Procreate lettering is one of my favorite ways to hand-lettered words and quotes digitally. If you love lettering on paper but want to try a mess free digital option, reach for your iPad and let’s get started!
What You Need for Procreate Lettering
To get started with procreate lettering, here’s a look at what I use:
- Apple iPad Pro (any model that supports Apple Pencil)
- Compatible Apple Pencil
- Procreate app
- Optional: paper-like screen protector for a more natural feel
Procreate is a one time purchase, and it quickly becomes one of the most versatile creativity tools for lettering, drawing, and illustration. There is so much you can do with just the basic Procreate app and all of its different brushes. You can create loose sketches, add drop shadow and symmetrical images using the drawing guide easily.
If this is your first time trying out Digital Lettering, I would recommend starting with my How To Practice Hand Lettering On iPad tutorial, that will teach you the basics before you dive into todays advanced Procreate Lettering tutorial.
Procreate Lettering tutorial Step by Step
Open Procreate app and start a new canvas. I like to choose a 8.5 by 11 inch size.
From the Calligraphy brush set, choose the Brush Pen. This brush responds beautifully to pressure, making it ideal for procreate lettering. This brush is included with Procreate app, and there is no need to purchase extra script brushes.
Step 1: Create Your First Lettered Word
Begin lettering your first word slowly at your own pace. Apply more pressure on downstrokes and lighter pressure on upstrokes to get that classic handlettered look. All the same Brush Lettering Basics apply here.
Step 2: Use New Layers for Each Word
One of the biggest advantages of procreate lettering is using layers. After finishing one word, create a new layer before starting the next.
Having each word in a new layer makes it easy to rearrange your quote later, adjust spacing and easily resize individual words
Step 3: Arrange Your Lettering
Use the Transform tool to move and resize each word until your quote feels balanced. I like adjusting spacing little by little until everything looks just right. You can do this at any point using the layers panel.
Step 4: Continuing lettering all words
Continue lettering one word at a time, each word on separate layers, until your entire quote layout looks pleasing.
How to Add Color to Procreate Lettering
Step 5: Create a new Layer For Color
Once your lettering is complete, it’s time to add color. Create a new layer above your lettering
Step 6: Paint with Color
Choose a painting or watercolor brush. Paint rainbow colors over the letters
Step 7: Use the Clipping Mask Tool
Tap the color layer and select Clipping Mask. Using a clipping mask ensures the color stays perfectly inside your lettering one of my favorite procreate lettering tricks.
Step 8: Adjust everything To Your Liking
Using the selection tool you can move around just the color layer to align the colors to the letters as you like.
Watch the full Video Tutorial on Instagram showing how to use a Clipping Mask
Procreate Lettering Tips:
- How this works: Since the Apple Pencil is pressure sensitive, if you press down you will create thicker strokes.
- I personally like to create new layers for each word as it gives more flexibility to resize and have all the words sit snuggly without any wasted white space. If you prefer you can letter all the words onto a single layer itself.
- For the color layer, try using different brushes- like watercolor, ink etc to create more textures!
- You can add a different color even after clipping! If you feel like a little more color or even pattern is needed you can always add more on top.
Procreate Hand lettering example 2:
For this quote “Storms dont last forever” I created a colorful blended overlay that was then clipped to the lettering shape.
Watch the full Video Tutorial for “Storms font last forever“
conclusion:
Procreate lettering is a great way to practice, improve and grow your hand lettering skills. You can use the grid available in the app to space your lettering with precision. I love that the color palette options are endless and you can change the colors to suit your vibe even after lettering (unlike paper and pen).
I love that I just need to carry my one Apple Pencil and can easily create a rainbow of colors on my screen.
There is no paper mess, and it is easy to carry the ipad + pencil everywhere. There are so many artistic brushes that come with in the Procreate app, you will enjoy exploring and learning to use them all!
