How To Start Digital Lettering For Beginner

Hello friends! Lets explore taking your lettering off the page and onto the screen! Lets swap our paper and pen for an ipad and pencil for some Digital Lettering tips!

After you have read this post, you can check out How To Practice Hand Lettering On iPad and then explore How To Use Procreate Hand Lettering Quotes.

digital lettering faqs

What is digital lettering?

Digital lettering is basically lettering on an iPad or a tablet using an Apple Pencil or a compatible stylus. You use the digital pencil to hand letter on the iPad. Basically, your iPad becomes your sketchbook and your Apple pen (which comes with a pressure-sensitive tip) becomes your brush pen. The options for color, page sizes, brushes available are endless really!

apple pencil

You all know I am a big fan of brush lettering with my markers, so back when Apple released their Apple Pencil I was intrigued. I stopped by our local Apple store and played with the pencil a bit and was hooked!

Depending on the app you use, you can create either a vector file or a jpg file.

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What do you use for digital lettering?

All you basically need a digital tablet and some kind of digital writing device. I use the app Procreate and LOVE it! It is totally worth the one time purchase price. You can use the basic brushes included in Procreate to do your digital lettering easily.

What I’m using here: Apple iPad Pro 2018 11-inch | Paper feel Screen Protector | Case that Supports Pencil Charging | Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)

make the next good choice

On my iPad, I use the Procreate app for my hand lettering.

Procreate Hand lettering what I use

Is the Procreate app free?

No. The Procreate app is not a free app. I have had it for many many years now and I think it was $6.99 way back when I bought it.

What I’m using here: Apple iPad Pro 2018 11-inch | Paper feel Screen Protector | Case that Supports Pencil Charging | Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) and Procreate App

What brush to use for lettering in Procreate?

ipad lettering

The Brush Pen option under Calligraphy is a brush that comes default with Procreate. I find that this brush is very similar to the Brush Pens that I use for hand lettering!

How this works: Since the Apple Pencil is pressure sensitive, if you press down you will create thicker strokes. If you press the Apple pencil lightly and use just the tip you can draw delicately thin lines.


Which size iPad should I buy for lettering?

I started digital lettering a few years back, practicing on my husband’s iPad Pro. He has the larger 12.9 inch screen and it is basically like a 9 by 12 sketchbook. Large screen area that is very nice to hand letter on. BUT I personally find the large ipad bulkier and could get heavy depending on the case you use.

Last year I splurged and got an iPad Pro for myself, but bought the smaller screen size one. One, it was cheaper, and two it’s easier to carry around. It took a bit of time for me to adjust to the smaller screen size because I had to make my lettering strokes thinner. But I’ve now come to love this size and enjoy lettering on it! I would highly recommend it for lettering.

ipad lettering sizes

(left) iPad Pro (2nd Gen) 12.9 inches with Apple Pencil | (right) Apple iPad Pro 11-inch with Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)

Do dupe Apple Pencils work for lettering?

I was disappointed that the first generation Apple Pencil I had been using was not compatible with my new iPad Pro. I only learned that after I had bought the new iPad. By then I had already splurged on a paper feel screen protector and a heavy-duty case. And it was March 2020 when Covid happened. So buying a new Apple Pencil just wasn’t on my list of priorities.

After googling why the pencil wasn’t working with my new iPad a few times, the internet gave me an ad for this stylus. Don’t you just love how that happens? But since it was inexpensive, I just gambled and bought it.

Pros- The pen works (I was skeptical when I bought it), it is easy to pair, holds charge nicely, and comes with a USB C charger included (I had been needing an extra one!). It is great for doodling and does work for brush lettering. It is different than the Apple Pencil and is not as sensitive to pressure. I could brush letter with it just fine- but it needed me to press down the pen tip a bit harder and softer at times. But for the price, it ain’t bad. And it comes in a few pretty colors other than black and white.

Cons- It does not have palm rejection. This isn’t a big deal if this is your first stylus. But I was used to resting my palm on the screen, so it took a few tries to get used to that.

I used that dupe pencil all through quarantine but got the new second generation Apple Pencil during the holiday sales.


More reader FAQs answered:

digital lettering faqs

Please share a tutorial for lettering on iPad for beginners

I cover the very basics of how to use my lettering worksheets on a iPad to practice. Start your digital lettering practice here: https://www.smilingcolors.com/lettering-on-ipad/

What app do you use?

On my iPad, I use the Procreate app for my hand lettering. This is not a free app, but you just purchase the app and that’s it. I use the brushes that come included with the app itself for my digital lettering

Do you use a screen protector or do you recommend using one?

I’ve always had a screen protector because I have kids. This time I got this special screen protector that makes it feel like you are writing on paper. It’s super cool and makes me so happy 🌸🍃

Do you use the screen that makes it feel like paper?

This iPad was a total splurge gift for me last year and yes I got the paper feel screen protector. I didn’t know if I would like it, but I love it! Have used it for almost a year and would highly recommend it. Plus it comes as a two-pack, so well worth the money.

I have wanting to get myself an iPad but I’m have trouble to choose which iPad Which one do you recommend? 😍

You will need either an iPad Pro or any of the newer iPads to use the Apple Pencil. I’ve used both the 12.9 inch and 11-inch sizes and honestly, both sizes are great for digital lettering. If you can budget the larger size, it is great to work on. I personally like the smaller size because it’s lighter and easier to carry around. The 12.9 inch iPad is a bit heavier and bulky.

Is Procreate beginner friendly? Where can I find easy tutorials for this? I tried youtube but couldn’t find anything nice.

I’ve found the Procreate app super easy to use and very intuitive. It might be because I have a lot of Adobe Photoshop experience. But, I have a beginner tutorial on my blog that you can check out and hopefully helps you a bit. https://www.smilingcolors.com/lettering-on-ipad/

What brushes do you use on Procreate?

I use a basic brush included in Procreate already. Find it under Brush Library > Calligraphy > Brush Pen. There are tons of more brush pen styles available commercially that you can purchase and install separately. But I’ve found that the Procreate Brush Pen option itself is very similar to my Dual Brush Pen experience. brush pen digital


I can’t seem to get the downstrokes thick as they should … I think I may be too afraid to press hard?

With the Apple Pencil, you can press down pretty hard and not damage the tips. Also, try changing the thickness of the brush pen option maybe?

One of the main reasons I Bought an iPad was to start iPad lettering but it’s an ocean full of stuff and I do not know where to begin 🙁

Just start doodling and practicing your alphabets. Digital Lettering will definitely feel awkward at first, but a few days in you’ll be addicted! It’s mess free and SO convenient!

Do you do classes?

Classes might be coming soon!

Let me know if you have any other doubts or questions about digital lettering and I’m happy to answer!


smitha katti

Inspiring you with simple doable Art and Craft ideas and tutorials that will encourage you to use your supplies, get messy and find your creativity.

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