How to Ink in Procreate

2026-06-25

Inking is where a rough sketch becomes crisp, finished lineart. Procreate gives you tools that make it far easier than inking on paper — stabilization, undo, and editable layers. This guide walks through a complete inking workflow on iPad: setup, brushes, line confidence, line weight, and cleanup.

The inking workflow at a glance

Lower the sketch and add a clean ink layer above it.
Pick an ink brush and set StreamLine.
Ink confidently with quick strokes.
Vary line weight for depth.
Use QuickLine/QuickShape for straight edges and curves.
Clean up and close gaps.

1. Set up your layers

Put your sketch on its own layer and lower its opacity to ~25%, then make a new layer above it for ink. Keeping ink separate means you can erase and refine without touching the sketch, and delete the sketch when you're done. New to layers? See Procreate layers explained.

2. Choose an ink brush

Start with a clean technical liner for control, or a brush pen for expressive lines. Grab a set from the inking category — see the best free inking brushes for picks.

3. Turn on StreamLine

In the brush settings (tap the brush, open Stroke → StreamLine), raise StreamLine to smooth out wobble. A little goes a long way for clean curves; too much makes the brush feel laggy. This is the single biggest help for steady lines — detailed in how to get clean lineart.

4. Ink with confidence

The secret to good inking is fast, committed strokes, not slow careful ones. Draw from your elbow and wrist in single confident motions; ghost the stroke a couple of times first if needed. Slow, timid lines wobble — quick ones are smooth. Undo and redo freely until it feels right.

5. Vary your line weight

Even lineart looks flat. Thicker lines on outer edges, shadow sides and where forms touch; thinner lines for interior detail. This gives the drawing depth and a sense of light. Full technique in how to vary line weight in Procreate.

6. Use QuickLine and QuickShape

For straight edges, draw a stroke and hold the pencil at the end — Procreate snaps it straight (QuickLine). Draw a rough circle or rectangle and hold for a perfect shape (QuickShape). These keep technical elements crisp without a ruler.

7. Clean up and close gaps

Zoom in and tidy overlaps, then make sure shapes you'll color are fully closed — open gaps let ColorDrop flood the whole layer. Closed lineart makes coloring painless; see how to color lineart in Procreate.

Inking styles to try

Once the basics click, explore styles: bold comic inking with spotted blacks, expressive brush-pen lines, or cross-hatching for shading.

Brushes and next steps

You can ink entirely with free brushes — grab a liner and brush pen from the inking category or any free brushset. New to the iPad? Start with how to start drawing on iPad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click a question to expand the answer

How do you ink in Procreate?

Lower your sketch layer's opacity and add a new ink layer above it. Pick a clean ink brush, raise StreamLine to smooth wobble, then ink with fast confident strokes. Vary line weight for depth, use QuickLine for straight edges, and close any gaps so the lineart is ready to color.

What is StreamLine in Procreate and how does it help inking?

StreamLine is a brush setting (Stroke > StreamLine) that smooths out the wobble in your strokes as you draw. Raising it gives cleaner, more confident curves — the single biggest help for inking. Use a moderate amount; too much makes the brush feel laggy.

Why do my ink lines look shaky and uneven?

Usually because the strokes are too slow and careful. Ink with quick, committed motions from the elbow and wrist, ghost the stroke first, and raise StreamLine. Fast confident lines come out smooth; slow timid ones wobble.

Should I ink on a separate layer in Procreate?

Yes. Keep your sketch on one layer at low opacity and ink on a new layer above it. This lets you refine or erase ink without harming the sketch, and delete the sketch when finished — leaving clean lineart ready to color.