The Beginner‘s Guide to Animating in Procreate

Animation is eating the world. From full-length features to 6-second shorts, explainer videos to UI prototypes, moving images are everywhere. The global animation market is expected to grow from $372.41 billion in 2021 to $642.12 billion by 2026.

For illustrators and designers, adding animation skills to your toolkit is one of the best ways to expand your creative and professional horizons. And with Procreate‘s intuitive Animation Assist feature, you don‘t need to be a tech wizard or invest in expensive software to start experimenting with frame-by-frame animation.

In fact, Procreate‘s integration of raster-based painting tools with animation controls offers some key advantages over vector-based animation software:

• More organic and textural brushwork
• Faster asset creation with Procreate‘s customizable brush library
• Ability to combine hand-drawn and digital elements seamlessly
• Gestural and pressure-sensitive line quality
• iPad portability for animating on the go

Whether you‘re a freelance illustrator looking to offer motion graphics to your clients, a designer prototyping app interactions, or a hobbyist eager to explore a new mode of visual storytelling, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the fundamentals of animating in Procreate.

Setting Up Your Procreate File for Animation

Before diving into the hands-on tutorial, let‘s cover some technical considerations for setting up your Procreate file for animation success:

Choosing a Canvas Size
Your canvas size should match the intended output destination of your animation. Here are some common presets to start with:

• Instagram Post: 1080 x 1080 pixels
• Instagram Story: 1080 x 1920 pixels
• YouTube Video: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• 4K Video: 3840 x 2160 pixels

Keep in mind that working with larger canvases will allow for more detail, but may slow down performance if your animation has many frames. If you‘re new to animating in Procreate, start with a smaller canvas and work your way up as you get more comfortable with the process.

Deciding on a Frame Rate
Frame rate refers to the number of still images that play per second to create the illusion of motion. Procreate supports frame rates from 0.1 to 60 FPS. For reference:

• 12 FPS: Jittery, hand-drawn look (think classic cartoons)
• 24 FPS: Standard cinematic motion
• 30 or 60 FPS: Smooth, realistic movement

In general, 12-24 FPS is a good range to start with for most animations. You can always adjust the frame rate later in the process if you want to speed up or slow down the action.

Planning Your Layers
Thoughtful layer organization is key to a seamless animation workflow in Procreate. Aim to:

• Put static background elements on the bottom layer(s)
• Create individual layers for each moving element
• Label layers clearly to keep track of your content
• Use layer groups to keep related elements together

Taking a few moments to structure your file before animating will save you time and headaches down the road.

Step-by-Step: How to Animate in Procreate

Now that your canvas is prepped and your layers are labeled, it‘s time to get animating! We‘ll use a simple bouncing ball animation to walk through the process from start to finish.

Step 1: Draw your first frame
Start by sketching the first pose or position of your animation on a new layer. For the bouncing ball, that‘s a simple circle touching the ground plane.

Step 2: Turn on Animation Assist
Open the Actions menu (wrench icon), go to Canvas > Animation Assist and toggle it on. The animation timeline will appear along the bottom of your canvas, with your first frame represented by a thumbnail.

Step 3: Set background layers
Select any layers that contain static background elements. In the Layers panel, tap the layer(s) and toggle Background on. This will keep those layers consistent throughout the animation. In my example, the horizon line is on a background layer.

Step 4: Draw your next frame
With the ball layer selected, tap the Duplicate button at the top of the Animation Assist timeline. A second frame thumbnail will appear.

On Frame 2, use the selection tool to reposition the ball slightly upward to show the arc of its bounce. The onion skin overlay of Frame 1 will help you gauge the spacing and trajectory.

Step 5: Repeat for remaining frames
Continue duplicating frames and repositioning the ball layer to complete the bouncing sequence. For a simple loop, aim for 8-12 frames. Remember to use the onion skin overlay as a guide for natural spacing and timing.

Pro Tip: If you want the ball to deform slightly at impact, duplicate the ball layer on those frames and use the Liquify tool to squash it before merging the layers back together.

Step 6: Refine your animation
Once you have the basic sequence roughed out, play it back with the Play button in the Animation Assist panel to assess the overall timing and movement.

Adjust the position of elements on individual frames as needed. You can also select multiple frames in the timeline to batch reposition or rescale elements.

Step 7: Ink and color your animation
When you‘re happy with the positioning and timing, lock the sketch layer(s) and add a new layer on top for inking. Use your favorite inking brush to trace the lines of each frame.

To add color, create a new layer underneath the ink layer and use the alpha lock function to keep the color fills contained inside the lines.

Pro Tip: Create a layer group for each animated element to keep your ink, color, and shading layers organized.

Step 8: Export your animation
Go to the Actions menu > Share > Animated GIF, PNG, or MP4 (depending on your intended use) and export your animation.

In the export settings, choose your desired frame rate, number of loops (if applicable), and background color (transparent or matched to your canvas). Tap Export again and your animation will be saved to your device.

Advanced Animation Tips

Once you‘ve gotten the hang of the basic animation workflow in Procreate, try incorporating these pro tips to level up your skills:

Use Reference Layers
Import video clips or image sequences to a Reference Layer above your animation frames. Reduce the opacity so you can see your frames underneath. Use the reference to rotoscope (trace) complex movements, expressions, or interactions for more lifelike results.

Incorporate Layer Masks
Use layer masks to selectively hide or reveal parts of a layer in each frame. This is handy for creating the illusion of a character moving behind an object or making a smooth transition between facial expressions.

Try Alpha Lock for Consistency
When adding color or texture to an animated layer, use the Alpha Lock function to ensure the fill stays within the lines as you swipe across multiple frames. This will maintain more visual consistency from frame to frame.

Experiment with Frame Rates
Play with animating on 2s (12 FPS), 3s (8 FPS), or even 4s (6 FPS) to get a choppier, more stylized motion compared to the smoothness of 1s (24 FPS). You can change the frame rate at any point, so don‘t be afraid to try different speeds for different sequences.

Combine Techniques
Use multiple animation techniques in the same project for eye-catching contrast. For example, pair a realistically animated character with a loop of abstract shapes, or juxtapose fluid frame-by-frame sequences with a jittery looping background texture.

Real-World Examples

Looking for inspiration? Check out these examples of professional animation work produced in Procreate:

• Rooty Tootie Cowboy Cutie Animated Short by Maxine Vee
• Witch Doctor Animated Music Video by Denis Zhbankov
• Huawei P50 Halo Ring Camera UI Animation by Oleg Kostyuk

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make an animation in Procreate?
Depending on the complexity and length of the animation, it could take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete an animated project in Procreate. Looping animations tend to be quicker than narrative sequences with distinct beginning and end points.

Can I import and animate 3D models in Procreate?
Not directly, but you can import a turntable sequence of a 3D model as a series of images to a Reference Layer, then rotoscope the frames for a 2D-style animation that mimics 3D rotation.

How can I learn more about animation principles?
Studying the 12 Principles of Animation is a great starting point for anyone looking to improve their animation skills. Originally outlined by Disney animators Ollie Johnson and Frank Thomas in their book The Illusion of Life, these concepts are the foundation of all effective animation. You can find many online resources, like Alan Becker‘s 12 Principles of Animation video series, that explain and demonstrate each principle in action.

Conclusion

Whether you‘re a seasoned illustrator looking to expand your skill set or a complete beginner eager to bring your ideas to life, animating in Procreate is a fun and accessible way to level up your creative practice. With the app‘s intuitive tools and the tips and techniques covered in this guide, you‘ll be well on your way to creating eye-catching animations that engage and inspire.

Remember, animation is all about experimentation and iteration. Don‘t get too hung up on perfection—the best way to improve is to keep practicing and playing. Onward and upward!