Mastering Procreate: Perspective Guide Tips & Techniques

Published on 11 August 2023 8 min read

Get familiar with Procreate interface
What is Perspective in Drawing?
How to set up Perspective Guides in Procreate
Tips for Creating Accurate Perspectives
Techniques for Drawing with Perspective Guides
How to use Procreate Layers for Perspective Drawing
Tips for Drawing Buildings and Objects in Perspective
How to Draw Shadows and Lights in Perspective

Have you ever looked at a stunning digital painting and wondered how the artist achieved such a realistic depth? If you're an aspiring digital artist, you've likely come across Procreate, an incredible digital illustration app that's taking the creative world by storm. One of the many powerful tools in Procreate is the Perspective Guide tool. By mastering Procreate perspective guides, you can take your digital art to the next level, creating depth and realism that truly brings your work to life. Let's dive into the world of Procreate and perspective drawing.

Get Familiar with Procreate Interface

The first step to mastering Procreate perspective guides is getting comfortable with the Procreate interface itself. This workspace is your digital canvas, and understanding how it works is the key to unleashing your creativity. Here's a quick tour:

Gallery View: When you first open Procreate, you'll land on the Gallery View. This is where all your artworks live, and where you can create new ones by tapping the "+" button.
Canvas Interface: Once you've opened or created an artwork, you'll be in the Canvas Interface. This is where the magic happens! The Canvas Interface features a variety of tools and features at your fingertips— literally!
Tool Bar: At the top of the Canvas Interface is the Tool Bar. Here, you'll find options for brushing, smudging, erasing, layering, and more. One particularly important tool for Procreate perspective guides is the Actions menu, represented by a wrench icon.
Brush Library: On the right-hand side of the screen, you'll find the Brush Library. Procreate offers a wide range of customizable brushes to suit any style or technique.
Layers Panel: On the opposite side, you'll find the Layers Panel. This is where you can manage the different elements of your artwork. For perspective drawing, you'll often use separate layers for your guide lines and your actual drawing.
Color Picker: Lastly, at the top-right corner, you'll find the Color Picker. This is where you can choose and customize the colors you use in your artwork.

With a basic grasp of the Procreate interface, you're ready to start exploring the world of Procreate perspective guides. But first, let's take a moment to understand what perspective is in drawing and why it's so important.

What is Perspective in Drawing?

Have you ever noticed how objects appear smaller as they move further away? That's perspective in action. In drawing, perspective is crucial to creating depth and realism. It's all about representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface. Sounds complicated? Don't worry— it's simpler than you may think!

There are three main types of perspective in drawing:

One-point perspective: This is the simplest form of perspective, usually used for roads, hallways, or buildings viewed from the front. In one-point perspective, all lines converge to a single point on the horizon.
Two-point perspective: This is a bit more complex, used for objects seen from the corner. In two-point perspective, lines converge to two points on the horizon.
Three-point perspective: This is the most complex form, used for buildings seen from high or low angles. In three-point perspective, lines converge to three points — two on the horizon and one above or below.

By understanding these basics, you can start to see how perspective works in the real world, and how you can apply it to your own drawings. Mastering perspective can be a game-changer for your art, especially when combined with the power of Procreate perspective guides. Ready to give it a try? Let's see how to set up perspective guides in Procreate.

How to set up Perspective Guides in Procreate

Procreate perspective guides are a real lifesaver for any artist. They help you maintain accurate proportions and angles in your drawings. But how do you set them up? Here's a simple step-by-step guide:

Open a new canvas: Tap on the "+" icon at the top right corner of your screen. Choose the size that suits your project.
Access the Actions panel: Tap on the wrench icon at the top left corner of your screen. This will open up the Actions panel.
Enable Drawing Guide: Under the Canvas tab, you'll see an option called "Drawing Guide". Flip the switch next to it to turn it on.
Edit Drawing Guide: Once the Drawing Guide is on, you'll notice an "Edit Drawing Guide" option below it. Tap on it.
Select Perspective: At the bottom of your screen, you'll see different guide options. Tap on "Perspective".
Set your vanishing points: Tap anywhere on your canvas to set your vanishing points. Remember, one-point perspective has one vanishing point, two-point perspective has two, and three-point perspective has three.
Adjust your guides: Use the slider at the bottom to adjust the opacity and thickness of your guides. You can also change their color by tapping on the colored circle.
Done: Once you're satisfied with your guides, tap on "Done" at the top right corner of your screen.

That's it! You've successfully set up Procreate perspective guides. With a little practice, this process will become second nature. Now, let's move on to some tips for creating accurate perspectives.

Tips for Creating Accurate Perspectives

Now that you've learned how to set up Procreate perspective guides, let's dive into some tips to create more accurate perspectives. These tips will help you harness the full potential of these guides.

Understand the Horizon Line: The horizon line is the eye level of the viewer. All the vanishing points in your drawing will fall on this line. So, position it wisely based on the viewpoint of your drawing.
Use the right number of vanishing points: One-point perspective is great for simple scenes, two-point perspective works well for most situations, and three-point perspective is ideal for dramatic angles, like looking up at a tall building or down a long road. Use the one that best suits your drawing.
Be Consistent: Once you've set your perspective, stick to it. The lines in your drawing should align with your perspective guides. This consistency gives your drawing a realistic feel.
Practice Makes Perfect: Like any other skill, mastering perspective takes practice. So, keep experimenting with different scenes and angles. Over time, you'll get a feel for it.

Remember, perspective is all about creating a sense of depth and dimension in your drawing. With these tips and your Procreate perspective guides, you'll be well on your way to creating drawings that pop off the page. So, what are you waiting for? Start practicing!

Techniques for Drawing with Perspective Guides

Alright, now let's get our hands dirty with some practical techniques for drawing with Procreate perspective guides. These techniques will help you get the most out of your guides and create some truly spectacular drawings.

Start with Basic Shapes: Before you dive into the details, it's a good idea to block out your drawing with basic shapes. This not only helps you get the proportions right but also allows you to see how the perspective is working.
Draw Through the Form: This means drawing the parts of an object that you wouldn't normally see. For instance, if you're drawing a cube, you would draw all six sides, even though only three might be visible. This can help you better understand the form of the object and how it fits into the perspective.
Use the Vanishing Points: This might seem obvious, but it's worth mentioning. The vanishing points are there to guide you. So make sure to line up your lines with them.
Check Your Work: It's easy to get lost in the details when you're drawing. So, take a step back from time to time and check your work. Make sure everything is aligned with the perspective guides.

These techniques are your tools for mastering perspective drawing in Procreate. They'll help you create more accurate, realistic drawings. So don't be afraid to experiment with them, mix them up, and try new things. Happy drawing!

How to use Procreate Layers for Perspective Drawing

If you're wondering how to bring your perspective drawings to the next level, Procreate layers are your best friends. Using layers can make your drawing process more efficient and your final artwork more dynamic. So, let's learn how to use them with Procreate perspective guides.

Separate Elements: Use separate layers for each element in your drawing. This allows you to tweak, move, or even delete specific parts without affecting the rest of your artwork. For instance, if you're drawing a room, you could have one layer for the walls, one for the furniture, and so on.
Organize Your Layers: A good organization system can save you loads of time and confusion later on. Name your layers according to what's on them and group related layers together. This way, you'll know exactly where to find what you're looking for.
Use Layer Masks: Layer masks let you hide or reveal parts of your layer without permanently erasing anything. This is super helpful when you want to add intricate details or textures to your perspective drawing.
Play with Layer Modes: Procreate offers different layer modes, like Multiply, Overlay, and Add, which can add depth and interest to your artwork. Don't be afraid to experiment with these to see how they can enhance your perspective drawings.

Working with layers can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll wonder how you ever drew without them. Remember, practice makes perfect – the more you use layers, the more comfortable you'll become. So, grab your Apple Pencil and let's get layering!

Tips for Drawing Buildings and Objects in Perspective

When using procreate perspective guides to draw buildings and objects, a few simple strategies can make the process a breeze. Here are some handy tips to help you get started:

Start with Basic Shapes: Every complex object can be broken down into simpler shapes. A skyscraper, for example, begins as a rectangle. A car might start as a boxy shape. These basic shapes give you a solid framework to build upon.
Consider the Horizon Line: The position of the horizon line can dramatically change the perspective of your drawing. Placing it low will make objects seem tall and imposing, while a high horizon line can make them appear small and distant. So, before you start drawing, think about where you want the viewer's eye to be.
Use Vanishing Points: Vanishing points help you maintain accuracy in your perspective drawing. Remember, lines that are parallel in real life will converge to a vanishing point in a drawing. Procreate's perspective guides can help you plot these points accurately.
Play with Scale: In perspective drawing, objects closer to the viewer are larger, while ones further away are smaller. This creates depth and a sense of three-dimensionality in your artwork.

Even though these may seem like small adjustments, they can dramatically improve the realism and depth of your drawings. So, go ahead and try these tips while drawing buildings and objects using procreate perspective guides. You might be amazed at the results!

How to Draw Shadows and Lights in Perspective

Adding light and shadow to your perspective drawings can make them pop off the page. But how do you create these effects with procreate perspective guides? Let's take a look:

Identify Your Light Source: Before you start drawing shadows, decide where your light source is. It could be a lamp in the room, the sun outside, or even an unseen source. The direction and intensity of the light source will determine where shadows fall and how dark they are.
Create Shadows with Perspective: When drawing shadows, remember that they also follow the rules of perspective. Shadows will be longer and more distorted the further they are from the object. Use your Procreate perspective guides to help maintain consistency in your shadows.
Add Highlights: Where the light hits your object directly, you'll have highlights. These are the brightest parts of your drawing. Adding highlights can give your object a sense of volume and make it look more realistic.
Use Light and Shadow to Create Depth: Light and shadow aren't just about making your drawing look realistic. They can also help create a sense of depth. By making objects darker as they recede into the background, you can create a more three-dimensional effect in your artwork.

Remember, mastering light and shadow using procreate perspective guides takes practice. But once you get the hang of it, you'll be amazed at the depth and realism you can bring to your drawings!

If you're eager to learn more about mastering Procreate and enhancing your perspective skills, check out our 'Daisie Original Animation Course' with none another than Alex Jenkins who will you take you through his complete animation process. Dive in and take your animation skills to the next level!