Master iPad Lettering with Procreate: Pro Techniques for Artists

This start-to-finish class will teach you the essentials of hand lettering on the iPad with Procreate, plus provide in-depth lessons about popular effects (like ombré lettering) and challenging skills (like lettering in layer masks). I show you my favorite techniques for some of the most popular and fun hand lettering effects, and I share tips and shortcuts for a smooth workflow.

Are you a total beginner? Fear not! This class starts at the very beginning with an introductory exploration of Procreate’s interface and the cool new ways it interacts with the iPad operating system. I even give you free guide sheets so you can practice your letters.

➤  Topics covered include:

• Procreate 4 interface and the Files app
• Lettering basics from drawing letters and baselines to selecting and resizing
• Brush tutorials on importing, editing, and designing them from scratch
• Adjustments for recoloring and adding texture
• Effects like ombré and watercolor brush lettering
• Dimension, drop shadows, and shading
• Highlights and simple text decoration
• Alpha Lock for recoloring and erasing with precision
• Masking for layered effects and nondestructive erasing
• Copy/paste tricks to divide up layers and combine files
• Color palette customization and shortcuts

I've included 56 MB of free downloads to help you follow along: Procreate lettering practice sheets, calligraphy guideline sheets, and a variety of textured and watercolor backgrounds. These are available in the Project & Resources section.

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➤  Useful links:

+ Articles: 

• My Favorite iPad Tools & Apps
• Procreate Support Forum for general questions about the app

+ Procreate brushes & add-ons:

• My own Procreate brush packs (discounted when you buy more than one)
• Free brushes and lettering practice sheets at Molly’s Lettering Toolkit
• My favorite Procreate brush packs for lettering and illustration

+ iPad Accessories:

• SmudgeGuard Touchscreen Gloves (not an affiliate link; I just love these gloves!)
• My iPad Smart Cover
• The most popular screen protector among iPad artists

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My Lettering Toolkit is a library of free downloads – from calligraphy practice sheets to Procreate brushes – that expands every month. Subscribe to my mailing list to get lifetime access, plus updates to your inbox about my live events, new classes, and products every Saturday.

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➤  More tutorials:

+ My calligraphy books offer more lessons and inspiration

+ My YouTube channel is full of free, bite-sized tutorials and demonstrations, and I post a new video every Friday!

+ My other Skillshare classes are all about hand lettering, from how to digitize calligraphy and make flourished layouts, to learning Procreate for absolute beginners.

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+ Tag me in your projects on Instagram: @mollysuberthorpe. I'd love to have a peek at your work!

+ Sign up for my Workshop News Bulletin to stay informed about my upcoming, in-person classes.

+ Visit Calligrafile.com, my massive online resource guide for lettering artists and creative freelancers, with 1,000+ recommended supplies, books, online classes, and helpful links.

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➤  Video outline with time stamps:

• Tech & Hardware Specs
  • Intro to iOS11: 0:18
  • Download Procreate 4: 1:56
  • My tablet drawing glove: 2:55
  • Clean your screen!: 4:05
• Gallery Interface
  • Rename and reorder files: 0:30
  • Stacks: 1:13
  • Share/duplicate/delete functions: 1:36
  • Import images from the cloud or camera roll: 2:00
  • Create a new file/canvas from preset: 2:26
  • Create custom canvas and save as new preset: 2:52
• Canvas Interface
  • Basics of the design interface: 0:00
  • Image settings menu: 0:56
  • Canvas settings menu: 2:24
  • Sharing and exporting: 3:14
  • Time-lapse videos: 3:51
  • Preferences menu: 4:29
  • Help menu: 4:52
  • Magic wand menu: 5:36
  • Making selections: 6:00
  • Smudge tool: 7:24
  • Eraser tool: 7:51
  • Layers palette: 8:07
    • Layer groups: 8:25
    • Delete/duplicate/lock: 9:07
    • Other layer options: 9:15
    • Alpha lock: 9:51
    • Merging layers: 10:57
    • Opacity and blending modes: 11:30
  • Color palette: 12:46
• Letter Guide Sheets
  
  • Install my free letter guide sheets: 0:18
• Brushes!
  • Brush menu overview: 0:18
  • Brush settings and adjustments: 1:45
• Importing Brushes
  
  • Split screen with Files app: 0:40
  • Make new brush set: 2:46
  • Install brushes: 2:56
• Lettering Essentials – Getting Started
  
  • Background color: 0:32
  • Draw baselines: 1:42
  • Starting to write: 3:12
  • Move and rearrange words: 4:17
  • Recolor letters: 5:12
  • Alpha Lock: 9:50
• Importing Backgrounds
  
  • Place using Files app: 0:30
  • Positioning and adjusting background image: 1:31
  • Insert photo from camera roll: 4:28
• Ombré Effect
  
  • Set up lettering for ombré coloring: 0:20
  • Bright rainbow effect: 1:19
  • Subtle ombré: 2:56
  • Ombré backgrounds: 5:29
• Watercolor Effect
  
  • Customize watercolor brush: 1:00
  • Writing in watercolor: 3:22
  • Finishing touches: 4:16
  • Bleeding edges: 6:50
• Shading & Drop Shadows
  
  • 3D dimension: 0:52
  • Hand drawn drop shadow: 3:37
  • Internal shading: 6:24
• Adding Highlights
  
  • Bright dimension: 0:35
  • Hand drawn highlights: 1:26
  • Highlights as decoration: 3:04
  • White outline trick: 4:14
• Effects: Blur, Color & Noise
  
  • Recolor with Hue, Saturation, Brightness: 1:04
  • Recolor with Color Balance: 2:22
  • Add noise for texture: 3:19
  • Blur: 4:50
• OMG Masking!
  
  • Basics of masking: 0:35
  • Masked watercolor wash effect: 6:45
  • Masking placed images: 8:24
• Bonus 1 – Make Your Own Brushes
  
  • Make a semi-custom brush: 1:18
  • Make a fully custom brush: 6:20
• Bonus 2 – Custom Color Palettes
  
  • Import inspiraton image: 0:20
  • Make custom palette: 0:42
  • Picking colors: 1:06
  • Set default palettes: 1:55
  • A nifty shortcut: 2:15
• Bonus 3 – The Power of Copy/Paste
  
  • Double borders: 0:39
  • Divide up layers: 1:47
  • Paste into new file: 2:57

Some of the links above are affiliate links.

• Mastering iPad Lettering
• Tech Specs
• Gallery Interface
• Canvas Interface
• Letter Guide Sheets
• Brushes!
• Importing Brushes
• Lettering Essentials – Getting Started
• Importing Backgrounds
• Ombré Lettering
• Watercolor Lettering Effect
• Shading & Drop Shadows
• Adding Highlights
• Effects: Blur, Color, & Noise
• OMG Masking!
• Bonus 1 – Make Your Own Brushes
• Bonus 2 – Custom Color Palettes
• Bonus 3 – The Power of Copy/Paste