What Is Procreate?

There are lots of programs you can use to get creative work done, but there are few like Procreate. If you’re unfamiliar with what it is, we’ve answered your burning questions here. We’ve also thrown in some of the best premium Procreate assets and free resources online.

And if you prefer a visual lesson to reading, have a look at this short video from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel!

What Is Procreate?

Procreate is digital creative software for creating illustrations, paintings, animations, and more. It was first released in 2011 and has caught on like wildfire since then. In fact, it’s been a permanent fixture on the Apple App Store’s Top 10 Paid iPad Apps List since 2016.

That is an important distinction to make. Procreate and Procreate Pocket are currently only available on iPad and iPhone, respectively. So sorry, Windows, Linux, and Android users, your hardware won’t work here.

If you are in the Apple ecosystem, then you get to enjoy a powerful art studio that’s yours to use with a single purchase. That’s right, no subscription is necessary for Procreate!

Is Procreate or Procreate Pocket Better?

This is a tricky question to answer because it depends on your needs. Procreate Pocket for the iPhone is just as capable as the iPad version. It was developed from the ground up for iPhone, meaning it’s been fully optimized to run and perform well on smaller devices. 

One key difference is you won’t be able to use the Apple Pencil on your iPhone. You can use other styluses with Procreate Pocket, so don’t worry. But this is something to consider.

With both the iPad and iPhone apps being identical, you’ve got to think about a few things to see which is best for you. Think about where you do your creative work, and whether a smaller or larger screen will be better.

If you don’t have an iPad or an iPhone, it’d be a good idea to factor in the cost of getting new hardware. You should also think about how important it is for you to use the Apple Pencil or one from a third-party brand.

Does Procreate Have Cool Features?

An app doesn’t get as popular as Procreate without having some tricks up its sleeve! If you have Procreate for iPad, then the Apple Pencil will help you take your work to the next level. That’s because Procreate’s native brushes are adaptable and respond to changes in pressure and tilt.

For example, lighter contact from the Apple Pencil can change a Procreate brush’s opacity. Holding it at an angle can create a wider scatter effect. You can customize the pressure and tilt effects, letting you have a personalized experience.

Speaking of customization, you can also change what happens when your fingers touch the screen. Known as gestures, the number of fingers you use and how you move them are tied to specific controls in the app. When you go into the settings of Procreate, you can change these gestures to what makes sense for you.

What File Types Does Procreate Use?

You’ve probably heard about the Adobe Creative Suite and some of its file types. If so, you should know how well Procreate fits into that ecosystem thanks to the file types the program uses.

Here’s a full list of the file types you can open in Procreate, courtesy of the Procreate Handbook:

• .procreate
• PSD
• JPEG
• PNG
• TIFF
• GIF
• PDF
• MP4
• HEVC
• OBJ
• USDZ

You’ll also be able to export your illustrations, animations, and 3D art in any of these formats for easy sharing.

Which One to Use: Procreate or Photoshop?

Since Procreate can open Photoshop’s famous PSD file format, you’re probably wondering which of the two you should use. After all, they’re both incredibly powerful creative tools.

The decision is yours, so make sure you’re thinking about features and your needs before taking it. Photoshop can basically do it all. That includes retouching, photo manipulation, and a lot more. But that does mean there is a steep learning curve.  

Procreate has an emphasis on drawings and illustrations. All of its tools and features are focused on making that process as easy as possible for users. So while you can create highly intricate art, you don’t need years using the program to get to that point.

You’ll be happy to know that both programs play well with each other. You can share files back and forth between Procreate and Photoshop as they open identical file types.

What Creative Assets Can I Use in Procreate?

Like other design programs, you’re not limited to just what’s available when you download the app. With Procreate, you can download all types of add-ons.

These Procreate assets include brushes, like the ones for hair, textures, and lettering. You can also download color palettes and stamps. Use them to your advantage to get the most from Procreate for your creative projects.

Top Procreate Brushes, Palettes, and Stamps From Envato Elements

You can download extra Procreate brushes, palettes, and stamps with Envato Elements. It’s a creative asset platform that offers every user unlimited downloads for a low monthly fee. Everything is covered by a simple-to-understand license, so you can use every item for whatever you’d like. You can sign up for Envato Elements today.