Trace a photo in Procreate with smooth lines (step-by-step tutorial)

Tracing is NOT cheating! 😆 Tracing is a tool you can use to turn photos to line drawings (and Procreate is GREAT for this!) and open up a whole world of creativity to yourself.
In this video, I will show you the complete step-by-step process of turning a photo into a vector-style line drawing in Procreate, and keeping your lines smooth and clean.
🖌️ Get my FREE Procreate brushes: tatyanadeniz.com/brushes
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Tutorial roadmap
01:43 Essential Procreate settings for drawing
07:43 Step 1: Create line art
20:49 Step 2: Refine your line art
24:40 Step 3: Outline in vector style
33:16 Sept 4: Add color
42:03 Next steps
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Website: tatyanadeniz.com
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[@tatyanadeniz]

Get my signature Procreate brushes for FREE: tatyanadeniz.com/brushes

[@pristinabread]

Tatyana. I found you through the sticker summit. You have inspired me to finally pick up my ipad/procreate after having it for close to 5 years. I am having a bad day and you have made me feel so much better because I have learned something new today. Thank you.

[@sister83]

This was so helpful especially for someone who can’t draw but I can definitely trace!

[@tatyanadeniz]

Ooooh, I am so happy to hear that! Yes, that's the idea!!!! What kind of stuff do you like to draw?

[@CreativeCaralyn]

Oh my goodness, this is so helpful! I'm so new to Procreate, so I seriously appreciate this walkthrough of settings and tips and tricks.

[@tatyanadeniz]

Sooo happy that this video helped! Cheers to a whole lotta new art being created. 😊 Thank you for taking the time to let me know in the comment!

[@gabrielaweinfurter9824]

love the pink one better but they are both soooooo cute. Love your style

[@tatyanadeniz]

Yay, thank you soooo much! 🥰 Yeah, the pink version is super cute and unusual. That was my goal! 😊

[@doodleswithpinkee]

All of your videos are filled with quick tips that still blow my mind ... the bookmarking brush size ... you know it still gets me!

[@tatyanadeniz]

LOL, I've gotta make that one into a separate video!!!! Who could imagine it would be such a game changer. 😄 Glad you enjoyed the tips!

[@kimberlymcpherson1833]

You’re a great teacher! You’ve opened up a whole new world for me!❤

[@tatyanadeniz]

Aweee, AMAZING!!! I am so so happy to hear that. 🥰 Are you starting out with Procreate? What kind of things do you like to draw?

[@tineantolin465]

thank you for this wonderful tutorial. easy to get the process 😍 and i love the brushes hope to download them too

[@tatyanadeniz]

Yay!!!! SO HAPPY you enjoyed this technique and got the brushes (we've emailed, right?). And I hope you'll be able to make time for your art!!!! 😊

[@mirahalaby9326]

Beautifully illustrated thnx ...I love the purple color one 😊❤

[@tatyanadeniz]

Yay, so happy you enjoyed it!! The purple is pretty different, isn't it! 😍 Are you drawing in Procreate?

[@ausjuan]

Wow, amazing tips, didn't think it would be this straight forward. Thank you!

[@tatyanadeniz]

Hehe, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, it's not so hard when you follow a good process. 😉

[@hawaa897]

Pink! Love the kawaii style of both. ❤

[@tatyanadeniz]

Aweee, thank you! Yeah, pink is going to "as unusual as it gets" 😄 while leaning into kawaii style. And yellow is more of a classic retro. 😊 Thank you so much for your comment! Are you drawing in Procreate?

[@ChantelleVenter]

This is suuuuper cute and I love the pink one ❤

[@tatyanadeniz]

Hehe, thank you!! I went for pink to make it REALLY different to anything you would normally see or expect from a "retro" style art. Later, I also did a pink & mint version, where the white part on top was frosting melting over the van, covered in sprinkles. That was fun!

[@ChantelleVenter]

​@@tatyanadenizwow that sounds like an amazing version. Can just imagine it in my head. I love pink, mint, purple and blues ❤

[@tatyanadeniz]

@@ChantelleVenter saaaame! 😊

[@yvonnetucker1416]

I love your designs.

[@tatyanadeniz]

Aweee, thank you so much! 😊 That makes my day. ❤️

[@user-gz3ow3vb7w]

you gave me the answer I was looking for. Thank you so much!!

[@tatyanadeniz]

Oh my goodness, so happy to hear this!! Thank you for your comment. 😊 I am curious, what question did this video answer for you?

[@Stick_N_Tea]

Thank you so much!! I love your little shortcuts at the beginning and your insight. Thanks for sharinf this with us!

[@tatyanadeniz]

Ooooh cool! Yeah, the shortcuts are a HUGE time saver and make the creation process more smooth! I need to make an explicit video about it, haha. Thank you so much for your comment! Do you enjoy kawaii art? Or other styles of art? It's all good!

[@daboxmx1520]

wooow!! im really in love with your channel!! thankyouu for sharing!!

[@tatyanadeniz]

I am sooo happy you are enjoying my videos!! Thank you for taking the time to comment. 😊 Are you starting with Procreate?

[@coffeebreak100]

Thank you for sharing your procreate setup. So very useful! ❤❤❤

[@tatyanadeniz]

For sure!!!! Anything I can share to enable more creativity - I am happy! ☺

[@coffeebreak100]

@@tatyanadeniz ❤️

[@yubidubi]

Great class. You are a fantastic teacher.

[@tatyanadeniz]

Thank you so much! I am super happy it's helpful to you. 😊

[@Annie-tt8xv]

Thanks so much! I’ve downloaded your brushes and mini course, excited to learn! ❤️

[@tatyanadeniz]

Ooooh that's great Annie!! I am so glad you are finding these resources helpful. 😊 Thank you for your comment too!

[@RockyBkk]

Thank you very much

[@tatyanadeniz]

Yay!!! So glad you enjoyed it and hope it helped! ❤

[@dawnharrison6918]

I just found your tutorials today and love them! Your instruction is easy to follow. Thank you! One problem-I have tried several times from different devices and can’t get the free brushes to download. When I hit the download button after entering my name and email, nothing happens. I even looked on your website to see if I could find a way to purchase them if they are not free anymore, but don’t see them there. Help!

[@littleoven]

This is such an incredibly helpful video! Thank you so much! I am a pink girl so the pink is def my fave but both are very cute. 🩷

[@tatyanadeniz]

Aweee, what a beautiful comment! Thank you so much ☺ Glad you like them! What was your main insight from the video?

[@sukhasukha1587]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you for sharing your tips! You are a great teacher and explain very well.

[@tatyanadeniz]

Aweee, thank you. 😊 I am super happy the tutorial helped you, and you enjoy my style of teaching. Creating art and sharing my skills are my 2 passions! Do you draw too? And do you use Procreate?

[@HongKong1842]

The van is cute.

[@tatyanadeniz]

Thank youuu! ❤

[@jseneque]

Amazing

[@tatyanadeniz]

Yay, thank you!!! 🥰 And welcome to KDC. 😄

[@kl5608]

Thank you so much for your wonderful tutorial and amazing brushes! One quick question: Layer 13 contains the basic outlines that must float above all the other colors and shapes on different layers at all times, correct?

[@marilynalberts4508]

Both are great I prefer yellow

[@tatyanadeniz]

Me too!!!! I actually like the "retro-esque" yellow version better! 😄 Thank you so much for your comment.

[@joszandstra2044]

Just started watching this video and already you give some hepful tips so thank you for that..

[@tatyanadeniz]

Ooooh! I am so glad you finding helpful tips in this video! Do you draw in Procreate? What art style do you like?

[@joszandstra2044]

@@tatyanadeniz I started drawing in Procreate a while ago, not yet really good but trying.. I try to do landscape and portrait so not the Kawai style things but as I am left handed I do like to watch your videos as there are not many tutorials from left handed people

[@tatyanadeniz]

@@joszandstra2044 hehe, that's interesting! I didn't even think about the left-handed part. 😊 Well, I hope the tips are useful for both: kawaii art and traditional art. 🥰 Thank you for your comment!

[@makkrods]

Super helpful tutorial! I have just one question: why to start with the pencil brush and not straight to the clean vector style one? Thanks :)

[@tatyanadeniz]

Great question. 😁 I do a lot of tweaks in the sketch phase. Once I have the sketch, I might resize it, re-shape it... I can't do that with the final outline in Procreate, because it's pixel-based and will distort it. Also, I often have new ideas pop in, as I am drawing. And having a "pencil" in my hand creates that mental permission to follow these ideas. When I am doing the smooth outline part, to me it's more of a mechanical process. That's where I put on an audio book and just follow the lines. 😄 Not as much of that creative space. But that's a personal workflow. You can TOTALLY go right in with the vector-style line right away, especially if you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve.

[@makkrods]

@@tatyanadeniz makes a lot of sense. Thanks for taking the time to reply in detail, I appreciate it 🙏🏼🙂

[@tatyanadeniz]

@@makkrodsfor sure! Here to serve ❤

[@treasuregr]

What Apple IPad Gen are you working on? I’m looking for one to use Procreate.

[@tatyanadeniz]

Oh, how exciting! My current iPad is from July 2023, but my son uses an iPad that's 4 years old - and it still works perfectly! When it comes to tech, honestly, I would recommend getting the best you can afford at the time (of course, newer iPad means you can have more layers in Procreate). BUT, also know that you do NOT need "latest and greatest" to create awesome art. It's more about how you use it, rather than the tech itself. 😊 Procreate will work on older iPads too. If you can have 2nd generation Apple Pencil, that would be helpful.

[@Gittemuddi]

Hi what type is your pen, it seems not to be an apple pen?

[@tatyanadeniz]

Oh! Yes, it's an Apple Pencil with a cute silicon case on it. ☺ Here is the link: amzn.to/3SctiNo

[@Selinawepabakeryshop]

What iPad are you using?😊

[@tatyanadeniz]

Hello! I am using iPad Pro 12.9 inches 😊

[@lesgaston-johnston3058]

I prefer the yellow van.

[@tatyanadeniz]

You know, I do too - actually. But I decided that AFTER the tutorial, haha. 😅