For any artist, misaligned strokes and disorganised outlines are a nightmare. Many pieces of art would lose their clean and encapsulated aesthetic appeal if they lacked bold, smudge-free lines. In any case, the recently released Procreate 5.2 version includes a much-needed function to assist you with this issue. Stroke stabilisation is one of Procreate 5.2’s key features. It has been one of the most requested improvements by artists as a significant improvement over the current streamline tool in Procreate. Let’s learn how to use stroke stabilisation in Procreate on the iPad now rather than wasting any more time because there is a lot we can discuss with the stabilisation option.
Stroke Stabilization in Procreate: Explained (2021)
This function is intended to aid artists in producing more tapered and supple strokes. When stroke stabilisation is turned on while drawing outlines or forms, you don’t have to worry about every bend and turn all the time. You can draw more quickly and without as many unintentional changes with the aid of Procreate. The end effect will be even and fluid, working with every iPad model that is supported, including the M1 iPad Pro and even the new iPad mini 6. Use the table below to jump to the features you are interested in reading about because the stabilisation option has a lot of options.
How to Turn On Stroke Stabilization Per Brush in Procreate
Procreate offers both global and brush-specific parameters for stroke stabilisation. We’ll start by concentrating on the functionality that can be applied to specific brushes and is dependent on brushes. It is used more frequently than global stabilisation and has more extensive possibilities. So, launch the Procreate app, and let’s begin.
Open any of your already created artworks or start a new one first. To build a new canvas that best meets your needs, hit the Plus button in the top right corner of the screen and select a size. Procreate also offers the option to import and paint 3D models. We cannot change brush settings in the app while the canvas is open.
2. After the artwork has opened, click the paintbrush symbol in the top right corner of the display. It will display a list of the available brushes in Procreate and access the brush library.
3. You can scroll through all of the brushes that are installed in your app here. Tap on the brush’s name or pattern once you’ve located the one whose parameters you wish to change. The brush settings page will then be displayed. For this tutorial, we will modify the monoline brush’s parameters under the calligraphy category.
4. Tapping the brush will take you to the settings page for the Brush Studio. For each brush that is available in the app, there are several parameters available here. To use Procreate’s stroke stabilisation function, navigate to the stabilisation area from the left sidebar.
Now, the Brush Studio’s stabilisation area offers a number of distinct alternatives. We will discuss each of them while discussing the variations they will add to your strokes.
Stroke Stabilization Features in Procreate
Three options are available in the new Stabilization section of Procreate Brush Studio: StreamLine, Stabilization, and Motion filtering. While they may all have a similar sound, they each have different ways of enhancing your strokes. Without further ado, let’s examine each of the choices to gain a better understanding of them.
StreamLine
The StreamLine parameter may already be well-known to many Procreate users since it was present in the software even before the 5.2 update. With this widely used brush setting, not much has changed. Any minor unintentional movements that you might make when making a stroke are eliminated by StreamLine.
The ink from your brush glides freely during a regular stroke and is influenced by even the smallest movement of your fingers. When StreamLine is activated, however, the ink follows a more rigid course and does not allow your stroke to be altered until there is a significant movement of the brush. Let’s examine what happens to a straightforward circular figure as the amount of StreamLine is increased from 0% to 100%.
You’ll see that the circle created using 100% StreamLine is smoother and less shaky than a typical circle. With the same modest effort, it even comes near to having the shape of a circle. This function enables calligraphy, shape-making, and even outlining. There are two internal settings in StreamLine:
- Amount: It defines the stickiness and evenness of your stroke. You can use the slider to turn up the StreamLine value for smoother strokes. However, turning it off will get you back to your natural strokes.
- Pressure: If the pressure in StreamLine is turned off, the stroke smoothening is going to start as soon as you make a stroke. But if you increase the pressure using the slider, the smoothening effect will only kick in when you apply some pressure while drawing a stroke.
Stabilization
This feature might be thought of as a more forceful variation of StreamLine. Technically, stabilisation just draws the predictive average of the movements you were trying to make and takes an average of the motions you make with a stroke. In plainer terms, it automatically makes your shape much straighter and smoother rather than mimicking your natural pencil movements.
Therefore, when Procreate’s stroke stabilisation feature is turned on, the result is a simpler shape than the movement or original stroke you created. See what happens to a normal circular as I increase the stabilising parameter from 0% to 100% to get a better understanding of it.
As you can see, if you use the slider to raise the stabilisation far enough, the shape may end up being completely altered. The pace at which you make a stroke is another factor at play in this situation. Your strokes become more even and straight as you increase your speed. Therefore, if you wish to employ stabilisation, we advise either drawing slowly or keeping the amount lower. Filling in the fine details that your artwork could need is a terrific feature.
Motion Filtering
Wait till you see motion filtering in action if you think stroke stabilisation takes turning your hand-drawn circle into a straight line too seriously.
This tool, as its name implies, eliminates any unsteady movements that Procreate’s algorithms may have picked up. Yes, unlike the other two options, there is no averaging out or concentrating on the unintentional motions. Motion filtering is unaffected by the speed of your strokes, unlike stabilisation. Therefore, motion filtering will provide you smooth and straight strokes regardless of your pressure or speed. Let’s examine the feature in action and how it impacts a straightforward circular shape.
As you can see, motion filtering has the ability to entirely alter the form of your drawn object if you push it far enough. Drawing patterns and forms using straight lines is a terrific alternative to stressing over getting them perfect organically. There is a setting to change this if you believe that it might disrupt the natural flow of your strokes, even at lesser settings. Let’s look at how Procreate’s motion filtering can be modified:
- Amount: Use the amount slider to increase the motion filtering and make the strokes straighter and smoother. Keep it below 70 to avoid losing the ability to make curved figures
- Expression: This setting acts as a counter to the strict behavior of motion filtering algorithms. It gives some of the natural expression back to your strokes. That means it ignores a few of the minor fluctuations and tries to include more of your natural stroke flow while still keeping the figure mostly straight and smooth.
Note that higher levels of motion filtering (70 and above) are unaffected by the expression feature.
How to Enable Stroke Stabilization for All Brushes in Procreate
Stabilization can be altered in the internal settings (as seen above) if you just want to utilise it with one or two brushes. However, you can also opt for canvas-wide stabilisation to save time and work. Global Pressure and Smoothing options have been added to Procreate 5.2 for user convenience. This is how to get to it.
1. Start by tapping the Actions button, which is represented by a wrench, in the top left corner of the screen. It’s available next to the Gallery selection.
2. Next, select the Prefs option from the Actions drop-down box. Next, select Pressure and Smoothing from the menu.
3. The option to change the stabilisation, motion filtering, and motion filtering expression will now be available. The way in which these options are used is still the same as what is stated in the section above. Swiping your finger or pencil over the slider for each choice will allow you to change the values. You can keep the remaining pressure-related settings at their default values.
Stablilization vs StreamLine in Procreate 5.2 Update
Users only had the choice of using StreamLine as the sole trustworthy option to generate smooth strokes in versions of Procreate prior to version 5.2. The app didn’t even have the ability to operate based on the pressure being exerted. The most recent version, in contrast, offers you three different kinds of stroke stabilisers. Each of them has special features and methods for enhancing the smoothness of your strokes in Procreate. Additionally, you can adjust their functionality to match your strokes’ pressure, tempo, and desire for natural expression.
Let’s design a figure using the previous StreamLine option and then duplicate it with the new stabilisation choices to see how much of a difference this upgrade actually makes. We kept the stabilisers at medium (50) levels in both situations.
You’ll see that the smoothness varies, even along longer curves and straight lines. The lines in the overall shape have some wobbliness (natural strokes). Another thing you’ll notice is that the algorithm doesn’t try to change the strokes’ shape in any way. It continues to move in accordance with the hand’s actual cues. In intricate works of art, this might be advantageous, but in basic designs like this, it can complicate matters. Let’s try drawing the same shape in Procreate 5.2 with stroke stabilisation turned on.
The first difference you’ll see is the lines’ smoother transition. The stabilization featureautomatically removes any jitters or fluctuationsyou might have had while drawing. Then, they also help you automatically make a shape, which is most noticeable in the triangular flag portion. If you use Procreate 5.2’s stroke stabilisation feature correctly, it won’t distort your natural shape. You can play around with each of the stabilizers until you find what suits you the best.
Start Using Stroke Stabilization in Procreate 5.2
These are all the ways you can use stroke stabilization in Procreate. This is one of the many features that the new Procreate 5.2 update has in store for us. There is even an option toview 3D models in AR using Procreateandedit the 3D lighting and environment, alongside other features. Fortunately, there are several reliablealternatives to Procreate on Android, but none of the apps have equally good stabilization features. If you face any trouble while trying out new Procreate features, drop your query in the comments section. Our team will help you out right away. What more new features do you expect from the app in the future? Let us know in the comments below!