The 15 Best Pixel Brushes for Procreate: Create Retro Game-Style Art on Your iPad

Pixel art, the art style defined by its use of raster graphics with a limited color palette, has seen a huge resurgence in popularity in recent years. Originally a necessity due to the technical limitations of early video game hardware, pixel art has developed into a beloved aesthetic all its own. Its distinctive lo-fi, retro charm can now be found everywhere from indie games to Hollywood films.

Many digital artists have embraced pixel art and begun incorporating it into their work. iPad users looking to dabble in pixel artistry often turn to the powerful digital illustration app Procreate. While Procreate is well-equipped for digital painting and drawing, pixel art enthusiasts may find its default brushes lacking.

That‘s where custom pixel brush sets come in. These packs of brushes meticulously designed for pixel art can transform Procreate into a capable pixel art studio. High quality pixel brush sets open up a world of possibilities, allowing artists to easily produce detailed, authentic-looking pixel art and animations.

In this post, I‘ll be sharing my picks for the 15 absolute best pixel brush packs for Procreate. I‘ve scoured the web for pixel brushes designed by skilled artists, rigorously testing each one to curate this collection of the most impressive, versatile, and user-friendly options. Whether you‘re a pixel art professional or a total beginner, there‘s sure to be a brush set here that will take your pixel illustrations to the next level.

What Are Pixel Brushes?

Put simply, pixel brushes are digital brushes designed to create individual pixels. Rather than the smooth, anti-aliased brush strokes produced by default Procreate brushes, each stroke of a pixel brush results in hard-edged square pixels. This allows artists to "paint" images one pixel at a time, much like working with mosaic tiles.

The best pixel brush sets simulate the limited color palettes of retro computer hardware, restrict brush strokes to a defined pixel grid, and include brushes of varying pixel dimensions for detail work. Some packs also include extra features like dithering brushes, pixel pattern stamps, and shape tools.

The Top 15 Pixel Brush Sets for Procreate

1. Pixel Art Brush for Procreate by BrushUp

[IMAGE] This professional-grade brush pack features 20 finely-tuned pixel brushes. Highlights include a versatile opacity brush for softening edges and a range of dithering brushes. Includes commercial license.

2. Pixel Art by Bardot Brush

[IMAGE] An excellent free option, this small but capable set of 4 pixel brushes has everything you need to get started. The included user guide is great for beginners.

3. Pixel Art Procreate Brushes by Seamless Team

[IMAGE] With 24 brushes plus grid templates, this affordable set has you covered for any pixel art project. The inclusion of a commercial license makes it a great value.

4. 44 Pixel Village Procreate Brushes by ProcreateiBox

[IMAGE] This massive set earns its higher price tag with an impressive 44 brushes, including a wide selection of useful pixel stamps. Licensed for personal and commercial use.

5. Cyberpunk "Pixels Go Punk" Procreate Brushes by Courtneyleigh

[IMAGE] Over 100 futuristic pixel brushes and stamps make this pack a must-have for sci-fi themed art. Best of all, it‘s completely free.

6. 23 Pixel iBox Procreate Brushes by ProcreateiBox

[IMAGE] This unique set stands out with some truly original and useful options, like pixel glitter brushes. Perfect for adding some sparkle to your retro art.

7. Pixel Brush Pack for Procreate by Bakeroner

[IMAGE] A solid, no-frills set of 10 pixel brushes in a range of sizes. Just note that only 6 brushes support pressure sensitivity.

8. Halloween Pixel Procreate Patterns by Courtneyleigh

[IMAGE] Celebrate the spooky season in retro style with these 20 Halloween-themed pixel pattern brushes. A fun seasonal freebie.

9. Pixel Art Brush Pack for Procreate by Ghost Paper

[IMAGE] In addition to great brushes in multiple pixel sizes, this affordable set includes a detailed user guide to help you get the most out of your purchase.

10. Pixel Perfect 8-bit Tool Kit by The Artifex Forge

[IMAGE] This premium toolkit aims to replicate the authentic retro game aesthetic with a curated selection of brushes, patterns and a handy cheatsheet. Licensed for personal and commercial use.

11. Dansdesign Pixel Brush Procreate #1 by Dansdesign

[IMAGE] A small but useful collection of basic pixel art essentials, perfect for beginners or anyone in need of some reliable freebies.

12. Pixa – Procreate Pixel Brushes by Delightful Design

[IMAGE] Marketed to game designers, this pack features true-to-life video game mockup templates to showcase your pixel art plus a nice assortment of brushes.

13. Pixel Art! 100+ Brush Set! By Courtney Leigh Creates

[IMAGE] You‘ll never suffer from a lack of options with this enormous collection of over 100 pixel brushes, featuring some hard-to-find pixel liner brushes for outlining your art.

14. Procreate Pixel Art Brushes by svgocean

[IMAGE] Pixel artists who love using stamps and patterns to quickly fill in large areas will adore this reasonably priced, commercially-licensed brush and stamp set.

15. Pixel Art Brush Pack by Ghost Paper

[IMAGE] Pixel art emoji creators, this one‘s for you. This set has everything needed to craft your own pixel emoticons, with helpful instructions included.

Tips for Pixel Art Success

With the right tools in hand, creating pixel art in Procreate can be a fun and rewarding experience. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Begin by choosing a brush set that matches the pixel art style you want to create. When in doubt, start with a versatile all-rounder set.

2. Study your favorite pixel art for inspiration and techniques. Video game screenshots and movie posters are great references.

3. Keep it simple. Limit your color palette, avoid gradients, and don‘t be afraid to go bold with your lines and shapes.

4. Work at a small canvas size and scale up your art as needed. This forces you to keep your pixel placement deliberate.

5. Embrace the grid. Zoom in close and work one pixel at a time for best results. Procreate‘s QuickShape tool can help with straight lines and shapes.

6. Get familiar with dithering. This technique of alternating pixel colors to simulate additional hues and shades is key to working with limited color palettes.

7. Have fun and don‘t be afraid to experiment! There‘s no wrong way to pixel.

Frequently Asked Pixel Art Questions

Is drawing pixel art in Procreate hard?
Like any art form, pixel art requires some practice and patience to master, but with the right tools it‘s definitely achievable by artists of all skill levels. Starting with a quality pixel brush set removes a lot of technical hurdles.

Do I need to buy pixel brushes for Procreate?
While it‘s possible to create pixel art with Procreate‘s default brushes, purpose-made pixel brushes will give you much better results and save you a lot of time and effort. Fortunately, there are many excellent free and low-cost options available.

What‘s the best canvas size for pixel art?
That depends on the scale and level of detail in your artwork, but in general it‘s best to work at actual size in a small canvas, usually under 200px wide/tall, and scale up as needed for display. This encourages you to keep your pixel art economical and precise.

Go Forth and Pixel!

I hope this pixel brush roundup has inspired you to try your hand at some pixel art. Armed with any of these powerful brush sets, you‘ll be amazed how quickly you can begin producing professional-looking retro artwork in Procreate.

Remember, pixel art is all about embracing creative limitations, so don‘t be afraid to just dive in and start experimenting. With a bit of practice, you‘ll be creating pixel masterpieces in no time. Happy pixeling!