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10 Tech How-To

Procreate 101: iPad Drawing with Apple Pencil

Guide 10-7897 · Updated · Step by step

This guide walks you through the basics of using Procreate on an iPad with an Apple Pencil, from setting up your canvas to exporting your finished artwork. You’ll learn the essential gestures, tools, and settings that let you start drawing confidently in under an hour.

What You’ll Need

  • An iPad that supports the Apple Pencil (any generation)
  • An Apple Pencil (1st or 2nd generation, or USB-C)
  • Procreate app installed from the App Store (paid, one-time purchase)
  • Basic familiarity with iPad gestures (tap, swipe, pinch)

Step-by-Step

  1. Connect your Apple Pencil. For 2nd generation Pencils, attach it magnetically to the side of your iPad and wait for the pairing prompt. For 1st generation, plug it into the Lightning port (or use the adapter for USB-C iPads). Check Settings > Bluetooth to confirm it’s connected.
  2. Open Procreate and tap the + icon at the top-right of the Gallery screen. Choose a canvas size: for practice, pick “Screen Size” (e.g., 2048 x 2732 pixels) or create a custom one. The default resolution (300 DPI) is fine for most work.
  3. Familiarize yourself with the interface. The top bar has the Gallery (back), Adjustments (magic wand), Share (export), and the wrench (Actions). The right side has the Brush, Smudge, Eraser, and Layers icons. The top right shows your color swatch and brush size/opacity sliders.
  4. Pick a brush. Tap the Brush icon (paintbrush) to open the brush library. For sketching, try “6B Pencil” under Sketching. Tap once to select it. Adjust size and opacity with the sliders on the left of the top bar (or use two-finger tap to see a slider).
  5. Start drawing. Touch the Apple Pencil to the screen and draw. Press harder for darker strokes (pressure sensitivity is on by default). Use your finger to pan (drag with two fingers) or zoom (pinch with two fingers).
  6. Undo and redo. Tap two fingers anywhere on the canvas to undo. Tap three fingers to redo. This is the fastest way to fix mistakes.
  7. Use layers. Tap the Layers icon (two overlapping squares) to open the Layers panel. Tap the + to add a new layer. Keep your sketch on one layer, line art on another, and color on a third. This lets you edit parts without affecting the rest.
  8. Choose colors. Tap the color circle at the top right to open the color picker. Drag the color wheel to select a hue, then tap the square to adjust brightness/saturation. You can also use the eyedropper: touch and hold a color on the canvas to sample it.
  9. Erase and smudge. Tap the Eraser icon (rubber) to erase, and the Smudge icon (finger) to blend colors. Both use the same brush library, so you can use a textured brush for natural effects.
  10. Add text (optional). Tap the wrench icon (Actions) > Add > Text. Type your text, then adjust the font, size, and color in the pop-up. Tap outside the text box to commit.
  11. Export your work. Tap the wrench icon > Share. Choose a format: PNG (transparent background), JPEG (for photos), or PDF (for documents). Select “Save Image” to save to Photos, or “Share” to send via AirDrop, email, etc.
  12. Save to your Gallery. Your artwork is automatically saved in Procreate’s Gallery. To back it up, export as a Procreate file (wrench > Share > Procreate) and store it in iCloud Drive or another cloud service.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to zoom in – Drawing at 100% zoom makes it hard to add detail. Pinch to zoom in and use two-finger drag to pan.
  • Drawing on the wrong layer – If you can’t erase something, check that you’re on the correct layer in the Layers panel. You might be drawing on a locked or hidden layer.
  • Not using pressure properly – If your strokes are all the same width, check that “Pressure” is enabled in the brush settings (Brush > Stroke Properties > Pressure).
  • Accidentally using your finger – Procreate treats finger touches as drawing by default. To disable, go to Actions > Prefs > Gesture Controls > General > Disable Finger Drawing.
  • Ignoring the undo limit – Procreate remembers a limited number of undos (adjustable in Actions > Prefs > Gesture Controls > Undo/Redo). If you go too far back, you can’t recover.

Tips

  • Use QuickShape – Draw a rough circle or line and hold the pencil down at the end. Procreate will snap it into a perfect shape. Tap with one finger to keep it.
  • Create a clipping mask – To color inside a sketch without going over lines, tap a layer and select “Clipping Mask” from the pop-up. Then draw on the layer above – it will only show within the lower layer’s pixels.
  • Use the color palette – Save frequently used colors by tapping the + in the color panel. This speeds up consistency.
  • Duplicate layers – Before trying a risky edit, swipe left on a layer and tap Duplicate. This gives you a backup.
  • Streamline your lines – For smoother strokes, adjust the “StreamLine” slider in the brush settings (Brush > Stroke Properties). Higher values smooth out jitter.

Troubleshooting

  • Apple Pencil not drawing – Check Bluetooth (Settings > Bluetooth) and make sure the Pencil is charged. If it’s connected but not working, restart your iPad. For 2nd gen, re-attach it to the magnetic connector.
  • Procreate crashes on open – Close all other apps, restart your iPad, and update Procreate from the App Store. If it persists, export your work via the Gallery (tap Select > Share) and reinstall the app.
  • Can’t export or save – Ensure you have enough storage space on your iPad. Try exporting to a different format (e.g., PNG instead of PSD). If sharing to Photos fails, check Photos permissions in Settings > Privacy > Photos.
  • Brush strokes lag – Reduce the canvas size (e.g., from 4K to 2K) or lower the brush’s “High Performance” setting (Brush > Rendering). Also close other apps to free up memory.
  • Color picker not working – Make sure you’re tapping the color circle, not the slider. If the eyedropper doesn’t sample, try using the two-finger tap gesture (enabled in Actions > Prefs > Gesture Controls > Eyedropper).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the Apple Pencil to use Procreate?

No, you can draw with your finger, but the Apple Pencil gives you pressure sensitivity, tilt, and palm rejection, which are essential for professional work.

How do I change the canvas size after starting?

You can’t change the canvas size of an existing piece. You need to create a new canvas and import your layers (Actions > Add > Import).

Can I use Procreate on an iPhone?

Yes, there’s a separate app called Procreate Pocket for iPhone, but this guide is for the iPad version.

How do I make a transparent background?

When creating a new canvas, choose “Transparent” as the background. When exporting, use PNG format to keep transparency.

Can I animate in Procreate?

Yes, Procreate has an animation assistant (Actions > Canvas > Animation Assist). It’s basic but useful for frame-by-frame animation.

How do I transfer my drawings to my computer?

Export as a Procreate file, PNG, or PSD and use AirDrop, email, or cloud storage (like iCloud Drive) to move it to your computer.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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