Where Is Opacity in Procreate and How to Use It EffectivelyProcreate is one of the most popular drawing apps for iPad, known for its user-friendly interface and powerful features. One of the essential tools that every digital artist uses is opacity the ability to adjust the transparency of brushes, layers, and colors. If you’re wondering where opacity is in Procreate and how to control it, this guide will walk you through it in a clear and simple way.
Understanding What Opacity Means in Procreate
Opacity controls how see-through something appears on your canvas. At 100%, a brushstroke or layer is fully opaque and cannot be seen through. At lower levels, it becomes more transparent. Adjusting opacity is useful for shading, blending, creating soft textures, and refining your artwork.
There are two main types of opacity adjustments in Procreate
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Brush opacity – controls how transparent your strokes are while painting.
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Layer opacity – controls how transparent the entire layer appears on your canvas.
Where to Find Brush Opacity in Procreate
Adjusting Brush Opacity While Drawing
When using any brush in Procreate, you can change the opacity quickly
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Look at the sliders on the left-hand side of your screen.
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The bottom slider controls opacity, while the top one adjusts brush size.
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Slide up to increase opacity and down to make your brush more transparent.
This adjustment affects your current stroke only, not the layer as a whole. It’s perfect for artists who want to control shading and light effects directly with the brush.
How to Adjust Layer Opacity in Procreate
If you want to make an entire layer more or less transparent, follow these steps
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Tap on the Layers icon (the two squares at the top-right corner).
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Choose the layer you want to adjust.
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Use two fingers to tap the layer and pinch outward this opens the Layer Opacity slider.
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Slide left to reduce opacity, right to increase it.
Alternatively, tap the layer and then select Opacity from the menu to access the slider.
Layer opacity is helpful when you want to lower the visibility of a sketch or blend layers more smoothly.
Why Opacity Matters in Digital Art
Mastering opacity can greatly improve your digital artwork. Here’s how
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Smooth shading – Lighten your strokes for subtle transitions.
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Layer blending – Combine multiple layers for depth and softness.
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Sketching – Reduce opacity on sketch layers to draw cleaner line art over them.
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Atmospheric effects – Add fog, glow, or lighting with semi-transparent layers.
Using opacity allows you to create more dynamic and realistic images without overworking the canvas.
Tips for Using Opacity Effectively
1. Combine Opacity With Layer Modes
Opacity works best when paired with blend modes like Multiply, Overlay, or Screen. These allow colors and textures to interact in interesting ways. Try adjusting both the mode and opacity to achieve unique effects.
2. Use Light Pressure With Apple Pencil
If you’re using an Apple Pencil, Procreate can detect pressure sensitivity. Light pressure can reduce stroke opacity automatically, especially if the brush is set to respond to pressure.
3. Duplicate Layers Before Lowering Opacity
Sometimes lowering opacity can wash out your artwork. Duplicating the layer first gives you a backup in case you want to return to the original later.
4. Use Opacity When Merging Layers
Before merging multiple layers, adjust their opacity if you want to preserve transparency effects. Once merged, individual opacity controls are lost.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Confusing brush size with opacity Remember, the top slider is for size, the bottom for opacity.
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Accidentally setting opacity too low If your brush seems too light, check the opacity slider it may be set lower than you thought.
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Overusing opacity on many layers Too many semi-transparent layers can make your art look foggy or messy. Use it strategically.
Opacity and the Procreate Interface
Procreate updates occasionally shift where features are located, but opacity controls have stayed mostly consistent. Keep your app updated, as newer versions often make features more intuitive. If you can’t find opacity, try restarting the app or checking for available updates in the App Store.
Using Opacity in Blending and Smudging
In addition to painting, opacity also plays a role in blending and smudging
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The Smudge tool can be more effective at low opacity for soft transitions.
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Using a low-opacity brush while blending allows smoother, more gradual transitions between colors.
Experimenting with different levels of opacity while blending can help create a polished, painterly look.
Understanding where opacity is in Procreate and how to control it can take your digital art to the next level. Whether you’re shading a portrait, blending colors, or preparing layers for final touches, opacity gives you more control and flexibility in your creative process.
Remember, opacity isn’t just a technical feature it’s a creative tool. Play with it. Observe how it affects your strokes, colors, and mood of your artwork. With practice, you’ll learn to use it instinctively and with purpose.
Procreate gives you all the tools you need, and opacity is one of the simplest yet most powerful. Start experimenting with it today and watch your art evolve.