Artist insight
Five expert artists share their wealth of knowledge to boost your software skills up to the next level
Whether you’re just starting out on the adventure of learning a new software, or been plugging away at your favourite program for years, there’s always some nifty little trick you wish you’d known sooner. And that’s exactly why we sought out the expertise of a panel of Procreate masters to share their favourite tips.
1 DRAW USING THE SYMMETRY GRID
There are a multitude of drawing assist tools that will help with your art, but the Symmetry tool is a great way to create uniform pieces. You can create unique shapes or use the tool to draw symmetrical faces like the piece shown left. To change the centre point of the grid, simply move around the blue dot. You can also customise the Symmetry tool to sit horizontally, vertically and at any angle in between.
We’ve covered everything from shortcuts to workflows, so beginner, intermediate or veteran, get ready to find out which Procreate pointer will change your game!
2 CLIPPING MASK LAYERS
Most of my artworks have a line-art layer on top and my fill or shape layers underneath. Each shape layer has a few layers above it as clipping masks so I can shade, detail and play with colour more easily.
3 THE VERSATILE GAUSSIAN BLUR
The Gaussian Blur setting is the perfect way to achieve a uniform, soft blur effect on your creative pieces. This can be used to blend colours for your backgrounds, create a motion blur look (although there is a specific motion blur effect) or produce a soft glow for your lighting effects. It’s a great tool to play around with to achieve some unique looks in your pieces.
4 TRY COLOR BALANCE
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