Procreate: A Deep Dive into the World’s Favorite Digital Art App

Over the last decade, Procreate has transformed from a niche iPad drawing app into a global phenomenon—powering illustrators, comic artists, editorial cartoonists, animators, and designers with a creative toolkit that’s as sleek as it is powerful. Whether you’re sketching quick ideas, crafting intricate editorial cartoons, or animating political satire, Procreate has become the go-to choice for digital artists of all skill levels.

As a cartoonist and contributor to Toons Mag, I’ve used Procreate extensively in creating both hand-drawn editorial work and animated pieces for digital publications. What makes Procreate stand out isn’t just its intuitive interface or beautiful brushes—it’s the way it empowers creativity without distractions, offering a smooth blend of traditional drawing feel with digital flexibility.

In this in-depth article, we explore the features, impact, and evolution of Procreate, examine its relevance to editorial cartooning and digital art, and look at how it continues to shape the future of illustration.

What Is Procreate?

Procreate is a raster-based digital painting app developed by Savage Interactive, an Australian tech company founded in 2011. Built exclusively for the iPad, Procreate quickly earned a loyal following due to its blend of professional-grade features and artist-friendly design.

Over time, Procreate has grown into an ecosystem with:

• Procreate for iPad
• Procreate Pocket (for iPhone)
• Procreate Dreams (for animation and storytelling, released in 2023)

Its primary appeal lies in its simplicity: you can open the app and start drawing immediately—no steep learning curve, no cluttered interface, no desktop dependencies.

Why Procreate Became a Game-Changer

1. User Experience and Interface

Procreate’s interface is minimal and gesture-based. You can:

• Pinch to zoom and rotate.
• Swipe with two fingers to undo.
• Tap with three fingers to redo.
• Use Apple Pencil pressure and tilt for realistic brush effects.

This focus on natural interaction mirrors traditional drawing, making it ideal for artists transitioning from paper to screen.

2. Powerful Brush Engine

Procreate’s brush engine is one of the best in the industry. Artists can choose from over 200 default brushes or create custom ones using the Brush Studio.

You can simulate:

• Pencil sketching
• Watercolor blending
• Ink linework
• Oil painting textures
• Spray paint, glitch effects, halftones, and more

For editorial cartoonists, this means you can replicate your inky, analog style—or invent new ones—with total control over pressure, opacity, and texture.

3. Layer System and Blend Modes

Procreate’s layer system is familiar to Photoshop users, but optimized for touch. It supports:

• Grouping
• Masking
• Clipping masks
• Multiple blend modes (Multiply, Overlay, Screen, etc.)
• Adjustable opacity

Though limited to a finite number of layers depending on canvas size and resolution, it offers everything needed for complex compositions or multi-frame comics.

4. Time-Lapse and Replay

One of Procreate’s most beloved features is automatic time-lapse recording. It silently captures your entire drawing process, which you can export as a video.

For cartoonists and educators, this is a perfect way to:

• Share your process with fans
• Promote your art on social media
• Document your work for exhibitions

5. Animation Assist

Procreate introduced Animation Assist in version 5. This timeline-based feature allows for:

• Frame-by-frame animation
• Onion skinning
• Looping and playback previews
• Easy GIF or MP4 exports

Though not as powerful as specialized software like Adobe Animate or Toon Boom, it’s an excellent tool for short animated editorial pieces, social media loops, or character tests.

Use Cases: Procreate for Editorial Cartoonists

At Toons Mag, we’ve seen a significant shift toward Procreate among contributors. Here’s how it benefits the editorial cartooning workflow:

A. Rapid Response Art

Editorial cartoons often respond to breaking news. Procreate’s speed allows cartoonists to sketch, ink, and publish within hours—ideal for platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or online newspapers.

B. Multilingual Versioning

Cartoonists publishing internationally (including on Toons Mag) often create versions in multiple languages. Procreate makes it easy to duplicate a canvas, edit text layers, and re-export—without redoing the art.

C. Flexible Export Options

Supports exporting in:

• PSD (for use in Photoshop)
• PNG (with or without transparency)
• JPEG
• PDF
• Animated GIFs or MP4s

This flexibility makes it easy to integrate with print publications, digital magazines, or mobile-first media.

D. Creative Freedom for Visual Commentary

Procreate’s custom brushes and texture tools allow artists to create nuanced metaphors. From gritty pencil textures that evoke struggle to glitch effects representing media chaos, symbolism is enhanced by the tool’s capabilities.

Feature Overview: Procreate at a Glance

Community and Ecosystem

Procreate’s user base is enormous and passionate. The ecosystem includes:

• Procreate Folio: The official showcase for top artists.
• Brush creators: Thousands of artists sell or share custom brushes.
• YouTube tutorials: Thousands of free learning videos.
• Reddit & Discord: Active communities for feedback and tips.

This community support helps artists grow faster, experiment more, and connect globally.

Recent Innovation: Procreate Dreams (2023–)

In 2023, Savage Interactive launched Procreate Dreams, an animation and storytelling app for iPad that pushes into motion graphics, scene animation, and cinematic storytelling.

While not meant to replace Procreate’s frame-by-frame animations, Dreams offers:

• Timeline editing with keyframes
• Soundtrack integration
• Scene transitions and camera panning
• Drag-and-drop storytelling workflows

It signals Savage’s ambition to serve not just illustrators, but also animators, filmmakers, and storytellers—expanding Procreate’s influence across visual disciplines.

Limitations of Procreate

No tool is perfect. Procreate’s limitations include:

1. No Vector Support
   Unlike Adobe Illustrator or Affinity Designer, Procreate is raster-based. This limits scalability for certain graphic design or logo applications.
2. No Built-in Cloud Sync
   While projects can be backed up via iCloud or AirDrop, there’s no seamless multi-device sync like in Adobe Creative Cloud.
3. Limited Typographic Tools
   The text tool is functional, but not as sophisticated as InDesign or Affinity Publisher—making Procreate less ideal for text-heavy layouts.
4. iPad Exclusive
   No desktop version exists, which excludes users on Windows or Android.

Final Thoughts: Why Procreate Endures

Procreate has become more than an app—it’s a creative movement. Its accessibility, affordability, and professional power have leveled the playing field, allowing artists from all backgrounds to turn their tablets into studios, newspapers, and stages.

For editorial cartoonists, Procreate offers the freedom to react, provoke, and express without the friction of traditional tools or outdated workflows. And in an era where digital storytelling is everything, Procreate doesn’t just keep up—it helps artists lead.

Want to see how Procreate is shaping editorial cartooning? Browse our international cartoon collections at Toons Mag, where digital art and visual activism come together in powerful ways.