Alan Ayoubi
Procreate's brush engine is one of the most powerful features that sets it apart from other drawing apps. But with great power comes... a lot of confusing settings. Don't worry, I've got you covered.
In this guide, I'll break down every brush setting in Procreate, explain what it actually does (in plain English), and show you how to create your own custom brushes.
Understanding Brush Studio
Tap on any brush, then tap again to open Brush Studio. This is where the magic happens. You'll see a list of settings on the left and a preview area on the right where you can test your changes in real-time.
The main categories are:
- Stroke Path - How the brush moves along your stroke
- Shape - The silhouette of your brush tip
- Grain - Texture within the brush
- Dynamics - How pressure/tilt/speed affect the brush
- Apple Pencil - Pencil-specific behaviors
- General - Naming and other meta settings
Shape Settings
The Shape Source is like a rubber stamp. It defines the basic outline of every "stamp" that makes up your brush stroke.
Key Shape Properties
Scatter - How much each stamp varies from the center line. Higher values = messier, more organic strokes.
Rotation - Whether stamps rotate to follow your stroke direction. Essential for brushes like flat markers or calligraphy pens.
Count - How many stamps appear per "step" of your stroke. Higher count = denser, more opaque strokes.
Randomized - Adds variation to prevent that obvious "repeated stamp" look.
Grain Settings
If Shape is the cookie cutter, Grain is the cookie dough. It fills in the texture within your brush shape.
Procreate comes with tons of built-in grain textures, from paper textures to noise patterns. You can also import your own.
Movement vs Texturized
Moving - The grain texture moves with your stroke. Good for consistent textures like markers or pencils.
Texturized - The grain is "stamped" onto the canvas and stays in place. Good for revealing underlying textures, like rubbing a pencil over paper on a textured surface.
Stroke Path
This is where you control the feel of your strokes.
Spacing - The distance between each stamp. Lower values = smoother strokes but more processing power. Higher values = visible gaps, good for dotted or stippled effects.
StreamLine - Smooths out your stroke by averaging your hand movements. Higher values = smoother lines but less responsive. I keep this around 20-40% for most brushes.
Jitter - Adds random variation to your stroke path. Creates wobbly, organic lines.
Fall Off - How the stroke fades at the end. Useful for brushes that should taper naturally.
Dynamics
Dynamics connect brush properties to your input. This is where Procreate really shines.
You can tie almost any property to:
- Pressure - How hard you press the Apple Pencil
- Tilt - The angle of your pencil
- Speed - How fast you're moving
For example, you could make:
- Size increase with pressure (natural feel)
- Opacity decrease with speed (light, quick strokes)
- Grain intensity increase with tilt (shading technique)
Creating Custom Brushes
Ready to make your own brush? Here's my workflow:
- Start with a base - Find a default brush that's close to what you want
- Duplicate it - Swipe left, tap Duplicate (never modify the original!)
- Adjust Shape first - Get the basic form right
- Add Grain - Layer in texture
- Tune Dynamics - Make it feel natural
- Test extensively - Draw actual things, not just scribbles
Pro tip: Name your brushes clearly. Future you will thank present you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import Photoshop brushes into Procreate?
Yes! Procreate supports .abr brush files from Photoshop. Simply drag the file into Procreate or use the import option in the brush library. Note that some advanced Photoshop brush features may not translate perfectly.
What's the difference between Shape and Grain in Procreate brushes?
Shape defines the outline/silhouette of your brush stroke, while Grain adds texture within that shape. Think of Shape as the cookie cutter and Grain as the sprinkles inside.
How do I share my custom Procreate brushes?
Swipe left on the brush you want to share, tap 'Share', then choose your export method. You can share as a .brush file (single brush) or .brushset file (entire set). These can be sent via AirDrop, email, or any file sharing service.
Wrapping Up
Procreate brush settings can seem overwhelming at first, but once you understand the core concepts (Shape, Grain, Dynamics), you'll be able to create any brush you can imagine.
Start by experimenting with the default brushes. Duplicate them, tweak one setting at a time, and see what happens. That's how all the best custom brushes are made.
