How to Draw Digital Art: A Beginner’s Guide to Procreate, Krita & Setup
Key Takeaways
- Start with a pressure-sensitive stylus and a screen tablet (like an iPad or Huion) for natural control.
- Procreate is best for iPad users (one-time $9.99 fee); Krita is free and works on Windows/Mac/Linux.
- Master layers, brushes, and blending modes early—they save hours of rework.
- Use the 70/30 rule: spend 70% of your time sketching and refining, 30% on final rendering.
Introduction
Digital art opens up a world of possibilities—undo buttons, infinite colors, and effects that would take hours in traditional media. But if you’re new, it can also feel overwhelming. I’ve taught dozens of beginners over the past five years, and the biggest mistake is jumping straight into rendering without nailing the basics. Let me walk you through the setup and techniques that actually work.
Choose Your Hardware Wisely
You don’t need a $3,000 Cintiq to start. Here’s what I recommend based on budget:
- Budget (under $300): A used iPad 6th gen (2018) with Apple Pencil 1st gen, or a Huion Inspiroy H640P (non-screen tablet) for Windows/Mac.
- Mid-range ($300–$800): iPad Air 4th gen or 5th gen with Apple Pencil 2nd gen. The laminated screen reduces parallax (the gap between pen tip and cursor).
- Pro ($800+): Wacom Cintiq 16 or Huion Kamvas Pro 16. These are screen tablets with 1080p resolution and 120% sRGB color accuracy.
I started with a non-screen tablet (Wacom Intuos S) and it’s fine for learning, but most beginners give up because the hand-eye disconnect feels unnatural. Save for a screen tablet if you can.
Software: Procreate vs. Krita
Both are excellent, but they suit different workflows. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Feature | Procreate | Krita |
| --------- | ----------- | ------- |
| Price | $9.99 one-time | Free (open source) |
| Platform | iPad only | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Brush engine | Powerful, 200+ default brushes | Highly customizable, 100+ default |
| Animation | Yes (frame-by-frame) | Yes (frame-by-frame + onion skin) |
| Layer limit | Limited by RAM (e.g., 50 layers on iPad Air 4) | Unlimited (disk-based) |
| Learning curve | Beginner-friendly | Steeper (more menus) |
My verdict: If you own an iPad, buy Procreate. It’s the best $10 you’ll ever spend. If you’re on PC or Mac, Krita is unbeatable for a free tool. I’ve used both professionally—Krita’s brush stabilizer is better for smooth lines, but Procreate’s interface is more intuitive.
Step 1: Set Up Your Canvas and Brushes
Open Procreate or Krita. For a standard illustration, use these settings:
- Canvas size: 3000 x 4000 pixels at 300 DPI (this prints at 10x13 inches at 300 PPI).
- Color profile: sRGB for web, Adobe RGB for print.
- Brushes to start:
- Sketching: 6B Pencil (Procreate) or Pencil-2 (Krita).
- Inking: Narinder Pencil (Procreate) or Ink-3 (Krita).
- Coloring: Flat Brush (Procreate) or Basic-5 (Krita).
Pro tip: Lower the brush opacity to 80% when sketching. It makes lines less intimidating.
Step 2: Master Layers
Layers are your safety net. Here’s a beginner-friendly layer setup:
1. Background layer: Solid white or light gray (locked).
2. Sketch layer: Rough shapes, low opacity (20-30%).
3. Line art layer: Clean lines on top of sketch.
4. Color layer: Under line art, use clipping masks to keep colors within lines.
5. Shading layer: Set to Multiply blend mode for shadows.
6. Highlight layer: Set to Add (Screen) mode for light reflections.
In Procreate, you can rename layers by tapping the layer name. In Krita, double-click the layer name. I always name layers like “Sketch_v2” or “Skin_base” so I can find them later.
Step 3: Sketch and Refine
Start with a rough stick figure or basic shapes (circles, rectangles). Don’t worry about details yet. Use the following technique:
- Gesture drawing: 30-second poses to capture movement. Use a 2B pencil brush.
- Structural sketch: Add cylinders for arms, spheres for joints. Keep the sketch at 10-20% opacity.
- Refined sketch: Lower the opacity further and draw on a new layer with cleaner lines.
Real numbers: I typically do 5 gesture sketches, pick the best one, then spend 20 minutes on the structural sketch. Total sketching time: 40 minutes for a character.
Step 4: Inking and Line Art
Switch to a monoline brush (or Ink-3 in Krita) with size 4–8 pixels. Use these settings:
- Pressure sensitivity: On (this varies line thickness).
- Stabilization: Set to 10-15% in Krita’s brush settings to smooth jitters.
- Stroke speed: Draw quickly—slow strokes look wobbly.
If you make a mistake, use the eraser (same brush, but eraser mode) to clean up. In Procreate, you can hold two fingers on the screen to undo. In Krita, Ctrl+Z is your friend.
Step 5: Flat Colors
Create a new layer under the line art. Use the selection tool (magic wand) to select areas outside the lines, then invert the selection and fill with base colors. This ensures colors stay inside the lines.
Color palette tip: Limit yourself to 5-10 colors for the first few drawings. I use Adobe Color (free) to generate harmonious schemes.
Step 6: Shading and Highlights
Set the shading layer to Multiply blend mode (opacity 30-50%). Paint shadows on a separate layer using a soft airbrush or round brush. For highlights, use Add (Screen) mode with a small, hard brush at 20-30% opacity.
Technique: Imagine a light source from the top-left corner. Shadows fall to the bottom-right. I use a dark purple (not black) for shadows—it gives more depth.
Step 7: Final Touches
Add a new layer on top for texture (e.g., a noise filter in Procreate or a paper texture in Krita). Merge all layers (flatten image) only when you’re absolutely done. Keep the original file with layers for future edits.
Export settings:
- For web: PNG (lossless) or JPG at 80% quality.
- For print: TIFF or PNG at 300 DPI.
FAQ
Q1: What’s the best tablet for beginners in 2025?
A: The iPad 9th gen (2021) with Apple Pencil 1st gen is still the best value at around $250 used. It has a 10.2-inch screen, supports Procreate, and the pencil is responsive. Avoid non-screen tablets if you can afford the upgrade.
Q2: How long does it take to learn digital art?
A: With daily practice (30 minutes), you’ll be comfortable with layers and brushes in 2 weeks. Basic portraits or characters take about 3 months of consistent work. I’ve seen students create decent illustrations after 50 hours of practice.
Q3: Should I use a screen protector or matte screen film?
A: Yes, especially for iPad. A matte screen protector (like Paperlike) costs about $30 and gives a paper-like texture. It reduces glare and makes the pen feel less slippery. Downside: it slightly reduces screen sharpness and wears down pen tips faster (replace tips every 6 months).