Create Stickers On Procreate: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Aug 21, 2025 by Chloe Fitzgerald 54 views

Make Stickers on Procreate: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hey guys! Ever wanted to create your own awesome stickers right on your iPad? Well, you're in luck! Procreate is an amazing app for digital art, and it's super easy to use for making stickers. In this guide, I'm going to walk you through every step, from the initial sketch to exporting your final sticker. So, grab your Apple Pencil, and let's get started!

Why Procreate is Perfect for Sticker Making

Procreate is a powerhouse when it comes to digital illustration, and it shines when creating stickers. It is perfect because of its intuitive interface, a vast array of brushes, and powerful features like layering and masking, making it a go-to for both beginners and professional artists. The app's flexibility allows you to bring any sticker idea to life, whether it’s a cute character, a fun quote, or a detailed illustration. One of the best things about using Procreate is the control you have over every aspect of your design. You can easily adjust brush sizes, colors, and textures, and the app's responsive performance ensures a smooth drawing experience. The ability to work in layers is crucial for sticker design, as it allows you to separate different elements and make adjustments without affecting the rest of your artwork. Plus, Procreate's masking tools are a game-changer for creating clean outlines and intricate details. The app also supports high-resolution canvases, ensuring your stickers look crisp and clear, whether they're printed or used digitally. And let’s not forget about the convenience of creating on the go – all you need is your iPad and Apple Pencil, and you can design stickers anywhere, anytime. Procreate’s robust export options make it easy to save your stickers in various formats, such as PNG, which is ideal for stickers as it supports transparency. The vibrant Procreate community is also a huge bonus, offering tutorials, tips, and inspiration to help you improve your sticker-making skills. All of these factors combine to make Procreate an excellent choice for anyone looking to dive into the world of sticker design.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Canvas

First things first, let's get your canvas ready! Setting up your canvas is super important because it determines the quality and size of your final sticker. Open Procreate and tap the “+” icon in the top right corner to create a new canvas. Now, here’s where the magic happens. You'll want to choose a custom size that's large enough to give you plenty of detail but not so large that it slows down your iPad. A good starting point is 2000 x 2000 pixels with a DPI (dots per inch) of 300. This ensures your sticker will look crisp and clear, even when printed or scaled up for digital use. Why 300 DPI? It's the standard for print quality, meaning your stickers will look super professional if you decide to print them out. Lower DPIs can result in blurry or pixelated images, which we definitely want to avoid. Once you've entered your dimensions and DPI, you can also choose a color profile. sRGB is a safe bet for most digital uses, but if you're planning on printing, you might want to consider CMYK, which is the standard for print. However, for this guide, we'll stick with sRGB to keep things simple. Before you hit “Create,” give your canvas a name – something like “Sticker Canvas” or the name of your sticker design. This will help you stay organized, especially if you start creating a lot of stickers. Now that your canvas is set up, you're ready to dive into the fun part: sketching your design! Remember, a well-prepared canvas is the foundation for a great sticker, so don’t skip this step. Getting the size and resolution right from the start will save you headaches down the road, ensuring your stickers look fantastic no matter where they're used.

Step 2: Sketching Your Sticker Design

Alright, let's get those creative juices flowing! Sketching your sticker design is where your idea starts to take shape. Don't worry about perfection at this stage; it's all about getting your concept down on the digital paper. Grab your Apple Pencil and select a brush – I usually go for a simple pencil or sketching brush for this part. Procreate has tons of brushes, so feel free to experiment and find one that feels right for you. Start by roughly outlining the main shapes and elements of your sticker. Think about the overall composition and how the different parts will fit together. Are you going for a cute animal, a funny phrase, or a cool illustration? Let your imagination run wild! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – that’s what the Undo button is for! The beauty of digital art is that you can easily erase and redo as many times as you need. I often start with very light, loose lines and gradually build up the details as I go. This helps me refine the design without committing to anything too early. Consider the shape of your sticker too. Will it be a circle, a square, or a more organic shape? The shape can add to the overall aesthetic and make your sticker stand out. Once you have a basic sketch, you can start adding more details. Think about things like facial expressions, textures, and any additional elements that will make your sticker unique. This is also a good time to start thinking about your color palette. Will you use bright, bold colors, or something more muted and subtle? If you're not sure, you can always experiment with different color combinations later. Remember, the sketching phase is all about exploration and discovery. Have fun with it, and don't put too much pressure on yourself to create a masterpiece right away. The goal is to create a solid foundation for the rest of the design process. So, grab your pencil and start sketching – your awesome sticker is just waiting to be brought to life!

Step 3: Outlining Your Sticker

Now that you have a sketch you're happy with, it's time to create some clean lines! Outlining your sticker is crucial because it defines the shape and gives it a polished look. This step will make your sticker design pop and ensure it looks crisp when printed or used digitally. In Procreate, create a new layer above your sketch layer. This is super important because it keeps your sketch separate from your final lines, making it easier to make changes later. Lower the opacity of your sketch layer so it's still visible but doesn't distract from your outlining. Now, select a brush for outlining. A hard brush with a smooth texture, like the Technical Pen or a monoline brush, works great for creating clean, consistent lines. Choose a size that feels comfortable for you – you can always adjust it as you go. Start tracing over your sketch lines, focusing on creating smooth, confident strokes. Try to keep your lines consistent in thickness, as this will give your sticker a more professional appearance. If you make a mistake, don't worry! Just use the Undo gesture (two fingers tap on the screen) or the Eraser tool to fix it. Take your time and focus on capturing the essence of your sketch. Think about the overall shape and how the lines flow together. You can also add some variation in line weight to create visual interest. For example, you might make the outlines of certain elements thicker to make them stand out more. As you outline, you might notice areas where you want to make slight adjustments to your design. This is perfectly normal! Don't be afraid to deviate from your sketch if you have a better idea. The outlining stage is a great opportunity to refine your design and make it even better. Once you've finished outlining, turn off the visibility of your sketch layer. Now you should have a clean, crisp outline of your sticker design. This is a major milestone! Your sticker is really starting to take shape. In the next step, we'll add color and bring your design to life.

Step 4: Adding Color to Your Sticker

Time to bring your sticker to life with some color! Adding color to your sticker is one of the most fun parts of the process, and it can really make your design stand out. Procreate offers a ton of ways to add color, so let's dive in. First, make sure your outline layer is selected. Create a new layer below your outline layer. This ensures that your colors stay within the lines and don't overlap your outlines. Now, let's talk about color palettes. Think about the mood and style you want your sticker to convey. Are you going for bright and cheerful, or something more muted and sophisticated? Procreate has a built-in color palette feature, or you can create your own custom palettes. You can even import color palettes from other apps or websites. Once you've chosen your colors, you can start filling in the different sections of your sticker. There are a few different techniques you can use. One popular method is the “ColorDrop” feature. Simply drag a color from the color wheel onto the area you want to fill, and Procreate will automatically fill it in. This is super fast and easy, but it works best for areas that are completely enclosed by your outlines. If you have any gaps in your outlines, the color will spill out, so you'll need to fix those first. Another option is to use a brush to paint in the colors manually. This gives you more control over the application, and it's great for adding texture and shading. You can use different brushes to create different effects. For example, a soft airbrush can create smooth gradients, while a textured brush can add a more painterly look. Experiment with different brushes and techniques to find what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to play around with different color combinations and see what you like. You can always use the Undo gesture to go back if you don't like something. Consider adding some shading and highlights to give your sticker more depth and dimension. This can make your sticker look more professional and eye-catching. Remember, color is a powerful tool, so use it to your advantage! Choose colors that complement each other and that fit the overall aesthetic of your sticker. Once you're happy with the colors, you're ready to move on to the final touches.

Step 5: Adding Details and Final Touches

Almost there! Now it's time for the details that will really make your sticker shine. Adding details and final touches is what elevates a good sticker to a great one. This is where you can add textures, highlights, shadows, and any other little elements that will make your sticker pop. Start by looking at your sticker as a whole. Are there any areas that feel flat or need more visual interest? This is where you can add some subtle textures or patterns. Procreate has a ton of amazing brushes that are perfect for adding texture, like stipple brushes, noise brushes, and even brushes that mimic different materials like fabric or paper. Experiment with different brushes and see what kind of effects you can create. Highlights and shadows can add a sense of depth and dimension to your sticker, making it look more realistic and eye-catching. Think about where the light source is coming from and add highlights to the areas that would be most illuminated and shadows to the areas that would be in shade. You can use a soft airbrush to create subtle gradients or a sharper brush for more defined highlights and shadows. Consider adding some small details that will make your sticker unique. This could be anything from tiny sparkles or dots to intricate patterns or textures. These little details can really make your sticker stand out and show off your personal style. If you're creating a sticker with text, make sure the text is clear and easy to read. Choose a font that fits the overall aesthetic of your sticker and make sure the size and spacing are appropriate. You might also want to add a stroke or shadow to the text to make it stand out from the background. Take a step back and look at your sticker from a distance. This will give you a better sense of the overall composition and help you identify any areas that need tweaking. Don't be afraid to make small adjustments and refinements until you're completely happy with the result. Remember, the final touches are what make your sticker truly special, so take your time and enjoy the process. Once you're satisfied with all the details, you're ready to export your sticker and share it with the world!

Step 6: Exporting Your Sticker

Congratulations, you've designed an awesome sticker! Now, let's get it ready to share. Exporting your sticker properly is super important to maintain its quality and transparency. In Procreate, the best format for stickers is usually PNG because it supports transparency, which is essential for stickers. So, here’s how to do it: First, make sure you’ve turned off the background layer. You want your sticker to have a transparent background so it can be placed on anything without a white box around it. To do this, go to the Layers panel and uncheck the box next to the Background Color layer. You should now see a checkered pattern in the background, indicating transparency. Next, tap the “Actions” icon (it looks like a wrench) in the top left corner of the screen. In the Actions menu, tap “Share.” This will open up a variety of export options. Choose “PNG” from the list of formats. PNG is the go-to format for stickers because it preserves transparency and image quality. Once you've selected PNG, Procreate will prepare your sticker for export. You'll then see a share sheet with various options for saving or sharing your sticker. You can save it to your iPad’s Photos app, your Files app, or directly to cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive. If you plan to use your sticker digitally, saving it to your Photos app or Files app is a great option. You can then easily import it into other apps or share it online. If you want to print your sticker, you might want to save it to your Files app so you can access it later and send it to a printing service. You can also AirDrop your sticker directly to your computer if you prefer. Before you finalize the export, double-check that the dimensions and resolution are correct. You want to make sure your sticker is large enough to look good when it’s used, but not so large that it becomes unwieldy. If you followed the canvas setup instructions in Step 1, you should be good to go. And that’s it! Your sticker is now exported and ready to use. You can add it to your digital planners, use it in messages, print it out, or even sell it online. The possibilities are endless! Exporting your sticker correctly ensures that it looks its best, so don’t skip this crucial step. With your sticker saved as a PNG with a transparent background, you’re all set to share your awesome creation with the world.

Ideas for Using Your Stickers

Now that you've created your amazing stickers, what can you do with them? The possibilities are endless! Ideas for using your stickers are only limited by your imagination. Here are a few fun and creative ways to put your stickers to use:

Digital Planning: Digital planners are super popular, and stickers are a fantastic way to personalize them. You can use your stickers to mark important dates, add visual flair to your daily schedule, or simply make your planner more fun and engaging. Import your PNG stickers into your favorite digital planning app, like GoodNotes or Notability, and start decorating!
Messaging: Stickers are a fun way to add personality to your messages. Whether you're using iMessage, WhatsApp, or Telegram, you can easily import your stickers and send them to your friends and family. Create stickers that express your emotions, celebrate special occasions, or just make people smile.
Social Media: Use your stickers to spice up your social media posts. Add them to your Instagram stories, Facebook posts, or Twitter updates. Stickers can help you grab attention, express your creativity, and make your content more engaging. You can even create custom stickers for your brand or business to promote your products or services.
Printable Stickers: If you want physical stickers, you can easily print them out at home or through a professional printing service. Print your stickers on sticker paper and cut them out to decorate your notebooks, laptops, water bottles, or anything else you can think of. You can also sell your printed stickers online or at craft fairs.
Gifts: Handmade stickers make a thoughtful and unique gift for friends and family. Create stickers that reflect their interests and personalities, and package them in a cute little envelope or box. Personalized stickers are a great way to show someone you care.
Digital Art Projects: Incorporate your stickers into your digital art projects. Use them to add details to your illustrations, create collages, or design greeting cards. Stickers can be a versatile element in your digital art toolkit.
Scrapbooking: Whether you're into traditional paper scrapbooking or digital scrapbooking, stickers are a must-have. Use your custom stickers to document your memories, add embellishments to your layouts, and make your scrapbook pages more visually appealing.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. The more you experiment with your stickers, the more creative ways you'll find to use them. So, go ahead and unleash your creativity – your stickers are waiting to be shared with the world!

Conclusion

Creating stickers on Procreate is a super fun and rewarding process. From sketching your initial ideas to exporting the final product, each step is an opportunity to express your creativity and create something unique. I hope this guide has given you the confidence to dive in and start making your own stickers. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and let your imagination run wild. Procreate’s intuitive interface and powerful features make it the perfect tool for both beginners and experienced artists. Whether you’re creating stickers for digital planning, messaging, social media, or physical prints, the possibilities are endless. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles, colors, and techniques. The more you practice, the better you’ll become, and the more unique your stickers will be. Think about the different ways you can use your stickers to personalize your digital life, add flair to your messages, or even create unique gifts for friends and family. And if you’re feeling ambitious, you can even explore selling your stickers online or at craft fairs. The world of stickers is vast and vibrant, and Procreate makes it easy to be a part of it. So, grab your iPad, fire up Procreate, and start creating your own awesome stickers today. Who knows, you might just discover your new favorite hobby! Happy stickering, guys!