Hand Lettering with the iPad Pro + Apple Pencil + Procreate App. The basics of getting started with iPad Lettering.
Hand Lettering with the iPad Pro + Apple Pencil
When it comes to hand lettering and calligraphy, I’ve always been partial to doing things the old school way. I never quite fell in love (or even like) with my Wacom Intuos Tablet, mostly because I couldn’t see what I was doing on the actual tablet screen.
And then the iPad Pro + Apple Pencil came out. So I decided to get my very first iPad and the Apple Pencil. I went with the 9.7″ iPad Pro because I wasn’t sure I’d like lettering on it. But I LOVE it. It is so much fun and saves me a ton of time when I’m designing for clients, the blog, or even just social media pics!
I letter using my iPad nearly daily now. And it’s also handy for indulging in my guilty pleasure: Netflix.
Basic iPad Lettering Tools
- iPad Pro (I currently use the 12.9″)
- Apple Pencil
- Procreate App
- Procreate Brushes
Which iPad Pro size is best for Lettering?
I get asked this question all the time! Now that I’ve fallen in love with iPad Lettering, the 9.7″ is a bit smaller than would be ideal. Therefore, if you’re buying an iPad Pro with the intention of using it mainly for lettering, I’d go with the 12.9″ iPad Pro for sure.
Update: I use mine for lettering and illustration so much, I upgraded to the 12.9″ and am so happy I did! I gave my 9.7″ to my hubby who was still using a first gen iPad circa 2010. Win, win. 😍
Bottom line: Go big or go home!
Does the Apple Pencil Work with Other iPads?
No, it only works with the iPad Pro.
Is there anything similar I can use on my non-iPad tablet?
Nothing for lettering digitally compares to the magic that you can create with the trio of the iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and Procreate App.
How do I use PDF Lettering Worksheets in Procreate?
To use PDFs lettering worksheets in Procreate, this is how I do it:
- I download the PDF on my computer and save it to a file-sharing site (like iCloud Drive or Dropbox).
- Then open the PDF on my iPad (using Dropbox) and take a screenshot of the page I want to practice.
- Then in Procreate 4, simply tap the “Photo” option in the top right corner of the screen.
- Choose the photo from wherever you’ve saved it on your iPad.
- Add a new layer to letter on (so you’re not lettering on the same layer as the worksheet) and practice away! 🙂
Lettering on the iPad Pro: Basics Video
The videos for this post were filmed over a year ago so I’m updating them. Videos can now be found within my “iPad Lettering in Procreate 101” Series. You can check out the current tutorials on the main iPad Lettering in Procreate page here.
In the meantime, check out more of my iPad Lettering posts and tutorials below.
7 Classes to Help you Rock Lettering on the iPad Pro
Artsy Fall Lettering Procreate Video Tutorial
DND Lettering Styles: Creative iPad Lettering
Happy iPad lettering!
NEW! The DND Lettering Procreate Brush Bundle is available here:
Click any of the options below to learn more and view all 10 brushes.
Check it out on Creative Market
For more Procreate Tutorials, visit my iPad Lettering 101 Page. I’ll be adding new demos and tutorials regularly!
NEW! The 30 Days of ABCs for Small Brush Pens
The second workbook in the 30 Day series is here! Commit to just one worksheet a day, and you’ll see significant improvements over the month. Printable + iPad version included!
LET’S CONNECT
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Amy Cox says
September 26, 2016 at 9:32 pmAwesome post!!! Thank you so much!!! I love my iPad pro, apple pencil and procreate app! Thanks for all of your help with answering questions so I could get all set up. I am so addicted to using this app. It is my new form of art! Thank you again for sharing!!!
Dawn Nicole says
September 28, 2016 at 12:18 pmThank you so much Amy!! I love seeing all the fun things you’re doing on your iPad! 🙂
Ashley says
October 3, 2016 at 9:31 pmI have a Galaxy Tablet, complete with the pen. Do you know if there is a similar app for android?
Dawn Nicole says
October 3, 2016 at 11:26 pmHi Ashley! I haven’t found anything quite up to par with this but see if you can get Bamboo Paper. It’s a fun one too! The Apple Pencil is a big part of what makes the brush calligraphy on the iPad work as well so I’m not sure how it translates to other pens. Sorry!
Kellie Robinson says
October 8, 2016 at 11:54 amI have been purchasing the pens from Karen at Ipad Lettering but I think she has changed some of the packages. Do you know if the one that you use is called the original brush, or does it have a specific name. I am not sure if I have the right one and would like to use it if I can find it.
ABI says
October 22, 2016 at 3:51 pmI got a Surface Pro 4 hoping that they had something similar, but havent found anything 🙁
I love seeing your work!
Mandy says
October 24, 2016 at 3:05 pmTotal beginner question here…how did you import your practice sheets? Do you have to have a certain file type? I seem to only be able to find pdf files of practice sheets.
Thanks!
Dawn Nicole says
October 25, 2016 at 4:48 amHi Mandy! I use Dropbox and upload my PDF practice pages there on my laptop. Then on my iPad I open dropbox and take a screenshot of the practice sheet. That will save to your images. Open the image(s) of the practice sheets in Procreate and trace away! I usually add a new layer for the tracing. 😉
Kim Thibodeaux says
November 29, 2016 at 8:10 pmI am so glad this showed up in my Pinterest feed! I bought my first iPad, the 12.9 Pro because I was so impressed with the Apple Pencil. It’s amazing!
I clicked on the link to the brush pack add-on, but there are several packs offered. Please give me the name of the one you recommend. I can’t wait to try them out. Now to watch your videos…
Dawn Nicole says
November 30, 2016 at 5:58 amHi Kim! This is the pack I use most: https://crmrkt.com/6bOp9 but I also use this brush a ton as well: https://crmrkt.com/mlvAd
Kim says
November 30, 2016 at 2:21 pmThanks! I’ll give them a try.
Lydia says
December 5, 2016 at 1:28 pmI’m looking to create stamps from my hand lettering work. If I use the iPad pro + pencil + Procreate app, will that be enough. Or do I still need to vectorize my image somehow? If so, is there an iPad app to do that with (without purchasing Illustrator or Photoshop)?
Dawn Nicole says
December 6, 2016 at 4:46 amHi Lydia! You could probably do that right from the app but I typically always move to AI to finalize and create various file types. The app allows you to export your designs as PNG and JNG which should work for creating your own stamps!
Erika says
December 7, 2016 at 7:58 amI’ve been researching hand-lettering and how to get started and came across your site. I love all your information so for and am really excited to start learning and join in on your challenges. I was wondering if you recommend learning with paper and pen before trying on the iPad. I’m intrigued with using my iPad since I already have it (and the Apple Pencil) and it looks a little cheaper to buy Procreate and a pack of brushes than to buy paper and a pack of Tombows. Is there an advantage to starting with pen and paper or could I just jump in on my iPad? Thanks for all your great information.
Dawn Nicole says
December 8, 2016 at 1:13 amHey Erika! You can’t go wrong either way. What matters most is learning to use pressure to control your stroke width for the brush calligraphy and that can be accomplished with either the Apple Pencil or Tombows. 😉 I love using both!
Robyn says
December 20, 2016 at 11:34 pmI can’t begin to express my frustration!!!!!! It literally took me over 30 minutes to sign in, then I’ve downloaded the 8 brushes to my iCloud and I don’t know how to get the zip file to work with Procreate! PLEASE!!!!! Help me figure this out!!!!! I have an iPad Pro just like yours and I’m to the point of requesting my money back. Help me! : )
Dawn Nicole says
December 21, 2016 at 6:31 amHi Robyn! Whenever I’ve purchased brushes, they come with a set of instructions for downloading and opening them in Procreate. Did your set come with instructions? I’d ask the person you bought them from for instructions. I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to send the steps over.
Robyn says
December 21, 2016 at 4:03 pmThey are in a zip file and I don’t know how in the world to open this zip file.
Dawn Nicole says
December 22, 2016 at 2:10 amoh! You just need to unzip the file before you move it to iCloud so you can access the files inside. Zipped (compressed) files take up less storage space and can be transferred to other computers more quickly than uncompressed files. On my Macbook, I just bundle click a zipped folder to unzip it. Here’s how to unzip files on a PC: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14200/windows-compress-uncompress-zip-files
Lara says
December 26, 2016 at 10:56 pmThank you so much for this! I’ve been trying to decide what size and you helped me choose! Do you ever have issues with the protective screen of the Otterbox interfering with the pressure sensitivity of the screen?
Dawn Nicole says
December 27, 2016 at 8:44 amHi Lara! I took the protective screen part out. I’ve read a lot of people prefer it but I felt like it made my pen “catch” as I lettered.
Lara says
December 27, 2016 at 9:53 amDo you have any screen protector on it? I really appreciate your time is replying. When getting ready to make such a huge investment your help is priceless. 💙
Prescilla says
January 9, 2017 at 8:44 pmHi Dawn, I purchased your practice sheets and got the free brushes to try first 😁 Thank you BTW. I noticed that I can’t get the same stoke as how yours does. Do i have to tweak the brush settings and curves?
Dawn Nicole says
January 10, 2017 at 11:02 amHi, Prescilla! The only adjustments I made to my brushes are to up the “streamline” setting. It may just be that I apply pressure differently.
Prescilla says
January 15, 2017 at 12:29 amHi Dawn!
I actually just had to set the pencil pressure to max. 😁 Thanks to 1/2 a px 😁
Michelle w says
March 25, 2017 at 7:07 pmWow, as usual you are amazing, gracious, and full of timely info! I just bought my new iPad Pro with Pencil. I’m so excited, and you just shared what I was wondering how to do. Thanks a bunch! Love the kid noises too. 😉
Nicky H says
April 5, 2017 at 7:13 amThanks for the video tutorials! I’m late to the party but enjoying them none the less. 🙂
Candace says
May 5, 2017 at 12:57 pmI don’t expect you to reply so after the fact, but here goes! If one could only afford one iPad and also used an iPad for things that requires portability, do you think the smaller size would be okay for someone who’s just starting out in design and lettering? Or would the size be a handicap?
Dawn Nicole says
May 6, 2017 at 12:33 pmHi Candace, I started with the smaller one and ultimately regretted it. Eventually, I upgraded to the larger one and those extra inches are SO nice for having more room to letter. I use mine primarily for lettering work, so it was worth the extra cost to get the bigger one so far. It saves me so much time when creating things for the blog and clients! But you really can’t go wrong either way. 🙂 You’ll love it!
Chelsea Crowson says
June 13, 2017 at 4:23 pmHow do you get the brushes in the procreate app?
Dawn Nicole says
June 14, 2017 at 1:18 amClick on the link provided (on your iPad Pro)
Click on one of the brushes
Click on the “Download” button at the top right of your screen
Click “Direct Download”
Click “Open in Procreate”
Alisha says
February 21, 2018 at 6:57 amHey Dawn,
I went through and downloaded your amazing freebies.. my problem is when I go to import them into Procreate over half of them aren’t recognized by procreate and won’t open. ANY ideas? I’m new to Procreate and iPad pro so it’s probably me!
Dawn Nicole says
February 21, 2018 at 11:17 amHi Alisha! Are you trying to use PDFs? Procreate can’t use that format. If that’s the issue, I’ll explain my work around for that. Most of my free lettering sheets are designed for print, not Procreate.
Alisha Lopez says
February 21, 2018 at 1:54 pmHey Dawn,
Yes it recognizes some and not others so that’s what had, has me totally confused!! Any help on that work around would be greatly appreciated!!
Dawn Nicole says
February 22, 2018 at 1:48 amUSING PDF LETTERING WORKSHEETS IN PROCREATE
To use PDFs in Procreate, this is how I do it:
I download the PDF on my computer and save it to a file-sharing site (like iCloud Drive or Dropbox).
Then open the PDF on my iPad (using Dropbox) and take a screenshot of the page I want to practice.
Then in Procreate 4, simply tap the “Photo” option in the top right corner of the screen.
Choose the photo from wherever you’ve saved it on your iPad.
Add a new layer to letter on (so you’re not lettering on the same layer as the worksheet) and practice away! 🙂
Rachel says
January 25, 2019 at 1:14 pmHi Dawn,
I am looking to upgrade from my 9.7 inch iPad Air to the iPad Pro for lettering. Do you think the 10.5 inch screen would be too small a size? Also, what amount of storage do you recommend? I’m trying to decide if I really need 512gb or if I can get away with 256gb.
Thanks!
Dawn Nicole says
January 25, 2019 at 6:08 pmHi Rachel! I looooove the 12.9″. I started on the 9.7″. If mine died tomorrow, I’d go for the 12.9 again for sure! I have a subscription to the cloud and Dropbox so I don’t use much storage on my iPad, so I could totally get away with the 256g. I really only use my iPad for lettering in Procreate and Netflix.
Rachel says
January 26, 2019 at 1:58 pmThank you so much for your advice! I can’t wait to take my lettering to a whole new level! 🥰
Abby Armour says
March 22, 2019 at 4:34 pmHello! I am curious. How would the ipad and the ipad pro compare with each other for lettering? Considering the regular ipad because it fits in my budget.
Dawn Nicole says
March 25, 2019 at 6:45 amHi Abby! Since the newest iPads have Apple Pencil capabilities they’ll work great for lettering. 🙂
Niki says
May 1, 2019 at 7:17 amHi Dawn, I have a question as a left hander. Is there a particular way that I need to hold the pen to get the strokes more accurate or flow easier?
Dawn Nicole says
May 3, 2019 at 9:52 amHi Niki! The key to brush calligraphy is to hold your pen/Apple Pencil at a roughly 45-degree angle. This is true no matter which hand you write with. 🙂