Procreate is a powerful digital illustration app for iPad that is popular among artists for its intuitive interface and robust creative tools. One of the handiest features in Procreate is the ability to easily color pick from a reference image, which can help you accurately sample colors as you work. This can be useful whether you are trying to match the colors in a photo reference or pick out colors from another artwork. In this guide, I’ll walk through the steps for color picking in Procreate using the built-in color dropper tool.
Step 1: Open Your Reference Image
The first step is to have your reference image open in Procreate that you want to sample colors from. This photo or artwork can be imported into Procreate through the gallery. Make sure the reference is on its own layer separate from your line art or painting layers.
You can have the reference as a top layer visible while you work on layers below, or toggle the visibility off and on as needed when sampling colors. Having it on a separate layer makes it easy to hide the reference later if needed without affecting your main artwork.
Step 2: Select the Color Dropper
With your reference layer visible, select the color dropper tool from the toolbar along the left side of the Procreate interface. You can also access the color dropper from the Actions menu.
The color dropper tool looks like an eyedropper icon and is usually near the middle of the tools menu. Tap to select it – the icon will highlight to show it is active.
Step 3: Select Your Color Sample Point
With the color dropper tool now active, you can move your Apple Pencil or finger over the canvas to position the color dropper where you want to sample a color.
View the reference layer beneath and move the sample ring to an area of the image that has the color you need. The circle displays a preview of the color that is currently under the dropper tool.
Step 4: Sample the Color
When you have found your desired color in the reference image, simply tap the screen with the color dropper to sample that color. The sampled color will automatically be set as your current foreground color swatch along the bottom of the screen.
You can now use that swatched color for painting in your Procreate document. The color dropper samples the precise RGB values of the reference image, capturing even subtle tones and shades.
Quick Tips for Accurate Color Picking
Here are some helpful tips for getting the best results when sampling colors from a reference:
– Zoom in close for a more precise sample area. The color within the dropper circle is sampled.
– Avoid sampling from areas with shadows or highlights. Pick flat, evenly lit sections for accurate base tones.
– Sample colors from key spots – such as shadows, midtones, and highlights – to recreate lighting.
– Use the dropper on small details like reflected light and textures.
– Turn off Overlay Color in the wrench menu for a true read on the reference color.
– Dropper multiple points and average for an approximate mix.
Automating Color Sampling with Actions
For picking many colors or creating a palette, you can automate sampling from a reference using Actions in Procreate.
Here’s how to quickly build a custom color picker:
1. Record a new action. Select where to sample color with the dropper.
2. Tap the Add Step icon. Move the dropper to the next spot.
3. Repeat adding steps to build out all your sample points.
4. When finished, end and save the Action.
Now you can quickly play back the Action to automatically pull colors into swatches from the reference!
Using the Color Dropper On Layers
The Procreate color dropper can also sample colors directly from your layers within the current document, in addition to reference images.
This can be helpful for pulling colors from your existing painting to use elsewhere. The dropper reads colors on all visible layers together so you can pick up blended hues.
To use the dropper on layers:
1. Make sure the target layers are visible. Lock transparency on other layers.
2. Position the dropper over an area to pick up the color.
3. Tap to sample the color and set the foreground swatch.
You can now apply the sampled color from your layers just like a reference image pickup.
Picking Colors from the Canvas
While references are useful color sources, you can also use the dropper tool to pick colors directly from the Procreate canvas as you paint.
As you blend and lay down brushstrokes, colors mix and mingle on the surface. You can dropper these to intentionally remix them elsewhere.
Some ways to use the canvas dropper:
– Sample color variations from brush blending edges
– Pick a dark or light point from gradients for shading
– Capture colors from paint smears and textures
– Lift interesting hues from overlapped tones
– Blend brackish colors for natural mixing
Get creative picking from the canvas and see what intriguing shades you can discover in the work itself! The dropper makes this mixing organic and intuitive.
Matching Difficult Colors
When trying to color match very light, dark, muted or bright colors, the standard color dropper can struggle to precisely sample the target hue.
Here are some tips for handling challenging color picking:
– For pure black, white, or grays – manually set swatches instead of sampling.
– Pick light colors from areas not blown out or darkened.
– Try dropping neutral colors against white to read the undertone.
– For bright hues, sample from evenly lit vibrant zones.
– Dropper multiple points around highlights and shadows then average.
– Use HSB sliders to fine tune a pick after sampling.
Take extra care when the reference color is already exaggerated – the dropper will grab more nuance from subtle areas. Layer samples from light and shadow to rebuild intense colors by hand.
Conclusion
The ability to accurately reference colors directly from photos and art makes the Procreate color dropper an indispensable tool for nailing down palette and lighting. With a bit of practice, you can quickly grab colors on the fly to keep your digital painting harmonious, balanced, and photorealistic. Automating the sampling in Actions takes this to the next level for serious color study. Master the color dropper and unlock your potential to recreate, remix, and reinvent color in your Procreate work.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open your reference image in Procreate |
| 2 | Select the color dropper tool |
| 3 | Position the dropper over the color to sample |
| 4 | Tap to sample the color into a swatch |
Tips for Accurate Color Picking
- Zoom in close for a precise sample area
- Avoid sampling from shadows or highlights
- Pick colors from flat, evenly lit areas
- Sample key lighting spots – shadows, midtones, highlights
- Use the dropper on small details and textures
- Turn off Overlay Color for true color
- Sample multiple points and average colors
Automating with Actions
To quickly build a color palette:
- Record a new Action
- Add steps for each sample point
- Move the dropper and sample colors
- Save the finished Action
- Playback anytime to sample colors!
Sampling from Layers
The color dropper can also sample from layers in your document:
- Make sure target layers are visible
- Position dropper over color to pick up
- Tap to sample and set foreground swatch
Picking from the Canvas
Additionally, sample colors directly as you paint:
- Grab color variations from brush blending
- Pick light and dark points from gradients
- Capture smears and textures
- Sample overlapped tones
- Blend colors by sampling mixes
Matching Tricky Colors
For difficult colors:
- Set pure black, white, gray manually
- Sample light colors from clean areas
- Drop neutral tones against white
- Pick brights from vibrant zones
- Average samples from highlights and shadows
- Fine tune picks with HSB sliders