Mastering Procreate Grid: A Comprehensive Guide for Artists

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 5 min read

Welcome to the world of digital art! If you're looking to up your game, mastering the Procreate grid is a must. This guide is here to help artists of all levels get comfortable with this powerful tool, set up their grid, draw effectively using it, explore advanced techniques, and share their work with confidence.

1. Getting Comfortable with Procreate

Before diving into the Procreate grid, it's important to get comfortable with the app. This includes downloading and installing the app, exploring its interface, and getting familiar with the tools.

Download and Install Procreate

Procreate is available for download from the App Store. It's designed for the iPad and works best with an Apple Pencil. Once you've downloaded and installed the app, you're ready to start exploring.

Explore the Interface

Procreate's interface is clean and intuitive. Here are some key areas to familiarize yourself with:

The Gallery is where your artworks are stored. It's the first thing you see when you open the app.
The Canvas is where the magic happens. This is where you'll do your drawing and painting.
The Toolbar sits at the top of the screen and contains options for actions like undo, redo, and share.
The Brush Library houses all your brushes. It's customizable, so you can add your own brushes or download them from various sources.

Familiarize with Tools

Procreate comes packed with a variety of tools designed to help you create stunning digital art. From brushes and smudge tools to layers and color palettes, take some time to try them out and see what they can do. Remember, practice is the key to mastery. As you get more comfortable with the tools, you'll be ready to make the most of the Procreate grid.

2. Setting Up Your Grid

Now that you're comfortable with the basics of Procreate, it's time to set up your Procreate grid. This grid is a powerful tool that can help you draw with precision and symmetry. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to set it up.

Define Your Grid Parameters

To create a Procreate grid, you first need to define your grid parameters. This involves deciding on the size of your grid cells and the thickness of your grid lines. Here's how:

Open a new canvas and tap on the wrench icon in the top left corner to open the Actions menu.
Under the Canvas options, tap on "Drawing Guide". This turns on the guide, which is a basic grid by default.
Tap on "Edit Drawing Guide". Here you can adjust the grid size by moving the slider under "Grid Size". The grid line thickness can be adjusted under the "Grid Thickness" option.

Customize Your Grid Style

One of the great things about the Procreate grid is that it's fully customizable. You can change the color of your grid lines, choose between a 2D grid and an isometric grid, or even make your grid lines dashed instead of solid. Play around with the settings and see what works best for your art style.

Save Your Grid Settings

Once you've perfected your grid settings, don't forget to save them! Procreate allows you to save your grid settings so you can easily apply them to future artworks. Just tap on "Save" in the top right corner after you've adjusted your settings. The next time you want to use the same Procreate grid, you can load it up in a snap.

3. Drawing with the Grid

After setting up your Procreate grid, it's time to put it to good use. Drawing with a grid can significantly improve your precision, alignment, and symmetry. Let's dive into how you can use your grid to enhance your artwork.

Align Your Sketches

Having trouble keeping your sketches straight? The Procreate grid is here to help! By following the grid lines, you can ensure that your sketches are always aligned. Whether it's a building, a character, or an abstract shape, the grid can guide you in maintaining balance in your artwork.

Use the Grid for Symmetry

Symmetry can often be challenging to achieve freehand. But with the Procreate grid, you can mirror your work accurately. How? Simply create your design on one side of the grid, then use the other side as a guide to replicate it. This way, your work will be symmetrical, and your audience will be astonished by your attention to detail.

Practice Precision

Finally, the Procreate grid is an excellent tool for practicing precision. The grid cells can serve as a guide for sizing and positioning your elements accurately. With regular use, you'll notice a significant improvement in your ability to create detailed and precise designs. Remember, practice makes perfect!

4. Advanced Grid Techniques

Once you've mastered the basics of the procreate grid, you might feel like exploring further. There are several advanced grid techniques that can unleash your creativity and take your artwork to the next level.

Use Multiple Grids

Did you know you can use more than one grid in Procreate? It's a helpful feature when you're working on complex projects. You can use one grid for the overall structure and another for detailed sections. This method increases accuracy and consistency in your work. So, why stick to one when you can juggle multiple grids?

Utilize Isometric Grid

Ever wondered how artists create those intricate 3D designs? The secret is often an isometric grid. This type of procreate grid allows you to draw 3D shapes with precision. It's perfect for architectural designs, product sketches, or any artwork that requires a three-dimensional perspective. So, ready to add a new dimension to your art?

Experiment with Perspective Grid

Speaking of dimensions, have you tried the perspective grid yet? It's a fantastic tool for creating depth in your artwork. The grid lines converge at a vanishing point, giving the illusion of distance. It's perfect for drawing landscapes, cityscapes, or any scene you want to add depth to. So why not give your art a little perspective?

Creating art is a joy, but sharing it with the world amplifies that joy. Procreate makes it easy to share your work in various ways. Whether you want to showcase your art on social media, join a community of artists, or simply save your work for future reference, Procreate has got you covered. So, ready to step into the spotlight with your masterpieces?

Export Your Artwork

Once you're happy with your design, you can easily export it from the Procreate app. Procreate supports several formats such as JPEG, PNG, and even PSD for Photoshop users. Remember to select the appropriate format that will retain the quality of your artwork. So, ready to export your creation and let it grace various platforms?

It's time to show off your artistry. Procreate allows you to share your artwork directly to popular social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Now, your friends, family, and followers can admire your Procreate grid masterpieces. So, ready to get those likes, shares, and comments rolling in?

Join Procreate Communities

Sharing your work doesn't have to stop at your own social media circles. There are plenty of Procreate communities out there where you can share your work, get feedback, and even learn from other artists. You can find these communities on platforms like Reddit and Discord. So, ready to be part of a thriving community of Procreate artists just like you?

If you're looking to take your Procreate skills up a notch after mastering the grid, be sure to explore Sameera Maruvada's workshop, 'Procreate Basics: Making Digital Art'. This workshop will help you dive deeper into the world of digital art, teaching you essential techniques and tricks to make the most out of Procreate for your artistic creations.