Procreate Color Blending Mastery: Artwork Tips

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 7 min read

When it comes to digital art, blending colors can make the difference between a flat, lifeless image and a vibrant masterpiece that pops off the screen. Mastering the art of Procreate color blending techniques can take your creations to the next level. In this blog, we will walk together through the step-by-step process of becoming a Procreate color blending maestro. So, let's roll up our virtual sleeves and dive in.

1. Get Acquainted with Procreate

Before we start exploring the world of Procreate color blending techniques, it's important to get comfortable with the basics of the Procreate app itself. Here's how you can do that:

Download and Install Procreate

First things first, you need to have Procreate installed on your iPad. It's a simple process—just visit the App Store, search for Procreate, and click on the 'Get' button to download. Once it's downloaded, tap to open and start exploring. Remember, Procreate is not a free app but considering the wide range of features it offers, it's a worthy investment for any digital artist.

Explore the Interface

Now that you have Procreate installed, it's time to familiarize yourself with its interface. The Procreate interface is quite intuitive and easy to navigate. On the top, you will find options for brushes, eraser, layers, and color picker. On the right, you'll find the slider for brush size and opacity. Spend some time playing around with these tools and you'll be comfortable in no time.

Learn Basic Features

Understanding the basic features of Procreate is a key step in mastering Procreate color blending techniques. Some of the basic features you should become familiar with include:

Brushes: Procreate comes with an extensive library of pre-made brushes. Each brush has unique properties and can create different effects. You can also customize brushes or create your own.
Layers: Layers are a powerful feature of Procreate that allow you to work on different parts of your image without affecting others. This makes editing and tweaking your artwork much easier.
Color Picker: Procreate's color picker allows you to choose your colors with precision. You can also create custom color palettes for your projects.

Now, with a good understanding of Procreate's basic features, you're all set to delve into the exciting world of Procreate color blending techniques.

2. Start with Simple Blending

Now that you're familiar with Procreate, let's start our journey into the world of Procreate color blending techniques. It's best to start with simple blending before we dive deeper.

Choose Your Colors

Choosing the right colors is the first step in the blending process. Procreate's color picker offers a seemingly endless array of colors to choose from. Choose two colors that you want to blend. For starters, you might want to choose colors that are close to each other on the color wheel for a smooth blend. For example, you could choose a light blue and a dark blue.

Apply Basic Blending Technique

With your colors chosen, it's time to apply a basic blending technique. Here's how:

Select the Brush: Start by selecting a brush. The Soft Brush under the Airbrushing category is a good choice for beginners as it creates a soft, smooth blend.
Paint the First Color: Draw a solid shape with your first color. This will be the base of your blend.
Apply the Second Color: Next, apply your second color on top of the first, overlapping them slightly.
Blend: Now comes the fun part—blending! Select the Smudge tool, choose the same brush you used for painting, and gently smudge where the two colors overlap to create a smooth transition.

Voila! You've just created your first blend with Procreate color blending techniques.

Analyze Your Results

Once you've completed your blend, take a moment to analyze your results. Look at the transition between the two colors—is it smooth and seamless, or can you still see a hard line? If it's the latter, don't worry. Blending is a skill that improves with practice. Try adjusting your brush size or the pressure you apply with your Apple Pencil. Experimentation is key in mastering Procreate color blending techniques.

Now that we've covered simple blending, let's move on to something a bit more complex—blending modes.

3. Experiment with Blending Modes

Ready to level up your Procreate color blending techniques? It's time to experiment with blending modes. Blending modes can add depth and complexity to your artwork. They can make your colors pop, blend in unique ways, and even create effects that mimic real-life painting techniques.

Understand the Different Blending Modes

Before you dive into experimenting, it's important to understand the different blending modes available in Procreate. Here are a few examples:

Normal: This is the default blending mode. It doesn't blend the colors, but lays them on top of each other.
Multiply: This mode darkens the colors, making it great for creating shadows.
Add: This mode lightens the colors, making it ideal for creating highlights.
Overlay: This mode combines Multiply and Screen modes to preserve the highlights and shadows of the base color while blending with the top color.

These are just a few examples. Procreate offers a grand total of 30 blending modes, each creating a unique effect. It might seem overwhelming, but remember, mastering Procreate color blending techniques is all about experimentation and practice.

Try Out Various Blending Modes

Now it's time to get hands-on. Start by drawing two overlapping shapes with different colors. Then, tap on the layer with the top shape and select a blending mode from the menu. Watch how the colors interact with each other. Repeat this process with different blending modes and color combinations. You'll soon start to get a feel for how each mode works.

Blend Different Colors Using Various Modes

Once you're comfortable with a few blending modes, challenge yourself by blending different colors using various modes. Try blending complementary colors with the Overlay mode, or create a sunset effect with the Add mode and shades of red, orange, and yellow. The possibilities are endless with Procreate color blending techniques.

Blending modes are a powerful tool in your Procreate arsenal. But wait, there's more! Let's move on to another crucial technique—layer blending.

4. Master Layer Blending

Now that you have the basics of blending modes under your belt, it's time to further refine your Procreate color blending techniques with layer blending. Layer blending in Procreate offers an abundance of possibilities for creating depth and complexity in your artwork.

Learn About Layer Blending

First of all, what exactly is layer blending? It's simply the process of blending different layers together to create a cohesive piece of artwork. In Procreate, you can easily adjust the opacity and blending mode for each layer, giving you total control over how your colors interact.

Practice Layer Blending with Simple Shapes

Start your layer blending journey by practicing with simple shapes. Draw two overlapping shapes on separate layers. Adjust the opacity of the top layer to see how it interacts with the bottom layer. Then, experiment with different blending modes. Notice how the look and feel of your artwork changes with each adjustment.

Create Complex Images Using Layer Blending

Once you've got the hang of layer blending with simple shapes, it's time to apply this technique to more complex images. Start with a base layer (this could be a sketch or a background color), then add more layers on top. Blend each new layer with the ones below it, adjusting the opacity and blending mode as needed. With practice, you'll be able to create stunning artwork with depth and complexity.

Layer blending is a powerful tool in your Procreate toolkit. But don't stop here! There are even more advanced Procreate color blending techniques waiting for you to discover.

5. Explore Advanced Blending Techniques

Once you've mastered the basics and have a solid grasp on layer blending, it's time to take your Procreate color blending techniques to the next level. Advanced blending techniques can elevate your artwork from good to jaw-droppingly amazing.

Learn New Blending Strategies

Procreate is packed with advanced blending tools that can further enhance your artwork. These tools include gradient maps, blend ranges, and layer masks. To get the most out of these features, take the time to learn how they work and what they can do. For instance, gradient maps can be used to apply a range of colors to your artwork based on the original grayscale values. Blend ranges, on the other hand, allow you to control how the colors of one layer interact with the colors of another.

Apply Advanced Blending Techniques to Your Art

Once you've learned about these advanced tools, it's time to apply them to your art. Start by experimenting with gradient maps on a simple piece of grayscale artwork. Notice how the colors change based on the grayscale values. Then, try using blend ranges on a multi-layered piece. Adjust the blend ranges to see how it changes the look of your art. Finally, experiment with layer masks to hide or reveal parts of your layers in a non-destructive way.

Create Stunning Artwork Using Advanced Techniques

Now that you're comfortable with these advanced Procreate color blending techniques, it's time to create some stunning artwork. Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you experiment with these techniques, the more natural they will become. Before you know it, you'll be creating artwork that not only looks amazing, but also showcases your mastery of color blending in Procreate.

These advanced techniques are just the tip of the iceberg. Procreate is a powerful tool with endless possibilities. So, keep exploring, keep learning, and most importantly, keep creating!

If you're looking to take your Procreate skills to the next level after mastering color blending, check out the workshop 'Animating with Procreate and Photoshop' by Nyanza. This workshop will teach you how to create stunning animations using both Procreate and Photoshop, adding a whole new dimension to your artwork.