Draw the Scene
Pre-drawing your intended scene will help you visualize how the layers will take effect.
For this tutorial, were going to create a fish tank.
The top layer will denote the shape of the tank, giving us a great frame to build upon.
you’ve got the option to follow along or draw your own scene following the same technique.
The point of doing this digitally is that youre not restricted by paper.
Once youve got a sketch of your scene, you could begin to add your paper layers.
For example, a forest scene may use the edge of trees as part of the frame.
For this tutorial, the frame will be shaped like a fish tank.
Since fish tanks are made of glass, and are clear, this makes a great frame reference.
You could also draw a window or simply empty space as youre looking into a landscape.
Go toLayers>+to add a new layer and then tap theColor Pickerto choose a color.
Then go toBrushes>Calligraphy>Monolineor use any other simple Procreate brush.
Draw the outline of your frame.
Ensure that it is a closed loop with no gaps.
attempt to keep the lines as steady and clean as possible.
This will straighten any straight lines and make perfect curves of any curved lines.
This works for drawing circles, too.
The empty space in the middle will become your layered artwork.
We also have sometips to fix your Apple Pencil if it glitches in Procreate.
Add Paper Layers
Go toLayers>+to add a new layer.
Then tap and hold the new layer to drag it underneath the frame layer.
Youre going to draw whichever layer is closest to the viewer in the scene.
In the fish tank scene, this is going to be the stones along the bottom of the tank.
Tap theColor Pickerto choose your color.
Then continuing with theMonolinebrush, draw an outline around the closest object in your drawing.
see to it that you wrap up the loop by continuing your line underneath the frame and back around.
you could temporarily uncheck the frame layer in theLayerssection to see your next drawing properly.
Drag your color from the color swatch to the inside of the outline.
If you have any gaps, use the brush to color them in and make a solid piece.
Continue this with all your layers.
If you hid any layers while coloring or drawing, recheck the checkboxes, so theyre all visible.
Once youve finished, you shouldnt be able to see your sketch layer anymore.
Swipe the sketch layer to the left with one finger and tapDeleteor uncheck it onLayers.
Create Shadows
Think about traditional paper-layered artwork; sometimes theyre placed in boxes, which creates shadows.
Those shadows highlight the layers between each sheet of paper.
Lets replicate that in your digital drawing.
First, tap theColor Pickerand set the color to black.
It will default to the absolute blackor whiteto save you trying, and failing, to find it yourself.
Tap the top layer in theLayerspanelyour frame layer.
Swipe the layer to the left with one finger and tapDuplicate.
Tap the bottom of those two layers.
Using two fingers, swipe the layer to the right to applyAlpha Lock.
The thumbnail will show a transparent background.
Tap the layer and chooseFill Layer.
This fills the Alpha-Locked layer with the current color swatch.
To add the shadow effect, were going to add a Gaussian Blur to this new black layer.
Go toAdjustments>Gaussian Blur.
Hold the screen with your finger or Apple Pencil and slowly drag to the right.
Youll see the Gaussian Blur progress line with a percentage at the top of the window.
Keep dragging until youre happy with the amount; we recommend7%.
Repeat this process with all layers in your illustration.
If you want to take it a step further, you could easily animate your papercut artwork.
Read our guide onhow to animate in Procreate.
Choose the layer you wish to work on and addAlpha Lock.
Use theEyedropperto go for the layers color.
Then go to theColor Pickerand choose a hue slighty darker.
Turn theOpacitydown a little and use a small size brush.
With the darker color, draw your textured brush along the edges of where the shadow hits your layer.
For example, on the stones layer, draw a dark texture around the bottom rim of the frame.
Then go back to theColor Pickerand choose a lighter shade of the original color.
Once you’re happy with your work, don’t forget toadd your artist signature to your Procreate masterpiece.
This eco-friendly art style captures the traditional essence of paper crafts.
Its a simple process, but it produces some impressive results.
