowing you to erase with the same texture and style as your artwork. Soft erasers, on the other hand, create a smooth, clean erase that is perfect for making precise adjustments.

Experiment with both types of erasers to see which one works best for your specific needs. You may find that you prefer using a brush eraser for certain tasks and a soft eraser for others.

Opacity and Size Settings

Adjusting the opacity and size of your eraser is crucial for achieving the desired effect when erasing in Procreate. Here's how:

Opacity: Slide the opacity slider to control how much of the underlying artwork is removed. Lower opacity settings will create a more subtle erase, while higher settings will completely remove the artwork.
Size: Use the size slider to control the size of your eraser. A larger size will erase more of your artwork at once, while a smaller size allows for greater precision.

Experiment with these settings to find the perfect balance for your erasing needs, and don't be afraid to adjust them as you work on different parts of your artwork.

Step-by-Step Guide to Erase

Now that you have a solid understanding of the Procreate eraser tool, let's walk through the process of erasing in Procreate step by step. This guide will teach you how to select the eraser tool, adjust its settings, and apply various erasing techniques to your artwork.

Selecting the Eraser Tool

Selecting the eraser tool in Procreate is simple:

Open the Procreate app and load your artwork.
Locate the eraser icon in the toolbar at the top of the screen (it looks like an eraser).
Tap the eraser icon to activate the eraser tool.
Choose an eraser brush from the Brush Library to start erasing your artwork.

Once you've selected the eraser tool, you're ready to start erasing!

Adjusting Opacity and Size

Before you begin erasing, you may want to adjust the opacity and size of your eraser to achieve the desired effect. Here's how:

With the eraser tool active, locate the opacity and size sliders at the top of the screen.
Slide the opacity slider left or right to adjust the opacity of your eraser.
Slide the size slider to adjust the size of your eraser.

Remember to experiment with these settings as you work on your artwork, adjusting them as needed to achieve the perfect erase.

Erasing Techniques

There are several erasing techniques you can use in Procreate to achieve different effects. Here are a few to try:

Basic Erase: Simply draw over the area you want to erase using the eraser tool. This technique works well for quick fixes and small adjustments.
Soft Erase: Use a soft eraser brush to gradually remove your artwork, creating a smoother, cleaner erase. This technique is great for blending and removing harsh lines.
Textured Erase: Choose a textured brush as your eraser to create an erasing effect that matches the style of your artwork. This technique is perfect for maintaining the overall look and feel of your piece.

Experiment with these techniques to find the one that works best for your specific needs and don't be afraid to combine them for even more control over your erasing process.

Layer Erase Method

Another way to erase in Procreate is by using the layer erase method. This technique allows you to erase an entire layer or parts of a layer without affecting the other layers in your artwork. Here's how:

Tap on the layer you want to erase in the Layers panel.
Select "Clear" from the layer options to erase the entire layer, or use the eraser tool to erase specific areas of the layer.
If needed, make adjustments to the layer's opacity and blending mode to achieve the desired effect.

This method is particularly useful when you want to erase parts of your artwork without affecting the layers below it.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

As with any creative tool, you may encounter some issues while learning how to erase in Procreate. In this section, we'll explore common problems and their solutions to help you overcome these obstacles and continue creating amazing artwork.

Eraser Not Working

If your eraser tool isn't working as expected, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

Double-check that the eraser tool is selected and not another tool, such as the brush or smudge tool.
Ensure the layer you're trying to erase is selected and not locked or hidden.
Adjust the eraser's opacity and size settings to make sure they're not set too low.
Try a different eraser brush to see if the issue is related to a specific brush.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve most eraser-related issues in Procreate.

Background Erasing

When erasing the background or large areas of your artwork, you may find that the standard eraser tool isn't the most efficient option. Instead, try one of these methods:

Layer Erase: As mentioned earlier, the layer erase method allows you to clear an entire layer quickly. Use this technique to remove large areas of your background.
Selection Tool: Use the Selection tool to create a selection around the area you want to erase. Then, tap "Clear" in the Selection options to erase the selected area.

These methods can help you erase the background more efficiently, allowing you to focus on the finer details of your artwork.

Restore Accidentally Erased Areas

Accidentally erasing a part of your artwork can be frustrating, but don't worry—there are ways to recover your work:

Undo: Use the "Undo" function (tap with two fingers) to quickly reverse your last action and restore the erased area.
Revert to a previous version: If you've saved multiple versions of your artwork, you can revert to an earlier version to recover the erased area. To do this, go to the Gallery view, swipe left on the artwork thumbnail, and tap "Revert" to load an earlier version of your piece.

Remember to save your work frequently and create multiple versions of your artwork to avoid losing progress due to accidental erasing.

Advanced Erasing Tips

Now that you're familiar with the basics of how to erase in Procreate, it's time to explore some advanced techniques that can help you refine your erasing skills and enhance your overall creative process.

Custom Eraser Brushes

Procreate allows you to create custom brushes, which can also be used as erasers. By designing your own eraser brushes, you can achieve unique effects and textures in your artwork. To create a custom eraser brush:

Select the brush tool and tap the "+" button to create a new brush.
Adjust the brush settings to achieve the desired effect and texture.
Once you've created your custom brush, select the eraser tool and choose the new brush from the brush library.

Experiment with different brush settings to create a variety of custom eraser brushes that cater to your specific artistic needs.

Using Masks

Masks are a non-destructive way to erase or hide parts of a layer without permanently deleting the content. This can be especially helpful when you want to test different compositions or effects without losing your original work. To use masks in Procreate:

Select the layer you want to mask and tap the "Mask" button in the layer options.
A new mask layer will be created, linked to the original layer. Use the brush or eraser tool to paint on the mask layer—black will hide the content, while white will reveal it.
If you need to make adjustments, simply paint with black or white on the mask layer to hide or reveal parts of the original layer.

Masks can be a powerful tool for refining your artwork and experimenting with different effects without permanently altering your original content.

QuickMenu Shortcuts

Procreate's QuickMenu is a customizable shortcut menu that allows you to access frequently used actions quickly. By adding eraser-related actions to the QuickMenu, you can streamline your workflow and erase more efficiently. To customize the QuickMenu:

Tap and hold the QuickMenu button (a small circle with a "+" inside), then drag it to a convenient location on your canvas.
Tap the "+" inside the QuickMenu button and select "Customize QuickMenu."
Tap one of the six slots in the QuickMenu and choose an eraser-related action, such as "Erase," "Clear Layer," or "Opacity."

By customizing the QuickMenu with your favorite eraser actions, you'll be able to switch between tools and settings more quickly, helping you create more efficiently in Procreate.

Additional Resources

As you continue to learn how to erase in Procreate and explore the app's vast capabilities, it's essential to have access to resources that can help you further develop your skills. Here are some useful resources to support your artistic journey in Procreate:

Procreate Tutorials

There's an extensive library of Procreate tutorials available online, ranging from beginner-friendly guides to advanced techniques. These tutorials can be found on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and other artists' blogs. Watching and following along with these tutorials can significantly improve your understanding of the app's features and help you create more dynamic artwork.

Procreate User Community

Connecting with other Procreate users can provide invaluable insights and advice to help you improve your skills. There are numerous online forums, Facebook groups, and Reddit communities dedicated to discussing Procreate and sharing artwork. By participating in these communities, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions, share your work, and learn from the experiences of others.

Procreate Help Center

The Procreate Help Center is a comprehensive resource provided by the app's developers, containing detailed articles and guides on various features and functions. If you encounter an issue or have a specific question about how to erase in Procreate or any other aspect of the app, the Help Center can be an excellent source of information and solutions.

By utilizing these resources and actively engaging in the Procreate community, you'll be well-equipped to master the art of erasing and enhance your overall creative process in Procreate.

If you're looking to improve your digital art skills and learn how to draw realistic fruits, don't miss out on the workshop 'How to Draw A Fruit In ProCreate' by Vicky Catalan. This workshop offers step-by-step guidance on using ProCreate to create stunning fruit illustrations, perfect for artists of all skill levels.