Lowering Opacity in Procreate: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 7 min read

Procreate is a fantastic tool for digital art, but it can be tricky to navigate all its features, especially if you're new to the app. One such feature is opacity, a key element that can make or break your artwork. This guide aims to give you a clear understanding of what opacity is, its role in digital art, and how to lower opacity on Procreate. So, let's jump right in!

1. What is Opacity?

Before we delve into how to lower opacity on Procreate, let's first understand what opacity is all about.

Understanding Opacity Definition

Opacity refers to the degree to which something is see-through or transparent. In digital art, an element with 100% opacity is entirely solid, meaning you can't see what's behind it. On the other hand, an element with 0% opacity is completely transparent—like it's not even there! Understanding opacity is the first step towards mastering how to lower opacity on Procreate.

Importance of Opacity in Digital Art

Opacity is a fundamental part of digital art. It allows you to create depth and dimension, add highlights and shadows, and create interesting visual effects. For example, lowering the opacity of a layer can create a ghostly effect or a sense of distance. Likewise, playing with the opacity of your brush can result in softer strokes or gradual color transitions. It's these subtle changes in opacity that can really elevate your artwork.

Opacity Vs Transparency: Know the Difference

While we often use opacity and transparency interchangeably, they're actually opposites. Opacity pertains to how opaque or solid an object is. Conversely, transparency refers to how see-through or invisible an object is. In Procreate, when we talk about lowering opacity, we're essentially increasing transparency. So, if you're looking to create layers that subtly blend into each other or brushes that paint with a soft touch, understanding how to lower opacity on Procreate is key.

2. Getting to Know Procreate

Now that we've covered the basics of opacity, let's shift our focus to the tool that lets us manipulate it—Procreate. To fully grasp how to lower opacity on Procreate, it's important to understand what Procreate is and what it offers.

Introduction to Procreate

Procreate is a powerful digital illustration app available exclusively on the iPad. It's akin to having a full-fledged art studio right at your fingertips. With its intuitive interface and expansive brush library, Procreate makes it easy to bring your creative ideas to life. Whether you're sketching, painting, or even animating, Procreate has you covered.

Features of Procreate

Procreate is jam-packed with features designed to enhance your digital art experience. These include a vast selection of customizable brushes, an advanced layer system, and a variety of effects. However, one of its most useful features—and the one we're focusing on today—is its opacity controls. With these, you can easily adjust the opacity of your layers and brushes, which is crucial when you want to know how to lower opacity on Procreate.

Why Use Procreate?

Procreate stands out from other digital art apps for its blend of power and simplicity. It offers a range of professional-grade features, yet remains user-friendly, even for beginners. Plus, it's continually updated with new tools and improvements, making it a top choice for digital artists worldwide. All of these factors make Procreate not just a versatile tool for creating art, but also an excellent platform to learn how to lower opacity for your digital art needs.

3. Setting Up Your Workspace

Having a well-organized workspace can make a world of difference when you're working on Procreate. An efficient setup allows you to focus on your art without getting bogged down by unnecessary distractions. So, let's look at how you can set up your Procreate workspace to lower opacity effectively.

Choosing the Right Canvas Size

The size of your canvas can impact the final quality of your work. A larger canvas allows for more detail, but it also uses more of your iPad's resources. Start by considering what you'll be using the artwork for. Is it for web use, or will it be printed? Your answer will help you determine the appropriate canvas size. Remember, you can always lower the opacity of your canvas on Procreate to achieve different effects.

Organizing Your Layers

Layers are like digital sheets of paper stacked on top of each other. Each layer can hold different parts of your artwork. Organizing your layers allows you to work on individual elements without affecting the rest of your piece. It also lets you experiment with lowering opacity on different layers in Procreate, creating depth and complexity in your artwork.

Selecting Your Brushes

Procreate offers a wide variety of brushes, each with their unique characteristics. The brush you choose can significantly influence the feel and texture of your artwork. Just like layers, brushes in Procreate also have opacity controls. By knowing how to lower the opacity of your Procreate brushes, you can create softer strokes, shading, and other interesting effects.

4. Adjusting Opacity in Procreate

Now that we've set up a workspace, it's time to dive into the meat of the matter: how to lower opacity on Procreate. Whether it's for a whole layer or just a brush stroke, adjusting opacity can bring your digital art to life. Let's break it down step by step.

Accessing Opacity Controls

Opacity controls in Procreate are easy to find. They're located in the Layers panel and the Brush settings. To access these controls, just tap on the respective icons on the top-right of your screen. Remember, the Layers panel controls the opacity of the entire layer, while the Brush settings affect only the brush you're currently using. Experiment with both to see the different effects you can create.

Changing Layer Opacity

Now let's learn how to lower opacity for an entire layer on Procreate. After accessing the Layers panel, tap on the thumbnail of the layer you want to adjust. A menu will pop up. Slide the Opacity slider to the left to reduce the layer's opacity. You'll see the change in real-time, so feel free to adjust until you're satisfied with the result.

Changing Brush Opacity

Adjusting the opacity of your brush in Procreate is just as easy. Once you've selected your brush, you'll see two sliders on the left side of your screen. The top slider controls the brush size, and the one below it controls opacity. Simply slide it down to lower the opacity of your brush strokes. This tool is especially useful for creating subtle shadows and highlights, adding depth and realism to your work.

5. Practical Tips and Tricks

Knowing how to lower opacity on Procreate is just the beginning. Now, let's explore how to leverage this newfound knowledge to create stunning digital art. Here are some practical tips and tricks:

Using Opacity for Shading

Shading can give your artwork depth and dimension. To achieve this effect, create a new layer above your base layer. Select a darker color than your base color, then lower the opacity of your brush. As you paint, you'll notice a subtle shading effect. Experiment with different opacity levels to see what works best for your art style.

Creating Translucent Effects

Translucent effects can add a touch of realism to your artwork. Imagine painting a glass of water or a sheer fabric. To create a translucent effect, you can lower the opacity of the entire layer. Start by painting the object in solid colors on a new layer. Then, adjust the layer opacity until you achieve the desired level of translucency. It's a simple yet effective technique.

Maintaining Consistency

Consistency is key in digital art. If you're using multiple layers and varying opacities, make sure to maintain consistency. It can help your artwork look cohesive. A good rule of thumb is to use similar opacity levels for similar elements in your art. For example, if you're painting a scene with multiple glass objects, keep their opacity levels consistent to make the scene look realistic.

6. Concluding Remarks

As we wrap up our discussion on how to lower opacity on Procreate, it's important to remember that mastering opacity is just one piece of a larger digital art puzzle. However, it's a significant piece that can truly elevate your artwork.

Recap of Learning Points

Let's quickly recap what we've learned:

Opacity is a measure of how much light a digital element allows to pass through it. It plays a vital role in adding depth and realism to your artwork.
Procreate is a powerful digital art app packed with features, including versatile opacity controls.
Setting up your workspace correctly, especially organizing your layers and choosing your brushes, can make the process of adjusting opacity much simpler.
You can change both layer opacity and brush opacity in Procreate, allowing you to create a wide range of effects.
Using opacity for shading, creating translucent effects, and maintaining consistency are just some of the ways you can enhance your artwork.

Further Resources

If you're interested in diving deeper into Procreate and digital art techniques, consider checking out Procreate's official handbook or joining online communities of digital artists. You can learn a lot from the collective wisdom and experience of others. Keep practicing, keep experimenting, and most importantly, have fun with your art!

And remember, the journey of mastering how to lower opacity on Procreate, just like any other skill, is a process. So, don't be too hard on yourself if you don't get it right the first time. Every great artist was once a beginner, so keep going!

If you found our step-by-step guide for lowering opacity in Procreate helpful, you'll definitely want to explore Faira's workshop on 'Refreshing your Colours in Procreate'. This workshop will provide you with even more valuable tips and techniques to enhance your digital art skills and make your creations stand out.