Procreate App Icons: Creation Tips for Beginners

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 7 min read

Creating your first Procreate app icon can be an exciting journey. With its versatile features, Procreate allows anyone to turn simple ideas into stunning app icons. This guide will help you navigate through the Procreate app, design your first icon, and discover new creative possibilities.

1. Get Familiar with Procreate

Before you start designing your Procreate app icon, it's important to familiarize yourself with the app. This includes getting the app installed, exploring its interface, and understanding the basic tools and features. Here's how you can get started:

Download and Installation

First things first, you need to have the Procreate app. It's available on the Apple App Store, and you can easily download it on your iPad. After downloading, install the app and open it to start exploring.

Exploring the Interface

Upon opening Procreate, you'll find a sleek and intuitive interface. On the top right, you'll see the gallery button, which leads to your artworks. The + button allows you to create a new canvas. The top left is where you'll find the actions menu, where you can adjust canvas settings, share your work, or even replay your drawing process. The sidebar on the right houses your brush, eraser, and smudge tools, while the slider below adjusts your brush size and opacity. Take some time to navigate through the interface and familiarize yourself with these features.

Basic Tools and Features

Now that you're comfortable with the interface, let's talk about Procreate's tools and features. The brush library, found on the right sidebar, houses a variety of brushes you can use for your Procreate app icon. You can also create custom brushes to suit your style. The color picker, found on the top right, lets you choose any color you want for your design. The layers panel, located on the top right as well, allows you to organize your design by separating elements into different layers. Lastly, Procreate's selection and transformation tools, found on the top left, help you select, move, and transform your design elements.

With these basics under your belt, you're now ready to start your journey in creating your Procreate app icon!

2. Start with Simple Icons

Designing your first Procreate app icon? The best strategy is to start with a simple design. This will help you understand the basics, and gradually you can try more complex designs. Here is a simple guide to help you get started.

Choosing Your Design

Before you start sketching, decide on the design for your app icon. Remember, an app icon is the first thing users see, so it should represent your app's purpose. Whether it's a game, a productivity app, or a social media platform, your icon should depict that. Once you have your idea ready, you can start designing your Procreate app icon.

Sketching Your Icon

Once you've chosen your design, it's time to sketch it out. Use the sketching brushes in Procreate to draw your design. Don't aim for perfection in this stage, because this is just a rough sketch. You can always refine it later. The key here is to get your ideas down on the canvas.

Adding Colors and Details

After sketching, you can start adding color and detail to your icon. Use the color picker to choose your colors, and then use the different brushes in Procreate to add these colors to your design. You can also add details like shadows, highlights, and textures to make your icon more visually appealing. Remember, less is often more when it comes to app icons, so don't overcomplicate your design with too many details.

With these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating your first Procreate app icon. But, the journey doesn't end here. There's more to learn and explore in Procreate, so let's dive deeper.

3. Experiment with Layers

So, you've started your journey with Procreate app icons. Now, let's unlock another powerful feature of Procreate - layers. Layers are like transparent sheets you can stack on top of each other, each holding a different part of your artwork. This can be a game changer in your icon creation process. Let's see how.

Understanding Layers

Think of layers as separate canvases that you can work on independently. For instance, you can work on the background of your Procreate app icon on one layer, the main object on the second, and the details on the third. This way, if you need to modify something, you only have to tweak the relevant layer without affecting the rest of your design. Pretty neat, right?

Using Layers in Design

When designing your Procreate app icon, use different layers for different elements. For example, use one layer for the base color, another for the main design, and others for details like shadows and highlights. This gives you the freedom to experiment with each element without disturbing the others. It also makes it easier to make changes later.

Layer Effects and Blending

Besides organizing your work, layers also provide creative opportunities. For instance, Procreate offers different layer blending modes like Multiply, Overlay, and Soft Light. These can give your Procreate app icon a unique look. You can also adjust the opacity of each layer to create interesting effects. So, don't shy away from experimenting with these features.

As you can see, layers offer a ton of flexibility in your icon design process. They may seem intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll wonder how you ever worked without them. So, are you ready to take your Procreate app icon to the next level?

4. Explore Procreate Brushes

Procreate is a playground for creative minds. It offers a variety of brushes to help you craft the perfect Procreate app icon. Let's navigate this creative jungle together, shall we?

Getting to Know Brushes

Procreate boasts an impressive selection of brushes, each with its own unique feel and effect. There are brushes for sketching, painting, inking, and more. Whether you're looking to create crisp lines or soft shading, there's a brush for that. Understanding the different brushes can help you select the right one for each part of your icon design.

Customizing Brushes

One of the best things about Procreate is the ability to customize brushes. You can tweak settings like size, opacity, and pressure sensitivity to create a brush that suits your style perfectly. This means you can have a brush for every detail in your Procreate app icon. Isn't that something to cheer about?

Using Brushes in Icon Design

When designing your Procreate app icon, different brushes can play different roles. For example, you can use a soft brush for backgrounds, a hard brush for outlines, and a textured brush for details. The right brush can not only make your work easier but also add depth and character to your icon.

Indeed, brushes in Procreate are like colors on a palette, waiting for you to blend them into your masterpiece. So, go ahead and explore the world of Procreate brushes. Your perfect Procreate app icon is just a few brush strokes away!

5. Fine Tune with Adjustments

Now that you've painted the broad strokes of your Procreate app icon, it's time to fine-tune your work. Adjustments are user-friendly tools that can help you do just that, ensuring your icon not only catches the eye but also stands the test of time.

Using Adjustment Tools

From tweaking brightness and contrast to altering hue and saturation, Procreate's adjustment tools are your trusty sidekicks. For instance, if you've sketched a sunset but the colors don't quite pop, simply use the saturation tool to amp up the vibrancy. Think of these tools as your personal art director, guiding you towards your best work.

Balancing Colors

Colors can make or break your Procreate app icon. Too many loud colors can overwhelm the viewer, while too many soft colors can make your icon fade into the background. Achieving the right balance is key. Procreate's color balance tool can help you adjust the reds, greens, and blues in your design, ensuring your icon is a feast for the eyes.

Adding Textures and Effects

Textures and effects can add an extra dimension to your Procreate app icon, setting it apart from the crowd. Experiment with Procreate’s noise, grain, and halftone effects to give your icon a unique look. Remember, the devil is in the details. The more care you put into these final touches, the more your icon will shine.

So, are you ready to transform your Procreate app icon from good to great? With these adjustment tools at your fingertips, your masterpiece is just a few tweaks away!

6. Save and Export Your Icons

You've explored the Procreate interface, crafted your design, played with layers, brushes, and adjustments. Now, you're staring at your finished Procreate app icon, and it's a beauty! So, what's next? It's time to save, export, and share your work with the world.

Saving Your Work

First things first - save your work. Losing your hard-earned masterpiece to a sudden app crash or a phone reset isn't a fun experience. Procreate auto-saves your work as you go, but it's a good idea to manually save your work too. Tap on the Actions Menu, select Share, and then Procreate. This will save your work as a .procreate file, preserving all your layers and effects.

Exporting Icons

Once your Procreate app icon is saved, you can export it. Whether you need a JPEG for your portfolio, a PNG for your website, or a PDF for a client, Procreate has you covered. Go to the Actions Menu, tap Share, and select your preferred file format. Your Procreate app icon is now ready to make its debut!

Creating a stunning Procreate app icon is a feat worth sharing. Whether you're seeking feedback from a design community, showing off your skills on social media, or sending your work to a potential client, Procreate makes sharing simple. From the Actions Menu, select Share and pick your preferred channel. And there you have it—your Procreate app icon, out in the world for all to admire.

So go ahead, save, export, and share your Procreate app icon. After all, good design deserves to be seen. And who knows? Your work might just inspire someone else to start their own Procreate journey!

If you enjoyed learning about creating Procreate app icons and want to take your skills to the next level, don't miss the workshop 'Animating with Procreate and Photoshop' by Nyanza. This workshop will teach you how to bring your designs to life, combining the power of Procreate and Photoshop to create eye-catching animations. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike!