To create a custom brush in Procreate using your own artwork or a selection, you will essentially turn your drawing into the shape or grain source for the brush. This involves preparing your artwork and then using the Brush Studio to import it.
Accessing the Brush Studio
Creating a new brush always starts within the Brush Library. You can access the Brush Studio, where you build your custom brush, by tapping the + button at the top right of the Brush Library to begin making a new brush. You can also edit an existing brush by tapping on it. The Brush Studio gives you complete control over all brush properties.
Steps to Create a Brush from Your Artwork
The process involves preparing the image you want to use and then importing it into your brush settings:
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Prepare Your Artwork:
- Draw the shape or texture you want your brush to use on a canvas.
- For the brush's shape (how each stamp of the brush looks), it's best to use a square canvas, draw the shape in white on a black background, and ensure it's grayscale.
- For the brush's grain (the texture inside the shape), you can use grayscale or color, and it also works well on a square canvas.
- Ensure your artwork is on its own layer and hide any other layers.
- You can then copy this layer or export the image file.
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Create a New Brush:
- Go to the Brush Library.
- Tap the + button at the top right to create a brand new brush. This opens the Brush Studio.
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Import Your Artwork as Source:
- Within the Brush Studio, navigate to either the Shape or Grain settings section.
- Under the Source tab in either section, tap Edit.
- Tap Import.
- Choose how you want to import your artwork:
- Import a photo: Select an image file from your iPad's Photos library.
- Import a file: Select an image file from your iPad's Files app.
- Paste: If you copied the layer from your canvas earlier, you can paste it here.
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Configure Source Settings:
- Once your artwork is imported, you may need to adjust its orientation or inversion depending on whether it's for the shape or grain and how you drew it (e.g., shapes are often inverted if drawn black on white).
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Adjust Other Brush Settings:
- Explore the many other settings available in the Brush Studio (Stroke Path, Taper, Dynamics, Apple Pencil, etc.) to customize how your brush behaves. Experiment with different settings to achieve the desired effect.
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Name Your Brush:
- Go to the About This Brush section to give your new custom brush a name and sign it.
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Finish:
- Tap Done to save your new brush.
By following these steps, you can effectively turn your drawn selections or artwork into unique and personalized brushes in Procreate, leveraging the power of the Brush Studio accessible via the '+' button.
