Many artists wonder if they should learn the Procreate or the Adobe Photoshop program. They also wonder which computer program is faster for an artist to learn and master.
Procreate is a much easier computer program to learn than Photoshop, especially if you are new to the Adobe program. The Procreate program is a fabulous computer program to lay out your artwork before painting on the canvas. Photoshop can also design your artwork, but as it is a more robust program than Procreate, it will take much longer to master.
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About Learning Procreate
Procreate is a drawing and art program that has become one of the hallmarks of many artists in the digital world. It is now an art powerhouse. As Procreate is a unique and powerful program, many artists use it to create professional digital artworks.
Despite Procreate’s artistic power, it is a highly user-friendly computer program. Once you understand some Procreate basics, there are many ways you can use it to help you become a better artist. I use Procreate to design my art on paper before putting it on canvas.
Ways Artists Can Use the Procreate Program
As an artist, we believe there are many ways an artist can use the Procreate program to help them with their artwork. Here are some ways that artist can use the Procreate program:
- Digital Art – Many artists use Procreate for digital artwork. You can join the ranks of these artists and use Procreate as a way to create art.
- Layout Paintings – I use Procreate to lay out my paintings before I put anything on canvas. I paint many animals with hats, glasses, and other things, so I use Procreate to design my pictures before painting them on the canvas.
- Visually See My Paintings – When I paint my abstract paintings, I may first paint a base coat; if I want to see how something would look on top of the base coat, I will photograph the painting and use Procreate brushes to check out different design ideas. This gives me an idea of how my final artwork will look. It is much easier for me to play around with potential designs on the Procreate than to paint over something I do not like. I find that Procreate helps me save steps in the painting process.
- Use As A Digital Art Journal – As Procreate is a sketch and design program, you can use it as a digital art journal to sketch any inspiration you may have.
There are many ways an artist can use the Procreate program—everything from design to art journaling.
About Learning Photoshop
Photoshop is a mighty program that both professional and amateur artists use. It is one of the industry-standard design programs.
As Photoshop is a mighty program, it is more challenging to learn than the Procreate app and more expensive. To understand the very basics of Photoshop, you will need about five hours; this is only the basics and not any of the advanced features.
Also, to use Photoshop, you must purchase a Creative Cloud account, which will be charged monthly.
Photoshop has many features that Procreate does not, but as Procreate continues to improve, they are starting to have many of the features Photoshop has.
Procreate vs. Photoshop
Which program is really better for an artist to learn? The answer to this question depends on a few factors and if you already use Apple products.
If you want a program to help you design and layout your artwork before painting on the canvas, Procreate is a fantastic program. Procreate can help you plan your painting or decide what to paint next on your working canvas.
If you want to do some digital design, then all the Adobe apps, including Photoshop, are the way to go for your digital art design needs. As Procreate becomes more sophisticated, many digital designers may only use Procreate for their artwork.
One drawback of Procreate is that it can only be used on an Apple iPad with an Apple Pencil. If you are not an Apple user, then using the Procreate app is impossible. If you are an Apple products user and have a compatible iPad, it is a great program to use as an artist to help you layout and design your artwork.
Why I Use Procreate to Lay Out My Paintings
There are many ways that we Procreate. I use Procreate in my work of Product Design, But I also use Procreate to help me lay out my oil paintings and to help me plan what I am going to paint and how I will paint it.
Here are the reasons why I would use Procreate to lay out my paintings and artwork:
- Cheaper – Procreate is a much cheaper program than Abode Photoshop. Depending on what plan you have, Adobe will charge you per month; Procreate is 9.95 for the entire program.
- Ease of Use – Once you learn some of the Procreate basics, it is pretty easy to understand.
- Fast to Use – I find using Procreate to lay out my artwork easy and very fast.
- Variety of Brushes and Sizes – Procreate comes with various artistic brushes and sizes for the brushes. This means you can get as close as possible to the brush strokes you will use on your actual canvas.
- Training by Apple – As Procreate can only be used on an iPad, many Apple Stores do some basic Procreate training. I have found this to be a great way to learn Procreate. Before I even purchased an iPad that would use Procreate, I went to the Apple store, and they allowed me to borrow one of their iPads to try out the iPad and the Procreate app.
Apple iPad Versions That Can Use Procreate
Most Apple iPads can use Procreate unless you have a much older iPad. Any newer iPads you buy will be able to use Procreate.
Here are the Apple iPads that can run the Procreate program:
- Apple iPad uses a version that is IOS 13.2 or newer. Any of the newer versions of iPads will run Procreate. I use an Apple iPad Pro, and it works excellently with Procreate.
- You must have an Apple Pencil or compatible pencil. We recommend an Apple Pencil as it works better with the Procreate app.
If you already have an Apple iPad or plan to purchase one, then getting the Procreate program is the logical choice. You can download the Procreate program from the app store. Procreate also has a Pocket Version that you can use on your iPhone.
I use both Procreate and Adobe products, including Photoshop, daily. I love many Adobe products, including Photoshop, but I find Procreate much easier for me to use to layout and design my artwork.
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Related Questions
How Do You Use Procreate to Layout Your Oil Paintings?
Procreate is a really great computer app to use to help you plan and layout your oil paintings before you put them on your canvas. Procreate will help to save you time because you will not need to paint over your artistic mistakes. You can also use Procreate as an online sketchbook or art journal.
You can discover more by reading Procreate to Layout your Oil Paintings, What You Need to Know by clicking here.
Why Are Oil Paints Preferred When It Comes to Painting?
Many artists prefer oil paints as they are a classic art medium to use. Oil paints also offer rich, lush colors; oil paints are versatile paints to use and have a slow drying time. Oil also paints very durable and stable paints while also giving you a great color blending quality. Use can use a variety of brushes or even a palette knife with your oil paints.
You can learn more by reading Why Are Oil Paints Preferred When It Comes to Painting? by clicking here.
