Procreate Workflow Maximizer: Guide to Shortcuts

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 8 min read

Discovering the boundless possibilities of Procreate can be an exciting journey. This dynamic digital art studio, favored by both professionals and hobbyists, is loaded with features that might seem overwhelming at first. Fear not, because this guide is here to help you navigate through the intricacies of Procreate, with a special emphasis on the procreate keyboard aspect. Let's dive in and start exploring!

1. Get to Know Procreate

Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of Procreate shortcuts and procreate keyboard commands, let's first familiarize ourselves with some basics. We'll take a look at the overall layout, terminology, and canvas functionality.

Overview of Procreate

Procreate is an app designed for artists to create and edit digital artwork. It's a treasure trove of art tools, from brushes to layers and everything in between. The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, providing a seamless creative experience. Here's what you need to know:

Gallery view: This is where all your artwork is stored. You can easily open, duplicate, delete, and share your work from here.
Canvas: Once you open a new or existing artwork, you're on the canvas. This is your playground where all the magic happens!
Toolbar: Located at the top of the screen, this hosts a variety of tools including brushes, eraser, layers, and more.

Understanding the layout is a stepping stone to mastering the procreate keyboard shortcuts we'll discuss later on.

Procreate Terminology

Now that we've looked at the layout, let's touch base with some common Procreate terms:

Brush Library: A collection of brushes that Procreate offers. You can also create and import your own brushes.
Smudge Tool: This tool is used to blend colors on your canvas.
Layers: Allows you to work on different parts of an image without altering the rest, much like layers of a cake!

Knowing these terms will make the rest of our journey, especially when we get to the procreate keyboard shortcuts, a lot easier.

Exploring the Procreate Canvas

The canvas is where your ideas come to life. You can zoom in, rotate, and move around using simple gestures. The toolbar at the top provides all the tools you need. Here are some things to remember:

Brush Size and Opacity: These sliders are located on the left side of the screen. Slide up or down to adjust the size and opacity of your brush strokes.
Color Picker: Located in the top right corner, this is where you can choose the color for your brush or fill.
Layers: Click the layers icon to view, hide, or rearrange layers. You can also adjust the opacity and blend mode of each layer.

Now that we've taken a tour of Procreate's basics, we're ready to move on to more advanced features, including the much-coveted procreate keyboard commands!

2. Brush Up on Brushes

One of the standout features of Procreate is its extensive range of brushes. But it's not just about the variety; the level of customization that Procreate offers is a game-changer. And yes, you can also make use of the procreate keyboard for easy brush management. Let's get into it.

Using Procreate Brushes

Procreate boasts a comprehensive library of brushes. Whether you're looking to sketch, paint, or add texture, there's a brush for that. Here's how you can make the most out of Procreate brushes:

Choose a Brush: Tap on the brush icon on the toolbar to open the Brush Library. Here, you'll find a variety of brushes grouped into different sets.
Modify Brush Behavior: Once you've selected a brush, you can adjust its behavior using the sliders on the left. This includes size, opacity, and pressure sensitivity.
Test Your Brush: The blank square at the top of the Brush Library is a testing ground. Give your brush a few strokes to see if it behaves as you want it to.

And remember, many brush controls can be accessed directly through your procreate keyboard, saving you precious time!

Customizing Brushes

Not satisfied with the default brushes? No worries, Procreate allows you to customize brushes to suit your artistic needs. Here's how:

Select a Brush: Choose a brush from the Brush Library as your base.
Edit the Brush: Tap on the brush again to open the settings. Here, you can adjust everything from the brush's shape and grain to dynamics and behavior. The possibilities are endless!
Save Your Custom Brush: Once you're happy with your custom brush, tap "Done". Your brush will be saved in the current brush set.

With a well-optimized procreate keyboard, you'll be able to streamline this process even further!

Creating Your Own Brushes

For the truly creative souls who want to take things a step further, Procreate allows you to create your own brushes from scratch. Here's how:

Create a New Brush: Open the Brush Library and tap the "+" icon at the top right. This will create a new brush.
Edit Brush Settings: Modify the settings to create a brush that is truly yours. You can even import an image to use as the brush shape or grain source!
Save and Test Your Brush: Don't forget to test your newly created brush and save it.

Creating your own brushes can be a fun and rewarding process, especially when you master the use of the procreate keyboard to speed things up!

3. Master Layers and Blends

Layers and blend modes are like the secret ingredients of your Procreate recipe. They may seem complex at first, but once you get a handle on them, they'll become your trusty tools in creating stunning digital art. And yes, you guessed it, your Procreate keyboard is going to be your best buddy in navigating these features. Let's dive in!

Understanding Layers

The concept of layers in Procreate is akin to stacking transparent sheets of paper. You can draw on each one independently, allowing for incredible flexibility in your designs. Here's a quick guide:

Create a New Layer: Tap on the layers icon in the toolbar, then tap the "+" button to add a new layer.
Reorder Layers: Drag and drop layers to change their order. Layers at the top of the stack will appear in front of those below it.
Toggle Layer Visibility: Tap on the checkmark next to a layer to hide or show it.

You'll find that managing layers becomes much more intuitive with your Procreate keyboard handy!

Using Blend Modes

Blend modes determine how the colors of your layers interact with each other. With 25 different blend modes in Procreate, the creative possibilities are vast. Here's how you can use them:

Select a Layer: Tap on a layer in the Layers panel to select it.
Choose a Blend Mode: Tap on the "N" button next to the layer opacity slider to open the Blend Mode menu. From here, you can select a blend mode that suits your artwork.

Thanks to the Procreate keyboard, you can swiftly navigate through blend modes, helping you find the perfect one for your art piece!

Managing Layers

As you start to work with multiple layers, keeping them organized will be key. Here's how you can efficiently manage your layers:

Rename Layers: Tap on a layer and select "Rename" to give it a descriptive name. This helps especially when you're working with a large number of layers.
Group Layers: You can group related layers together by swiping right on them and then hitting "Group".
Delete Layers: If a layer is no longer needed, swipe left on it and hit "Delete".

With these techniques and the use of the Procreate keyboard, you'll be a master at managing layers in no time!

4. Navigate Procreate Shortcuts

Now that you're getting familiar with the Procreate interface and its key features, let's boost your productivity with some handy shortcuts. Remember, your Procreate keyboard is not just for typing—it's a powerful tool that can significantly speed up your workflow.

Using Gesture Controls

Gesture controls are like magic tricks that can speed up your work. Once you get the hang of them, you'll find yourself using them instinctively. Here are a few to get you started:

Undo: Tap with two fingers to undo. It's that simple!
Redo: Swipe with three fingers to the right to redo an action.
Zoom In/Out: Pinch in or out with two fingers to adjust your view of the canvas.

Feel like a wizard yet? Now let's add even more magic with the Procreate keyboard.

QuickMenu Shortcuts

The QuickMenu is a customizable menu that pops up with a tap, holding six of your favorite actions for easy access. Here's how to set it up:

Access QuickMenu: Tap and hold on your canvas to display the QuickMenu.
Customize QuickMenu: Tap and hold a QuickMenu action, then choose a new action from the list that appears.

Paired with your Procreate keyboard, the QuickMenu becomes a dynamic duo that streamlines your creative process.

Keyboard Shortcuts

And here we are, the moment you've been waiting for—unleashing the power of the Procreate keyboard! Keyboard shortcuts can make your workflow smoother and faster. They're like secret passageways that let you bypass the usual steps:

Toggle Brush/Smudge/Erase: Press 'B' for Brush, 'S' for Smudge, and 'E' for Erase.
Resize Brush: Use the bracket keys '[' and ']' to decrease and increase brush size.
Layers Panel: Press 'L' to open the Layers Panel.

There you have it! With these Procreate keyboard shortcuts, you're well on your way to becoming a Procreate power user.

5. Optimize Your Workflow

Now that you've got a handle on using the Procreate keyboard and shortcuts, let's see how to optimize your workflow even further. This is about making your Procreate experience as smooth as a well-oiled machine—let's get started!

Using the Gallery View

Think of the Gallery View as your personal art museum. It's where all your masterpieces live. But it's not just for admiring your work. The Gallery View can help you stay organized and manage your artworks effectively. Here's how:

Sort Your Artworks: You can sort your artworks by date, name, or size—whichever way works best for you.
Stack Your Artworks: Group related artworks into stacks, just like you would with physical papers in a folder. This is great for keeping projects organized.

With a neat and organized Gallery View, you'll find it easier to navigate your Procreate universe.

Organizing Your Artwork

Organizing your artwork is like giving your future self a gift. It can save you time looking for specific files and make your overall workflow more efficient. Here are a couple of tips:

Name Your Layers: It might seem trivial, but naming your layers can save you from a lot of confusion later on. No more guesswork trying to figure out which layer is which.
Use Color Tags: Procreate allows you to tag your layers with different colors. This can be a visual indicator of what each layer contains or what stage of the process it is in.

Remember, a well-organized workspace is a happy workspace!

Once you've finished your artwork, it's time to show it off to the world. Procreate makes it easy to export and share your creations. Here's how:

Export Options: Procreate supports a variety of formats, including JPEG, PNG, and even PSD for you Adobe folks out there. Choose the one that suits your needs.
Sharing Artworks: Procreate lets you share your artworks directly from the app. Just tap the share icon, choose your preferred method, and voila! Your art is ready to dazzle the world.

And there you have it! With these tips and your trusty Procreate keyboard, you're all set to maximize your workflow and make the most of your Procreate experience. Happy creating!

If you enjoyed our blog post on maximizing your Procreate workflow, you'll definitely want to check out Vicky Catalan's workshop, 'Intro to Procreate: Drawing with Digital Tools.' This workshop will help you dive deeper into the world of digital art and master the Procreate app to bring your creative ideas to life.