Best SellersProcreate is one of the most powerful and intuitive apps for digital art, making it a top choice for coloring digital pages on the iPad. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional artist, Procreate offers precision tools, endless customization, and a smooth workflow that makes digital coloring feel natural.
If you’ve purchased or downloaded digital coloring pages and want to color them digitally, this guide will show you how to do it the right way using Procreate.
Step 1: Prepare Your File
Make sure your coloring page is in one of the following formats:
- PNG or JPG for single images
- PDF (you’ll need to convert these to image files first, as Procreate doesn’t import multi-page PDFs natively)
You can convert a PDF to individual PNGs using online tools or by exporting each page manually using a PDF reader.
Step 2: Create a New Canvas
Open Procreate and tap the “+” icon in the gallery. Choose a canvas size that matches your coloring page:
- US Letter: 2550 x 3300 pixels at 300 DPI
- A4: 2480 x 3508 pixels at 300 DPI
This ensures your image will print clearly if you decide to export later.
Step 3: Import the Line Art
Tap the wrench icon (Actions menu), then choose “Insert a photo” or “Insert a file.” Locate your coloring page and import it. The line art will be placed on a new layer. Resize or reposition it as needed.
Rename this layer “Line Art” and set the blend mode to Multiply. This keeps your outlines visible while you color underneath.
Step 4: Add Coloring Layers
Create a new layer beneath the Line Art layer. This is where you’ll apply color. You can create multiple layers for different elements—background, characters, details—to make edits easier as you go.
Step 5: Choose Brushes and Colors
Procreate includes a wide variety of brushes. Some of the most useful for coloring include:
- Monoline or Technical Pen for clean fills
- Soft Brush for blending and shading
- Watercolor or textured brushes for traditional looks
You can create a custom palette or use the Color Harmony tool to find complementary tones.
Step 6: Use Selection Tools for Precision
Use the Selection tool to isolate specific areas before coloring. Enable Alpha Lock on a filled layer to shade or highlight without coloring outside the edges. You can also use Clipping Masks to layer effects while keeping your base colors untouched.
For tap-to-fill functionality, set the Line Art layer as a Reference, then fill on a separate layer while maintaining clean outlines.
Step 7: Export Your Work
When finished, tap the wrench icon and select “Share.” Export your work as a PNG or JPG for sharing, or as a PDF or layered PSD if you want to print or continue editing later. You can also save a time-lapse replay of your coloring process—perfect for sharing behind-the-scenes videos on social media.
Procreate gives you full control over your coloring process with powerful tools that make it easy to stay inside the lines, build depth, and bring your artwork to life. Whether you’re new to digital art or looking to elevate your coloring game, it’s one of the best tools available for creative expression.