What it does
Procreate is an iPad drawing and painting application with editable brushes, layers, selections, drawing guides and time-lapse recording. Its Page Assist mode also supports working across several pages.
Tap the plus sign in the Gallery to choose a canvas preset or create a Custom Canvas. The custom settings include dimensions, colour profile and time-lapse options, and show the available layer count. For a field journal or concept sequence, Page Assist keeps related studies as pages.
Brush Studio edits an existing brush, while drawing guides and stabilization support controlled lines. When the work is ready, use Actions > Share. The .procreate format retains layers, masks, effects and recorded time-lapse data. PSD keeps a layered file for Photoshop, while PNG can preserve a transparent background.
Procreate is a one-time iPad purchase without a subscription. Its 3D painting tools accept OBJ and USDZ models for colour and texture work; the underlying geometry is created elsewhere.
Strengths
- Brush Studio supports custom drawing tools.
- Page Assist organizes multi-page illustration work.
Watch out for
- The main Procreate application requires an iPad.
Best for
- Apple Pencil illustration
- Multi-page visual studies
Sources
- Procreate for iPad: Sketch. Paint. Create. (Oct 27, 2026)
- Create: Procreate Handbook (Oct 27, 2026)
- Share: Procreate Handbook (Oct 27, 2026)
- Procreate: App Store (Oct 27, 2026)