The best drawing program for digital artists
If youâre an artist trying to digitize your workflow, youâre probably looking at all the different tools available to you and are now asking yourselfâŠ
“Where do I start?”
Well, we’re about to compare two of the most popular tools of the trade:
Photoshop vs. Procreate.
On one side, we have Adobe Photoshop: the industry standard for artists, photographers, and designers worldwide. It’s packed with features, web design options, and powerful tools for advanced editing.
On the other side, we have Procreate: causing quite a stir among digital artists. Exclusively designed for the iPad, it’s got hobbyists sketching in coffee shops and professionals creating masterpieces on their commutes.
The purpose of this comparison?
Helping talented digital artists like you decide which tool best suits your artistic ambitions and workflows.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Features
- Ease of Use
- Tools and Hardware
- File Formats
- iPad Experience
Procreate â The Digital Art Rockstar
Procreateâs digital illustration app is as cool as its name suggests. Designed exclusively for iPad, this powerful sketchpad has been shaking up the digital art world.
Imagine having an art studio in your backpack, minus the smell of turpentine.
Procreate is a multi-award-winning painting app designed to free artists from the confines of desktop computers. The creators of Procreate have packed in an impressive number of custom brushes, brush settings, tools, and features. All while maintaining an intuitive interface that even a tech-shy grandparent could navigate.
Where can you use Procreate?
The Procreate app has a one-track mind â itâs all about the iPad. Procreate and iPad are like peanut butter and jelly â meant to be together.
Procreate’s features
Procreate is brimming with features that are nothing short of magical:
- Over 130 customizable Procreate brushes
- An advanced layering system (step back Creative Cloud adjustment layers!)
- Unique color palettes and gradients
- 4K resolution capabilities
The pros and Procreate
While hobbyists love Procreate, it’s also a popular choice among professionals for initial concept drawing and sketching.
Procreate’s quick and responsive interface, combined with the tactile experience of drawing directly on a screen, has converted many professional artists.
Why lug around a sketchbook when you have an iPad and Procreate, right?
Adobe Photoshop â The Digital Art Colossus
On the digital design darling, Adobe Photoshop is the undisputed champ of the editing world. Adobe Photoshop is like the Swiss Army Knife of image editing – it’s got a tool for everything.
Created by Adobe Systems Inc., itâs primarily used for editing and graphic design. But calling Adobe Photoshop a simple editing tool is like calling the Grand Canyon a nice hole in the ground.
From professional graphic artists to enthusiastic meme-makers, Adobe Photoshop is a game-changer. It’s robust, versatile, and allows you to do things to images that defy the laws of physics!
Where can you use Photoshop?
Unlike the iPad-exclusive Procreate, Photoshop plays well with others. You can run Adobe Photoshop on Windows and Mac operating systems. There’s also the option of using the Photoshop iPad app if you want to play around with the Apple Pen.
Photoshopâs features
If you’re a fan of choice, you’ll love Adobe Photoshop. It’s packed to the rafters with features and tools designed to help artists create, edit, and enhance their digital works.
Here are a few of the goodies that Photoshop’s toolbox holds:
- Extensive selection of Photoshop brushes and patterns
- Advanced layering and masking capabilities
- 3D design functionality
- Filters, effects, and adjustment options
The power of Photoshop’s toolkit
What makes Adobe Photoshop stand out is the sheer power of its toolkit. It’s like having a digital magic wand that can transform your images into whatever your heart desires.
Want to make your pet cat look like it’s surfing in Hawaii? No problem! Need to design a poster for your band’s next gig? Photoshopâs got you covered.
Best thing? It comes as an iPad app too.
Cheeky side note: You can use the full desktop version on your iPad with Astropad Studio.
Procreate vs. Photoshop: A Detailed Dissection
Procreate shines in on-the-go illustration, while Photoshop flaunts photo editing and graphic design skills.
Learning curves, operating system compatibility, features, and tools kit. Letâs get on to the in-detail comparison of the two heavyweights of digital creativity.
Learning curve
Procreate is like that childhood friend holding your bike steady until you find balance. It’s intuitive and inviting, letting beginners feel at ease without restricting the creativity of pros. Most people find iPads intuitive, so if youâre familiar with the OS, youâll find that Procreate works hand in glove.
So, is Procreate easier than Photoshop? In terms of getting started, yes!
Photoshop is that coach who pushes you to pedal harder and faster. It demands effort and rewards you! The learning curve here resembles a hilly bike trail, but mastering Photoshop will be worth it.
Adobe Sensei AI is like a trusty GPS on this trail, guiding you past mundane tasks while helping you focus on creating marvels.
Tools
Photoshopâs extensive arsenal of tools allows you to go beyond photo editing, such as brush settings. Multiple options for 3D modeling and comprehensive text tools make this digital drawing app feature-rich. Using Vector graphics is one of the most lucrative Photoshop features for newbie graphic designers.
Procreate is like a carefully curated artist’s kit. Itâs all essentials, with customizable Photoshop brushes and an extensive color palette.
Photoshop and the Adobe Creative Cloud are like a VIP pass to the Adobe Creative Club. With access to Adobe Creative Cloud, you can integrate your work with other Adobe software on the Creative Cloud. That can make your creative process a seamless symphony of interconnecting programs.
Features
Both apps have pros and cons for file management, organization, and cloud storage.
Procreate is like that friend who keeps a tidy room – everything in its place, easy to find, and pleasing to the eye. The layering system is simple and user-friendly, making the workflow smooth.
On the other hand, Photoshop is like a friend with a system for their chaos. The capabilities here are more extensive, allowing for advanced layer styles and blending modes. Plus, file sharing and collaboration are a breeze with Adobe Creative Cloud storage.
File formats
Photoshop is a multilingual genius, understanding virtually every file format you can use. It’s got you covered from JPEGs and PNGs to TIFFs and PSDs.
While fluent in many file formats, Procreate doesn’t match up to Photoshop’s linguistic prowess. It gets by comfortably, but you may need to ask for directions occasionally.
The iPad experience
While Photoshopâs iPad app made a gallant effort to replicate the desktop experience, it’s like getting decaf when you order a full-bodied espresso.
It’s still Photoshop, but not quite.
Procreateâs raster graphics editing software offers a native and seamless experience on its iPad version. The Procreate app is a great tool for professional creatives of all skill levels interested in digital painting on the go. Procreate’s features leverage Apple products’ support, specifically the Apple Pencil, to the fullest.
Astropad Studio â A side note
For iPad artists yearning for the full Photoshop experience, Astropad Studio is your magic portal. It mirrors your Mac or PC on your iPad, letting you wield the full power of Photoshop with your Apple Pencil. It’s like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, except the rabbit is your desktop, and the hat is your iPad.
frequently asked questions about Procreate and Photoshop
You asked, and we’re here to answer! Let’s turn the heat up and tackle some of the most frequently asked questions about Procreate vs. Photoshop.
1. What is the disadvantage of Procreate?
Procreate, as awesome as it is, isn’t perfect (shocker, I know!).
Its main disadvantage is that it’s only available on iPads. So if you’re an Android user or a desktop enthusiast, the Creative Cloud is your best bet.
Also, while it’s powerful for sketching and drawing, it falls short in professional photo editing features compared to Photoshop.
Finally, it has a limit on layers and canvas size. So if youâre working on a more complex illustration, youâll eventually run out of layers in Procreate and have to start merging layers down.
2. Can Procreate do everything Photoshop can?
Can Procreate do the same as Photoshop? This question is like asking if a bicycle can do everything a car can. Procreate is a master of drawing and sketching, while Photoshop is a versatile juggernaut of photo editing, digital illustration, and so much more. So no, Procreate can’t do everything Photoshop can, but it isn’t really trying to!
3. Is Procreate more like Photoshop or Illustrator?
Itâs a cross between the two. We wish we could say it has the best of them both, but that wonât be true. It’s got the raster graphics prowess of Photoshop and the natural, free-flowing drawing feel of Illustrator. So, it’s a bit of both, a hybrid.
4. Do you need Photoshop with Procreate?
Depends on what you’re creating. If you’re into basic drawing and sketching, Procreate might be enough.
But if you’re a professional artist needing advanced editing, photo manipulation, vector graphics, or extensive text tools, Photoshop and the Adobe family are best.
In fact, many artists use both Procreate and Photoshop in their workflows. They’ll do initial concept work in Procreate, then transition to Photoshop to finalize their work.
Learn more: Check out our guide on transferring your art from Procreate to Photoshop.
5. Is Procreate a substitute for Photoshop?
A tricky one. Procreate is a brilliant app for specific purposes like drawing, sketching, and digital painting. If that’s your jam, Procreate could be a substitute.
But if you require in-depth photo editing, typography, 3D modeling, or advanced graphic design, Photoshop would be the better choice. It’s like substituting a veggie burger for a beef one â it depends on your taste and requirements.
In other words, if you’re a professional digital artist, youâll eventually need to convert your files to Photoshop to export the right file types.
6. Can Procreate be used as Photoshop?
If you’re asking if Procreate can pull off a “Parent Trap” kind of swap with Photoshop, then no, it can’t. Comparing Photoshop and Procreate is like comparing apples and bananas. Each app has unique features and purposes. Using Procreate as Photoshop would be like using a canoe as a speedboat.
Can it float? Yes. Can it race? Not so much.
7. What is the Adobe equivalent of Procreate?
The closest Adobe equivalent to Procreate would be Adobe Fresco. Fresco is a drawing and digital illustration app designed for tablets that blends raster and vector art, much like Procreate. It’s like finding a twin you didn’t know existed.
8. Why do people like Procreate so much?
Procreate offers an intuitive platform for art creation. It provides a wide range of tools and features that cater to the needs of both beginners and experienced artists, from its extensive selection of brushes to its user-friendly interface.
Another factor contributing to Procreate’s popularity is its affordability. Unlike subscription-based software, Procreate requires only a one-time purchase, making it a cost-effective choice for artists on a budget.
Any digital artist would agree: While there are many versatile design programs out there, Procreate offers all the tools you need for digital drawing. That, too, in a pretty compact, user-friendly package that doesn’t restrict creativity.
9. Does Procreate do photo editing?
Short answer? Yes.
Procreate is primarily an illustration app, although it offers a range of tools and features for editing photos. That includes removing objects, converting to black and white, cropping, and applying effects like Gaussian Blur.
One of the main differentiators in the Procreate vs. Photoshop debate is editing tools.
Adobe Photoshop provides a more versatile set of tools that allow creative professionals to enhance their photos and achieve desired effects.
10. Can you draw in Photoshop on iPad?
Adobe Photoshop provides a dedicated app designed for the iPad, allowing users to draw and paint using Photoshop brushes.
The iPad version of Photoshop offers features similar to its desktop counterpart, including the ability to customize brush properties and adjust the pressure sensitivity of the Apple Pen.
However, many artists still prefer the desktop version.
Thatâs why Astropad Studio comes in handy since it gives you all the functionality of your desktop on your iPad.
So how does Photoshop measure up against the IPad star Procreate? If you plan to exclusively use the iPad and Apple Pencil for your digital painting, go with Procreate.
11. Is Procreate owned by Adobe?
Procreate is an independent digital studio and is not owned by Adobe. Itâs a highly acclaimed app in its own right, offering powerful tools and a complete creative experience for artists on the iPad.
The entire Adobe Creative Cloud also offers a wide range of creative industry standard tools for digital artists. That includes Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Fresco. Procreate is not, however, owned by Adobe Creative Cloud.
Adobe Fresco offers the largest collection of raster and vector brushes.
And the Verdict is…
So after scrutinizing the canvas of Procreate and Photoshop in detail, itâs time to call it. Let’s dust off the paint and see what we have.
With its simplicity and intuitiveness, Procreate is an ideal playground for those who love to sketch, draw, and create digital illustrations on their iPads. It’s easy, fun, and creative.
Photoshop is an advanced and versatile powerhouse. Itâs a dream come true for professional artists requiring complexity, like that trusted old friend who has a solution to every creative problem you face.
Wondering if thereâs a way to combine the ease of Procreate with the power of Adobe Photoshop?
That’s where Astropad Studio steps in. Letting you run the full desktop version of Photoshop right on your iPad. It’s like having your cake and eating it too. Delicious!
Unleash the full power of Adobe Photoshop right on your iPad and watch your art come to life. You can try Astropad Studio for a full 14 days, completely free. It’s like a joyride in a convertible without any speed bumps!
So, there you have it, folks! Procreate vs. Photoshop â each has its strengths, and each has its uses. The choice ultimately depends on your needs and preferences. As always, keep creating, experimenting, and, most importantly, having fun!
