10 Ways to Speed Up Your Workflow in Procreate

Procreate is hands-down one of my favourite tools for illustrating, but let’s be honest—sometimes it’s easy to get lost fiddling with brushes, layers, and effects. Over the years, I’ve discovered some simple ways to make my workflow faster, so I can spend more time creating and less time clicking around. Here are my top 10 tips.

1. Learn the Gestures

Undo, redo, pinch to zoom, rotate the canvas—gestures are the fastest way to navigate Procreate. I promise, mastering them will save you so much time. Two-finger tap to undo is my most-used shortcut by far.

2. Set Up QuickMenu

QuickMenu is a hidden gem. You can assign up to 12 actions (like switching brushes, flipping the canvas, or adjusting opacity) to a single button. I use it for things I do repeatedly—it’s a real time saver.

3. Use Layer Groups

Group layers by character, background, or element. Instead of scrolling through 50 layers, I can collapse a group and instantly find what I need. It also makes moving or transforming multiple layers a breeze.

4. Create your own Brush Sets

Instead of hunting through hundreds of brushes, make a custom brush set for each project type—sketching, inking, textures, or effects. Everything you need is in one place, and you’ll spend less time scrolling. I like to name mine per project- So I always know which set to head back to.

5. Duplicate & Adjust Layers

Need multiple colour variations or experiments? Duplicate the layer and tweak it. That way, you don’t have to redraw everything from scratch.

6. Use Alpha Lock & Clipping Masks

Alpha Lock lets you paint only on existing pixels, while Clipping Masks let you add effects or colours without touching the layer underneath. Both tools save a lot of messy erasing time.

7. Use Reference Layers for Colouring

Setting your line art as a reference layer means you can colour underneath without worrying about spilling outside the lines. I use this trick every time I fill in big areas quickly.

8. Save your favourite Colour Palettes

Instead of hunting for the same colour every time, save custom palettes for each project. This keeps your work consistent and speeds up the painting process.

9. Custom Shortcuts for Brush Size & Opacity

I assign shortcuts to frequently used sizes or opacity levels. Switching between brushes and adjusting settings mid-draw can eat up a surprising amount of time—this keeps it seamless.

10. Keep It Organised

It might seem obvious, but keeping your canvas, layers, brushes, and palettes organised pays off. Less time searching = more time drawing. I usually start every new project by tidying up my brush sets, layers, and palettes—it saves hours in the long run.

Also, Don’t Overthink Perfection

Sometimes speed comes from letting go of tiny details early on. Use rough sketches, quick colour blocking, and trust that you can refine later. It keeps your momentum going and your workflow smooth.

Hey, there! I’m Jasmine Berry, a freelance illustrator based in sunny Perth, Western Australia. Most days you’ll find me sketching away on my iPad or surrounded by pencils and cats, chasing new ideas. I like to think of myself as eternally optimistic—always seeing the fun, the colour, and the possibility in every project I take on. Send me a message if you would like to collaborate on a project.