Procreate Tips: Effortlessly Moving Objects

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 5 min read

Procreate is a powerful digital art tool that's been transforming the creative landscape. One of the essential skills to master in Procreate is moving objects on your canvas. This blog will guide you through the process, providing Procreate tips to help you move selections effortlessly, enhancing your digital artwork.

1. Kick Start Your Journey

Getting started with Procreate can feel a bit overwhelming, but don't worry, we'll take it step by step. Let's begin by installing the app, exploring its interface, and creating your first canvas.

Download the Procreate App

The Procreate app is available for download on the Apple App Store. Make sure your iPad is updated to the latest iOS version for the best performance. Once you've installed Procreate, you're one step closer to making your art come alive.

Explore the Interface

Now that you have Procreate on your iPad, let's get familiar with its interface. Here's what you need to know:

Gallery View: This is where your artwork lives. You can create new pieces, open existing ones, or import artwork from other sources.
Canvas: This is your workspace. The size can be customized as per your project requirements.
Toolbar: Located at the top, it includes all the tools you need—brushes, eraser, smudge tool, layers, and color palettes.
Control Bar: Found on the side, it includes brush size and opacity sliders, along with undo and redo buttons.

Create Your First Canvas

Creating a new canvas in Procreate is simple. Tap on the plus sign located in the top-right corner of the Gallery View, then select the canvas size based on your preference. Now, you're ready to sketch, paint, and move selections in Procreate.

2. Navigate Procreate Tools

Now that you've got your canvas, let's explore the tools that will help you create your masterpiece. We'll dive into the brush library, layers, and color palettes.

Get Familiar with Brush Library

The Brush Library in Procreate is like the artist's toolbox. It's where you'll find brushes for every style and technique. You've got pencils for sketching, inks for line work, and paint brushes for coloring. And guess what? You can even create your own custom brushes!

Master the Magic of Layers

Think of layers as digital tracing paper stacked on top of your canvas. They allow you to draw and edit parts of your artwork independently. This means you can move, erase, or change a layer without affecting the rest of your artwork. With layers, the Procreate move selection process becomes a breeze as you can select and move individual layers with ease.

Tweak with Color Palettes

The Color Palettes in Procreate are your personal rainbow. You can create your own color schemes, save them for future use, and even share them. Remember, the right colors can bring your artwork to life, so don't be afraid to experiment!

3. Move Objects with Ease

Time to dive into the heart of the matter—moving objects in Procreate. This is where your artwork really starts to take shape. Ready? Let's go!

Use the Transform Tool

Imagine you've drawn a perfect circle—but it's not in the right place. Don't worry, you don't need to redraw it. Just use the Transform Tool! It lets you move, scale, rotate, flip, and even distort any selection on your canvas. It's an essential part of the Procreate move selection process. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep moving those objects around until you get a feel for it.

Apply the Distort and Warp Tools

Want to bend reality a little? The Distort and Warp Tools are your best friends. Distort allows you to stretch and squish your selection in any direction. Warp, on the other hand, gives you the freedom to twist and turn your selection like it's made of rubber. Talk about flexibility!

Employ the Magnetic Guides

Ever tried to move an object in a straight line but it ends up going everywhere else? That's where Magnetic Guides come in handy. With them, your selection will snap to the nearest guide, making it easier to move it in a straight line or align with other objects. So next time you're struggling with the Procreate move selection process, give Magnetic Guides a shot!

4. Smooth Out Your Artwork

After moving objects around, you might notice some rough edges or uneven lines. That's completely normal. But no worries, Procreate has got you covered with tools to smooth out your artwork. Let's get those artworks looking sleek and smooth!

Utilize the Smudge Tool

The Smudge Tool is like the icing on the cake for your artwork. It's great for blending colors, smoothing lines, and creating soft transitions. Just like a real paintbrush, you can change the brush size and opacity to control just how much you're smudging. So go ahead, give it a try. You might just find it's the missing piece in your Procreate move selection process!

Leverage the Gaussian Blur Effect

Sometimes, you might want to create a dreamy, blurred effect in your artwork. Enter the Gaussian Blur Effect. It's a simple way to soften your entire selection or just parts of it. Simply select the area you want to blur, adjust the slider, and watch the magic happen. And the best part? It can also help hide any minor mistakes from moving objects around. Pretty nifty, huh?

5. Polish Your Final Piece

Now that you've got a handle on moving objects and smoothing out your artwork in Procreate, it's time to bring it all together and polish up your masterpiece. These last few steps will breathe life into your creation and make it ready to share with the world.

Add Text to Your Artwork

Words can add a whole new dimension to your artwork. Whether it's a title, a quote, or just a single word that encapsulates the mood of your piece, adding text can be the cherry on top. Procreate offers a variety of fonts and styles, so you can find just the right look for your message. And remember, you can always move your text selection around until it's in the perfect spot!

Export Your Artwork

The moment you've been waiting for — it's time to show off your artwork! Procreate makes it easy to export your creations in a variety of formats, including JPEG, PNG, and PDF. Whether you're printing it out, sharing it on social media, or sending it to a gallery, Procreate ensures your artwork looks its best. So go on, hit that export button and share your talent with the world.

From your first canvas to your polished final piece, mastering the Procreate move selection process can take your digital artwork to new heights. With practice and patience, you'll be creating stunning pieces in no time. Happy creating!

If you've found our "Procreate Tips: Effortlessly Moving Objects" blog helpful, you'll definitely want to check out the workshop 'Animating with Procreate and Photoshop' by Nyanza. This workshop will teach you how to bring your Procreate creations to life through animation, using both Procreate and Photoshop. Take your skills to the next level and start animating your artwork today!