Need advice from a professional Procreate artist

November 18, 2020 6:51 PM

I'm trying to sell art that I've made in Procreate on my iPad. I have several questions that I would like to ask of someone who specifically has experience with creating professional illustrations for paying clients in Procreate. Can I somehow consult with a professional Procreate artist to answer all of my questions?

I've been trying to piece together answers to questions and problems I have by googling them, but some issues are resolutely non-googlable. It would be so much easier if I could just hire an experienced illustrator in the Procreate app to answer my questions and share some best practices with me. Is this something I can just start contacting random Procreate illustrators online for? I've asked a couple of illustrators whose skillshare classes I've taken in the past if this is something they'd do for whatever price they want, and have not gotten a response, leading me to believe this is not a good approach. I'm not imagining this would take any more than a couple hours' time, if that. Is there something else I should try?

posted by ThreeSocksToTheWind to Media & Arts (15 answers total)

Is there a reason why the fact that you've created the art in Procreate is relevant? You could be limiting your answers by ruling out artists who sell art that they create using other tools.
posted by jonathanhughes at 7:43 PM on November 18, 2020 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: That's a good question. I keep reading about artists who begin their work in procreate, then export to photoshop to "finish it up. " What does that even mean? Additionally, I'm having some weird problems with pixelation in Procreate that probably wouldn't be relevant to someone working in an Adobe program (lines are pixelated despite working in a large size canvas and resolution, stuff like that). I just feel it would be easiest to ask my questions of someone who has experience doing the work in this particular program and have knowledge of its workings and limitations in order to say "oh, make sure you've done x before you send a file off to a client!" It's different enough from photoshop or other Adobe programs to be its own beast.
posted by ThreeSocksToTheWind at 7:59 PM on November 18, 2020 [1 favorite]

Ah, that helps. From your first sentence I was getting the impression that your questions about were about selling the art, not using Procreate.

I'm fluent in Photoshop, but not Procreate, unfortunately. Hopefully your clarified question will get some good answers here!
posted by jonathanhughes at 8:04 PM on November 18, 2020 [3 favorites]

Have you considered reaching out to Etsy sellers? They’re likely to be more responsive, and if you contact enough digital artists you may be able to find someone who (a) does what you want to learn how to do and (b) would be willing to teach you for a fee.
posted by saltypup at 8:35 PM on November 18, 2020 [1 favorite]

Have you looked at the extensive Help FAQ and procreate forums? Because I’ve never NOT been able to find a (free) answer on those when trying to figure out Procreate (or other design programs.)
posted by Crystalinne at 9:24 PM on November 18, 2020 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks, Crystalinne, I actually gave up searching there in frustration, because the combination of keywords I was searching for kept leading me to the exact opposite of what I needed (other artists having pixelation problems were urged to increase canvas size and resolution; I'm already working at a moderately large canvas and very high dpi). Additionally, it would honestly just be nice to hear from someone who has successfully done this professionally: these are the exactly the steps I take and settings I have to deliver the correctly sized, finished product to the client. I'm worried I'm missing out on some secret playbook.
posted by ThreeSocksToTheWind at 9:44 PM on November 18, 2020

Response by poster: Not to spam my own thread, but I should add that I created an account there and do plan to post my question(s) there.
posted by ThreeSocksToTheWind at 9:48 PM on November 18, 2020

MeMail me, I may be able to help you. I have a lot of Procreate experience.
posted by MetaFilter World Peace at 5:22 AM on November 19, 2020

This artist occasionally presents tutorials, how-to's, and FAQs on how to be successful creating and selling your stuff online, including using Procreate.

Some of that may be posted on Instagram, or maybe her Patreon.

https://www.instagram.com/loisvb/?hl=en
posted by Temeraria at 5:33 AM on November 19, 2020

Have you contacted a local Apple store to see what they offer?
posted by wenestvedt at 6:07 AM on November 19, 2020

Response by poster: Thanks for your further suggestions--it didn't occur to me to contact an Apple store. MetaFilter World Peace, I sent you a MeMail--thanks!
posted by ThreeSocksToTheWind at 9:02 AM on November 19, 2020

I do know moving pixels from their original location in procreate (resizing, moving, copy and pasting) can create a pixelated fuzzy effect. See this thread.
posted by moons in june at 10:28 AM on November 19, 2020

Response by poster: Thanks moons in June, I'd also come across that suggestion, but this is happening to original penstrokes.
posted by ThreeSocksToTheWind at 12:41 PM on November 19, 2020

Did you know there's a Procreate subreddit? Some pros hang out there; you might find it valuable. Also, FYI, Domestika has lots of Procreate courses for very cheap (like as in < US$15) that can get you up and running quickly.
posted by rjacobs at 2:26 PM on November 19, 2020

Are your interpolation settings on bicubic? If so, make sure you change them to bilinear.

It might also be an issue with your brush setting, take a careful look through all of them (there's a bunch of options and some of them can do really weird stuff). Maybe find a tutorial on crisp lineart and copy the brush setting they use just to check.

Finishing in Photoshop is generally for getting the image print or web ready using tools Procreat doesn't offer, or are simply easier to do in PS. There are many filters, features, and macros that can only be applied in PS.
posted by ananci at 6:01 AM on November 20, 2020 [1 favorite]