During the coronavirus pandemic, setting apart time to pursue artistic tasks has turn out to be certainly one of my favourite methods to spend free time and handle stress. I sometimes get pleasure from working with bodily media — watercolor, oils, acrylics or easy sketching with pen or pencil — and the thought of going digital was intimidating. But whereas searching for new methods to attract on my iPad, Apple’s Procreate app caught my eye.
LikeWide selection of toolsUseful for everybody from inexperienced persons to professionalsEasy to be taught new types like animation
Don’t Like$10 value tagTwo completely different apps for iPhone and iPad useLarge variety of instruments will be overwhelming for inexperienced persons
The digital illustration app prices $10 (£10, AU$15) to obtain (with no in-app purchases), and its suite of artwork instruments and artistic options make it nicely well worth the cash. Procreate affords an accessible expertise whether or not you are a design skilled, a seasoned digital artist or a newbie to the world of digital drawing. One draw back: The app is just accessible on iPadOS and iOS. Read extra: Best iPad for 2020
I’ve been utilizing Procreate for a couple of months, and there are nonetheless options I’m studying to make use of that enhance my paintings. The app’s instruments, resembling fast form, mix mode, layering, alpha locks and clipping masks, add a brand new degree of professionalism to your artwork. This is why we have awarded Procreate a CNET Editors’ Choice award for 2020.
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Toto, I do not suppose we’re utilizing Microsoft Paint anymoreProcreate is filled with so many instruments and options that I’ll barely scratch the floor on this evaluate. There are numerous methods to customise your iPad’s ($239 at Back Market) gesture controls to make the app work greatest for you. For instance, you may set it so that you simply faucet 4 fingers to right away populate the copy and paste choices. You may also use three fingers to wash the display screen and clear a layer.
A sketch I did on Procreate and a have a look at a subset of brushes.
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One of the most important perks of Procreate is its huge library of 150 brushes. The vary of brushes accessible within the app match nearly any creation you would probably bear in mind. You can stick to primary sketching, inking, drawing and portray, or you may discover airbrushing, calligraphy, charcoals and spray paints. Under every class of brushes, you will discover a half a dozen or extra selections. For instance, should you select Sketching, you may choose from seven completely different pencils and three completely different pastel textures. Take it a step additional by tapping the comb once more and additional customizing the properties of the software. Read extra: 10 Procreate app suggestions for budding iPad artistsI additionally love utilizing the app’s layering function whereas I’m drawing. It makes modifying sooner or later a lot simpler. You’ll simply have to recollect to place your work in piece by piece. You can discover further gentle and coloration modifying options for every layer as nicely. Just faucet the little “N” subsequent to the checkmark that selects the layer. Here’s what grouping layers appears like with some primary doodles.
Shelby Brown/CNET
To keep organized, or if you need an added degree of safety to a bit of artwork, you may mix layers into teams. Simply faucet a layer and you’ll choose both Merge Down or Combine Down. Merge Down makes two layers into one, for instance, should you had Alpha Lock on to guard line boundaries in a layer, it’ll flip off. Combine Down varieties a brand new group, however nonetheless retains every particular person layer’s specs lively. Procreate additionally makes it straightforward to be taught new expertise by making the technical facet of digital artwork much less intimidating. When I first opened the Procreate app, I noticed that it had animation options, however virtually instantly wrote them off as too difficult for a novice like me. But with a couple of faucets within the app, I used to be in a position to create a rudimentary animation of a ball bouncing throughout the display screen. It was barely two and a half seconds, however I used to be actually happy with it! Now, I’m actually excited to see what else I could make. A face sketch I began on Procreate.
Shelby Brown/CNET
To ease the digital illustration studying curve, Procreate has a useful handbook, boards and YouTube movies that will help you alongside the best way.iPad is the brand new canvasProcreate is an iPad-only app. There is a model on your iPhone, known as Procreate Pocket ($5, £5, AU$8). But the apps are separate, so you may’t swap forwards and backwards between your cellphone and your pill. I exploit Procreate on a third-gen iPad Air, however you could find the full listing of suitable units on its web site. The Apple Pencil is not required {hardware} for utilizing Procreate. But should you’re planning to pursue digital illustration, your fingers will thanks for choosing one up. I can solely communicate for myself, however with no stylus, I could not get the identical degree of element. I exploit a first-gen Apple Pencil. If your machine is not suitable with the Apple Pencil, the app helps some third-party stylus fashions. You can discover the full listing on its web site. Read extra: The greatest Apple iPad apps of all timeShould you attempt Procreate?There’s a lot happening in Procreate and it could appear overwhelming, however the extra you utilize the app, the simpler it will get. Having enjoyable is crucial half.If you are even mildly concerned about digital artwork and have $10 to spare, I’d advocate making an attempt Procreate out. Explore the app, doodle, write your title with completely different brushes. You may also add clean coloring sheets to a canvas and experiment with the instruments that approach, so you are not making a model new work by yourself. If you are extra available in the market for a digital coloring ebook, nevertheless, you would possibly try the Lake app (free, with in-app purchases), as a substitute of shelling out $10 for Procreate. And if you wish to get an concept of how a lot you would possibly use Procreate earlier than investing, Autodesk Sketchbook is a free app that has a formidable set of instruments, too — not as many as Procreate, however sufficient to provide you a style. There are dozens of how to customise Procreate that will help you uncover or enhance your artwork type. For extra on drawing, try 5 on-line drawing courses you may take proper now and all one of the best apps for drawing in your iPad.