How to Mix Colors on Procreate: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 19 June 2023 7 min read

Unlocking your creativity is easier than ever with Procreate, a powerful digital illustration app for iPad. One of the most exciting aspects of digital art is the ability to mix colors to create unique and vibrant designs. In this step-by-step guide, you'll learn how to mix colours on Procreate and elevate your artwork to new heights.

Getting Familiar with Procreate

Before diving into the world of color mixing, it's important to familiarize yourself with the Procreate interface and its various tools. Let's start by exploring the basics of the app:

Understanding the Interface

Procreate's interface is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for artists of all skill levels to navigate. Key elements include:

Gallery: This is where you'll find all your artwork and can create new pieces.
Toolbar: Located at the top of the screen, the toolbar contains essential tools such as brushes, erasers, layers, and more.
Color Picker: Found in the top-right corner, this tool allows you to choose and mix colors for your project.
Canvas: The main workspace where you'll create your artwork.

Color Palette Basics

Procreate offers an extensive range of colors to choose from, but knowing how to create and manage your own color palettes is essential for efficient workflow. Here's how to get started:

Select the Color Picker in the top-right corner of the screen.
Tap on the Palettes tab to access your color palettes.
Create a new palette by tapping the + icon, and give it a name.
Add colors to your palette by tapping an empty color square and then choosing a color from the Color Picker.

Using Layers

Layers are an essential part of digital artwork as they allow you to work on different elements of your design separately. To make the most of layers when mixing colors on Procreate, follow these steps:

Open the Layers panel by tapping the layers icon in the toolbar.
Create a new layer by tapping the + icon at the top of the panel.
Rename, duplicate, or merge layers by swiping left on the layer thumbnail.
Adjust the opacity and blending mode of a layer by tapping the N icon next to the layer thumbnail.

Now that you're familiar with Procreate's interface, let's move on to choosing and mixing colors for your artwork.

Choosing Your Colors

Selecting the right colors for your artwork can make all the difference in conveying the intended mood and message. To help you choose the perfect colors, let's explore color theory, creating custom palettes, and importing existing palettes into Procreate.

Color Theory

Understanding color theory is crucial for artists, as it provides guidelines on how to combine colors for a harmonious and visually appealing result. Here are a few key concepts to remember:

Hue: The base color, such as red, blue, or green.
Value: The lightness or darkness of a color.
Saturation: The intensity or purity of a color.
Color Harmony: A visually pleasing arrangement of colors, often achieved by using complementary, analogous, or triadic color schemes.

Keeping these principles in mind will help you create well-balanced color palettes for your artwork.

Creating a Color Palette

Custom color palettes allow you to streamline your workflow and keep your colors consistent throughout your artwork. To create a custom palette in Procreate, follow these steps:

Open the Color Picker and tap on the Palettes tab.
Tap the + icon to create a new palette and name it.
Add colors to your new palette by selecting a color from the Color Picker and tapping an empty color square in the palette.
Organize your palette by dragging and dropping color squares into your preferred order.

Importing Color Palettes

If you find a pre-made color palette that you'd like to use in your artwork, you can easily import it into Procreate. Here's how:

Save the color palette file (usually in .swatches format) to your iPad.
Open the Color Picker and tap on the Palettes tab.
Tap the Import button at the top-right corner of the screen.
Navigate to the location where you saved the palette file and select it to import.

With your colors chosen, it's time to learn how to mix colours on Procreate for even more creative possibilities.

Mixing Colors

One of the most exciting aspects of digital painting is the ability to mix and blend colors effortlessly. In Procreate, you have several tools at your disposal to help you achieve the perfect color combinations. Let's dive into the Color Mixer, blending colors on the canvas, and creating custom brushes for color mixing.

Using the Color Mixer

Procreate's Color Mixer allows you to combine two or more colors to create new shades or gradients. To use the Color Mixer, follow these steps:

Select a color from your palette using the Color Picker.
Tap and hold on another color in your palette to bring up the Color Mixer.
Drag your finger up and down to adjust the mix of the two colors.
When you're satisfied with the new color, release your finger to set it as your active color.

This feature is a game-changer when it comes to figuring out how to mix colours on Procreate and achieving smooth transitions between shades.

Blending Colors on the Canvas

Blending colors directly on the canvas can help you achieve natural and organic color transitions in your artwork. Here are two popular techniques to blend colors on the canvas:

Smudge Tool: Use the Smudge Tool to blend and soften colors by smudging them together. You can adjust the Smudge Tool's size, opacity, and brush type to achieve different blending effects.
Brush Opacity and Pressure: Lowering the opacity of your brush and using lighter pressure can help you blend colors by building up layers of color gradually. This technique is particularly useful for achieving soft, subtle color transitions.

Experiment with these methods to find the one that works best for your style and the desired effect.

Creating Custom Brushes for Color Mixing

Custom brushes can enhance your color mixing capabilities and add unique textures to your artwork. To create a custom brush for color mixing in Procreate, follow these steps:

Open the Brush Library and tap the + icon to create a new brush.
Under the Shape and Grain sections, select or import your desired brush shape and grain textures.
In the Dynamics section, adjust the settings for Size, Opacity, and Bleed to control the brush's behavior when mixing colors.
Experiment with other settings, such as Wet Mix and Color Dynamics, to fine-tune your custom brush for color mixing.

With your custom brushes in hand, you'll be well-equipped to explore new ways of mixing colors and creating stunning artwork on Procreate.

Applying Colors to Your Artwork

Now that you know how to mix colours on Procreate, it's time to bring your creations to life by applying those colors to your artwork. In this section, we'll explore different methods, such as the Paint Bucket Tool, painting with brushes, and adjusting opacity and blending modes, to make your digital art vibrant and eye-catching.

Using the Paint Bucket Tool

The Paint Bucket Tool, also known as the ColorDrop feature, is a quick and easy way to fill large areas of your canvas with a single color. Here's how to use it:

Select the color you want to apply from your Color Palette.
Tap and hold the Color Picker (circle) in the top-right corner of the screen.
Drag the circle onto the area you want to fill with color and release.
Adjust the Threshold slider to control how much the color spreads within the area.

Keep in mind that the Paint Bucket Tool works best on closed shapes or areas with clear boundaries, as it will fill all connected pixels with the chosen color.

Painting with Brushes

Procreate offers a wide variety of brushes to help you apply colors to your artwork in unique and expressive ways. To paint with brushes, follow these simple steps:

Choose a brush from the Brush Library that suits your desired painting style.
Select a color from your Color Palette using the Color Picker.
Adjust the brush size and opacity using the sliders on the side of the screen.
Start painting on your canvas by dragging your finger or stylus across the screen.

Experiment with different brush types, sizes, and opacities to achieve a variety of textures and effects in your artwork.

Adjusting Opacity and Blending Modes

Opacity and blending modes are powerful tools for controlling how colors interact with each other on your canvas. Here's a quick guide to using them:

Opacity: Adjust the opacity of a layer or brush to control its transparency. Lower opacity allows the colors beneath to show through, creating a blending effect.
Blending Modes: These modes determine how colors on different layers interact with each other. Examples of blending modes include Multiply, Overlay, and Screen. To change a layer's blending mode, tap the N icon next to the layer's opacity slider and select a mode from the list.

Experiment with different opacity levels and blending modes to create dynamic color interactions and bring depth to your artwork.

Final Tips and Tricks

As you continue to explore how to mix colours on Procreate and apply them to your artwork, these final pointers will help you take your digital art skills to the next level. Remember that practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to experiment and learn from your experiences.

Experimenting with Colors

Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try new color combinations. Mixing unexpected colors can often lead to surprising and visually exciting results. Experimenting with different hues, shades, and tints will help you develop a better understanding of color relationships and expand your artistic potential.

Saving and Exporting Your Color Palettes

As you create custom color palettes in Procreate, make sure to save and export them for future use. To save a palette, tap the + icon in the Palettes tab and choose New from Current Colors. To export a palette, tap the ... icon next to the palette name, then select Share and choose your preferred file format. This way, you can easily access and reuse your favorite color combinations in future projects or even share them with fellow artists.

Seeking Inspiration

When you're stuck for ideas on how to mix colours on Procreate, look for inspiration in the world around you. Nature, fashion, and design trends can all provide a wealth of color inspiration. Observing how colors work together in real life can help you make better decisions when mixing and applying colors in your digital art. Additionally, you can browse online galleries, social media platforms, and art forums to discover new color schemes and learn from other artists' experiences.

With these tips and tricks in mind, you're well on your way to mastering the art of mixing colors on Procreate. Keep practicing, exploring, and experimenting, and you'll see your digital art skills flourish in no time.

If you're looking to enhance your digital art skills and explore new color techniques, check out the workshop 'Refreshing your Colours in Procreate' by Faira. This workshop will provide you with valuable insights and tips on how to refresh and elevate your color palette in Procreate, taking your digital art to new heights.