How to Cartoon Yourself in Procreate: The Ultimate Guide

As a seasoned digital artist and Procreate expert, one of the questions I get asked most frequently is: "How can I turn a photo of myself into a cartoon?" Well, aspiring cartoonists, you‘re in luck! With the help of the powerful digital illustration app Procreate, anyone can transform their selfies into fun, expressive cartoon portraits.

According to recent data, Procreate is one of the most popular paid apps for iPad, with over 50 million downloads worldwide. And it‘s no wonder why – Procreate‘s intuitive interface, customizable brushes, and layer system make it a go-to for professional artists and hobbyists alike.

But why cartoon yourself in the first place? Well, not only is it a fun way to express your personality and humor, but cartooning is also an excellent exercise for developing your drawing skills. By breaking down a complex image into simple shapes, lines, and colors, you train your artistic eye and hand in the foundations of illustration.

Plus, cartoon and caricature art is more popular than ever. A recent study found that the global caricature market is expected to grow by $64.5 million USD between 2020 and 2024. From social media avatars to personalized gifts, people can‘t get enough of these exaggerated, playful portraits.

In this in-depth guide, I‘ll take you step-by-step through my expert process for cartooning photos in Procreate. With a bit of practice and patience, you‘ll be creating your own incredible cartoon portraits in no time!

What You‘ll Need

Before we dive in, make sure you have the following:

• An iPad that supports Apple Pencil (1st or 2nd generation)
• The latest version of Procreate from the App Store
• An Apple Pencil (1st or 2nd generation)
• A high-quality photo to use as your reference (more on that in the next section)

Step 1: Choose a High-Quality Reference Photo

The first and arguably most important step in cartooning yourself is selecting the right reference photo. While it may be tempting to just grab any old selfie from your camera roll, the quality and composition of your reference can make a huge difference in the final result.

Here‘s what to look for in an ideal reference photo:

• High resolution: Make sure your photo is at least 1500px on the longest side. You want a clear, crisp image that won‘t turn blurry or pixelated when zoomed in.

• Good lighting: Opt for a photo taken in bright, even lighting, preferably natural daylight. Harsh shadows or dim lighting can obscure important details and make it harder to capture your likeness.

• Unobstructed view: Choose a photo where your face and features are clearly visible, not hidden behind hair, glasses, or other objects. If you want to include these elements in your cartoon, make sure they‘re not blocking the essential parts of your face.

• Neutral expression: While cartoons often exaggerate expressions, it‘s best to start with a relatively neutral photo where your features are relaxed. This will make it easier to capture your likeness and add exaggeration later.

My top tip? Take a new photo specifically for your cartoon portrait. Set up your shot near a window or go outside during the daytime, and snap a few photos from slightly different angles. Having a selection of high-quality options to choose from will set you up for success.

Step 2: Set Up Your Procreate Canvas

Once you‘ve chosen your perfect reference photo, it‘s time to get it into Procreate. Here‘s how:

1. Open Procreate and tap the plus (+) icon in the top right corner to create a new canvas.
2. In the New Canvas menu, select "Photo" and choose your reference image from your iPad‘s photos.
3. Procreate will automatically create a canvas sized to match your photo‘s dimensions. Tap the arrow in the top right to confirm.

Now, let‘s adjust the photo layer so it‘s easier to work with:

1. In the Layers panel (the stacked squares icon), tap the N to the left of your photo layer to open the Layer Settings.
2. Lower the Opacity to around 30-50%. This will make the photo semi-transparent so you can see your drawing on top more clearly.
3. Tap the photo layer again and select "Reference." This locks the layer so you don‘t accidentally draw on it.

Pro tip: If you want to keep your reference photo visible at all times, you can also drag it to a corner of your canvas. Just make sure to scale it down first so it doesn‘t take up too much space.

Step 3: Sketch Your Basic Outlines

Now comes the fun part – sketching out your cartoon! Create a new layer above your reference photo and grab your favorite sketching brush. I recommend starting with the 6B Pencil from the Sketching brush set.

As you sketch, focus on capturing the basic shapes and proportions of your facial features. Here are some expert tips to keep in mind:

• Start with simple shapes: Break down each feature into its most basic form. For example, sketch the head as a circle, the eyes as almonds, the nose as a triangle, and the mouth as a curved line.

• Exaggerate key features: Cartoons often exaggerate certain features for comic effect. Consider making your eyes larger, your nose more pronounced, or your smile extra wide. Just be careful not to go too far – you still want to be recognizable!

• Use light, loose strokes: Don‘t worry about getting everything perfect on the first pass. Sketch lightly and loosely, building up the shapes gradually. You can always refine your lines later.

• Check your proportions: Step back and look at your sketch as a whole. Are the features the right size in relation to each other? Is everything placed correctly on the face? Use your reference photo as a guide, but don‘t be afraid to adjust as needed.

Once you‘re happy with your basic sketch, lower the opacity of that layer to around 30%. This will make it easier to see your line work in the next step.

Step 4: Refine Your Linework

On a new layer, use a pen or inking brush (like the Studio Pen) to refine your sketch into clean, final lines. This is where you can add more precise details and make your strokes a bit bolder and more confident.

Some tips for inking your cartoon:

• Vary your line weight: Use thicker lines for the outer edges of your features and thinner lines for interior details like the pupils or nostrils. This will create more depth and dimension.

• Simplify complex areas: Don‘t get too bogged down in tiny details, especially in areas like the hair or clothing. Use simplified shapes and lines to suggest texture and volume rather than trying to draw every strand or fold.

• Embrace imperfections: Part of the charm of hand-drawn cartoons is their slight wonkiness. Don‘t stress about making your lines perfectly straight or symmetrical. A bit of unevenness can actually make your cartoon feel more lively and personal.

Step 5: Add Base Colors

Time to add some color to your cartoon! On a new layer underneath your line work, start filling in each section with flat base colors using the Color Fill tool.

Here are some tips for choosing and applying colors:

• Sample from your reference: If you want to match your cartoon colors to your real skin tone, hair color, etc., use the Eyedropper tool to sample directly from your reference photo. Just remember to tweak the shades slightly to keep things looking cartoonish.

• Limit your palette: Cartoons generally use a simplified color scheme without too many shades or gradients. Stick to a limited palette of around 5-7 main colors to keep things cohesive.

• Leave gaps for highlights: As you fill, leave some white gaps where highlights will go, like on the tip of the nose or the tops of the cheeks. This will make adding dimension much easier later.

• Experiment with palettes: Don‘t be afraid to play around with non-realistic color schemes, like bright primary colors or pastel hues. Sometimes a bold, unexpected palette can take your cartoon to the next level!

Pro tip: If you want to keep your fill layers separate (which I highly recommend), create a new layer for each color and use the Clipping Masks feature to contain the fills within your linework. This will make editing and adjusting much easier later on.

Step 6: Shade and Highlight

Now it‘s time to add depth and dimension to your cartoon with some basic shading and highlighting. This may sound intimidating, but it‘s actually quite simple with Procreate‘s layer blending modes.

First, create a new layer above your fill layers and set it to Multiply mode. This will allow your shading to darken the colors underneath without affecting your lines. Use a soft brush (like the Soft Airbrush) to paint some shadows in the areas that would naturally be darkest, like under the chin, the sides of the nose, and the creases of the eyelids. Use a color that‘s a slightly darker, desaturated version of your base skin tone.

Next, create another new layer and set it to Overlay or Soft Light mode. Use a light, bright version of your base skin color to add some highlights to the areas that would naturally catch the light, like the forehead, nose bridge, and cheekbones. You can also add a small white dot to each pupil for a bright catchlight.

Some other shading and highlighting tips:

• Use the Gaussian Blur filter to soften your shadows and highlights, giving them a more natural, blended look. You can find this under the Adjustments menu (the magic wand icon).

• Don‘t go too heavy-handed with your shading. A little bit of subtle shadow can go a long way in giving your cartoon depth and form.

• Experiment with colorful shading for a more stylized look. Try using a cool purple for shadows and a warm yellow for highlights, for example.

Step 7: Add Final Details and Textures

Your cartoon is almost complete! Take a step back and assess what final details or textures it might need to really bring it to life. Here are some ideas:

• Add a subtle texture to the skin using a stipple brush or noise filter. This can help give your cartoon a more organic, hand-drawn feel.

• Play with some custom brushes to add interesting textures to the hair or clothing. Procreate has a great selection of pre-made texture brushes, or you can even create your own.

• Use the Smudge tool to gently blend and soften your shadows and highlights, giving them a more natural transition.

• Add some accessories or background elements to give your cartoon more personality and context. A pair of statement earrings, a colorful hat, or even a silly prop can take your portrait to the next level.

Remember, the beauty of digital art is that you can always experiment and undo anything you don‘t like. Don‘t be afraid to play around and try new things until you‘re happy with the final result!

Step 8: Share Your Masterpiece

Congratulations, you‘ve officially created your first cartoon self-portrait in Procreate! Now it‘s time to share your hard work with the world.

First, make sure to save a high-resolution version of your cartoon by going to the Share menu (the square with an arrow icon) and selecting "Export Image." Choose PNG or JPEG format and save it to your iPad‘s files or photos.

Then, consider sharing your cartoon on social media or printing it out to display at home. You could even turn it into a custom sticker, t-shirt, or phone case using a print-on-demand service like Redbubble or Society6.

And don‘t forget to share your cartoon with the Procreate community! The official Procreate hashtags on Instagram are a great place to connect with other artists and get feedback on your work.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

If you‘re having trouble getting the hang of cartooning in Procreate, don‘t worry – it‘s a skill that takes practice! Here are some common issues and solutions:

Q: My cartoon doesn‘t look anything like me! What am I doing wrong?
A: First, make sure you‘re using a high-quality, well-lit reference photo. If your sketch still doesn‘t look quite right, try breaking down your features into even simpler shapes and focusing on the proportions. It can also help to flip your canvas horizontally (under the Actions menu) to check for any asymmetry or wonkiness.

Q: I‘m having trouble with my linework. Any tips?
A: Experiment with different brushes and opacity levels until you find a combo that feels comfortable. It can also help to stabilize your strokes by turning on Streamline (under the brush settings menu) or using a drawing guide like the symmetry tool. And don‘t forget to zoom in for those small, precise details!

Q: My colors look flat and boring. How can I make them pop?
A: Try adding some colorful shading and highlighting to give your cartoon more depth and interest. You can also experiment with different layer blending modes (like Overlay or Multiply) to create cool color effects. And don‘t be afraid to use non-realistic colors – sometimes a bright, bold palette can really make a cartoon stand out.

Final Thoughts

Cartooning yourself in Procreate may seem daunting at first, but with a bit of practice and patience, anyone can create an amazing custom portrait. The key is to start simple, focus on the basic shapes and proportions, and have fun experimenting with different styles and techniques.

Remember, there‘s no one "right" way to cartoon – the beauty of this art form is that it allows you to express your unique personality and perspective. So don‘t be too hard on yourself if your first few attempts don‘t turn out exactly as you envisioned. Keep practicing, keep learning, and most importantly, keep having fun!

I hope this in-depth guide has given you the knowledge and inspiration you need to start your own cartooning journey in Procreate. If you have any other questions or want to share your own cartoon creations, feel free to reach out or leave a comment below. Now go forth and cartoon yourself!