A jpg image will also work fine, it will just need to be placed at the bottom of the stack of your layers, so as not to block out any of your drawing. It is in a png format, with a transparent background and can be placed anywhere in your stack of layers without interfering with any other layer. I am using the same framework in this post as I did for the pencil and paper version. You will then insert it as a layer, into your canvas in Procreate, using the Image / Insert a Photo options under the wrench tool. No matter your method, you will want your framework image to be saved onto your camera roll on your iPad. But simply said, I use shapes and rotate tools to create a simple symmetrical framework.

This is a technique I will cover in a future post. This can be done using a vector based program such as Illustrator or you can do it right on the iPad using an app such as Graphic. You can draw it by hand and then scan it into your camera roll on your iPad, or you can create one digitally. In the previous post I explained my process for drawing my frameworks using a pencil and a compass. Choose a DPI of 300 which gives a nice crisp detail without making the document file size too large and still allows lots of layers to play with. Choose inches as your units and create a canvas that is 8 1/2″ x 11″. If you think you may want to print out your iPad art, it’s a good idea to make the canvas size the same size as your printer paper.

Easy to take with you, endless supply of paper / canvas and an amazing variety of pens / brushes, all in one compact, portable device. The popularity of the iPad is growing and as much as I love relaxing with paper and pencil, the iPad Pro is becoming a really great alternative, and I have become quite attached to mine. In this second part of the series, I will be sharing how I do this technique on the iPad Pro with an apple pencil.

Last week, I shared with you my technique for using a circular framework grid, to draw a symmetrical design using pencil and paper.

Procreate doodle ideas