To create an outline brush in Procreate, you must combine two core brush-editing techniques: using a ring-shaped brush tip and adjusting the pressure curve. Procreate does not have a single "outline brush" feature, but you can achieve a hollow stroke by exploiting the Shape section and the Apple Pencil pressure settings in Brush Studio.
How an outline brush in Procreate works
Procreate’s official documentation does not include a dedicated outline-brush tool. Instead, the effect relies on a creative principle: by selecting a donut or ring shape as the brush tip source, the center of the stroke remains empty, producing a clean outline. Adjusting the pressure curve then ensures the line width stays uniform, preventing the outline from filling in when you press harder.
Duplicating a brush to start safely
Before editing any brush, always duplicate it to preserve the original. From the Brushes interface, swipe left on the brush you want to copy and tap Duplicate, or long-press the brush and choose Duplicate from the pop-up menu. This creates an identical copy that you can modify without risk.
Entering the Brush Studio
- Tap the Paint, Smudge or Erase icon at the top of the screen.
- Tap again to open the Brushes panel.
- Browse brush categories such as 'Calligraphy,' 'Painting,' 'Sketching,' and more, and scroll through brush sets within a category.
- Tap the + icon in the top right corner.
- Tap Create new brush to enter Brush Studio.
This is the documented path in Procreate’s official handbook. Once inside Brush Studio, you have full control over every brush property.
Customizing the shape for an outline effect
- In Brush Studio, tap Shape on the left sidebar.
- Under Shape Source, select or import a ring or donut shape. The hollow center is what creates the outline stroke.
- Adjust the Scale slider to set the thickness of the ring. A larger scale produces a thicker outline; a smaller scale gives a thinner one.
The Shape section is the documented place to edit the brush’s tip source. Using a ring shape is the core technique for making a hollow stroke that looks like an outline.
Adjusting Apple Pencil pressure for a clean line
- In Brush Studio, tap Apple Pencil on the left sidebar.
- Tap the pressure graph to add a node, then drag it to create a flat line or a gentle curve. A flat line means the brush size stays constant regardless of pressure, which is ideal for a uniform outline.
- If you prefer slight variation, keep the curve shallow so the outline remains mostly consistent.
- Adjust brush properties like Hardness, Scatter, Grain, Streamline, Taper, Noise, and Dynamics (pressure, tilt, velocity) for the outline effect.
The Apple Pencil tab is where you edit the pressure curve, as documented in Procreate’s support pages. A consistent pressure response prevents the outline from widening or filling in unexpectedly.
Saving and using your new outline brush
- Tap Done in the top right corner of Brush Studio to save your custom brush.
- Duplicate the brush via the 'Settings' cogwheel icon to create a copy with a custom name.
- Scroll to the bottom of the left sidebar in Brush Studio and tap About this Brush.
- Tap Create new reset point to save your current settings as a baseline for future edits.
- Close Brush Studio. Your outline brush now appears in the Brushes library.
- Select the brush and draw on the canvas to apply outlines to your artwork.
- Modify the size and opacity of the brush in real-time while working by clicking the 'Brush' icon.
This brush is ideal for adding clean borders to illustrations or lettering, and it works alongside your other tools for coloring, shading and rendering in Procreate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Procreate’s official help document an outline brush?
No.
What is the official path to create a new brush?
The documented path is: tap Paint, Smudge or Erase, open Brushes, tap + in the top right, then tap Create new brush to enter Brush Studio.
Can brushes be duplicated before editing?
Yes. Swipe left on a brush and tap Duplicate, or long-press and choose Duplicate from the menu.
Where are pressure settings changed?
Pressure settings are changed in Brush Studio under the Apple Pencil tab, where you can add nodes to the pressure graph and drag them to adjust the curve.
Are Android steps documented by Procreate?
No. Procreate’s official help materials are for iPad and Procreate Pocket only; no Android-specific documentation was retrieved.
