Stop Smudging Wrong: How to Blend in Procreate Like a Pro, by Art with Flo on YouTube. 1 min 52 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 52 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Open your canvas in Procreate and lay down two or more colours you want to blend. Keep the areas fairly solid so the smudge tool has paint to pull.
Tap the wrench icon, then the brush library, and pick a soft brush for smudging. A soft airbrush preset works well if you have no blending brush.
Select the smudge tool from the top toolbar, the finger icon next to the brush and eraser.
Open the brush settings for the smudge tool and lower the strength a little. A softer strength gives smoother, more gradual blends.
Drag short strokes along the border between the two colours, pulling the lighter colour into the darker one. Lift your finger between strokes.
Avoid scrubbing back and forth in one spot. That pushes pigment both ways and turns the blend muddy and grey.
For a painterly look, smudge with a textured brush instead of a soft one. The texture carries through the colours and adds grain.
Zoom in to check the transition, then repeat light strokes until the edge is smooth. Undo with two fingers if a blend goes too far.
Tips and common mistakes
The brush you choose for smudging matters more than the stroke, so test a few soft and textured brushes.
Keep smudge strength low and build up slowly; high strength smears paint across the whole area.
Work in short strokes in one direction rather than circular scrubbing to keep colours vibrant.
Use a separate layer for blending if you want to keep the original colours intact.
Questions
Why does my Procreate blend look grey and muddy?
You are probably smudging back and forth with a hard or high-strength brush. Use a soft brush at lower strength and pull in one direction.
Can I blend with a normal drawing brush?
Yes, the smudge tool uses whatever brush is selected. Soft airbrush presets blend smoothly, while textured brushes give a painterly finish.
Does the smudge tool work on all layers?
It only affects the layer you have selected. To blend across layers, merge them first or use a clipping mask.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
