To smudge on Procreate, tap the Smudge icon in the toolbar, select a brush from the Brush Library, and then tap or drag your finger or Apple Pencil across the canvas to blend colors. The Smudge tool moves pigment around your canvas, and you can adjust the opacity slider in the left sidebar to strengthen or soften the effect.
How to smudge on procreate: the essential steps
The exact documented steps for using the Smudge tool in Procreate on iPad and Procreate Pocket are straightforward. Start by tapping the Smudge icon in the top toolbar. Next, select a brush from the Brush Library. Then tap or drag your finger on existing brushstrokes and colors to blend them together. In Procreate Pocket, you adjust the pressure slider in the left sidebar instead of the opacity slider.
Choosing a brush for smudging
The Smudge tool shares the entire Brush Library with Paint and Erase, meaning any brush in the library can be used for smudging. This gives you enormous flexibility to experiment with different brushes for varied blending effects. A soft brush creates smooth, subtle transitions, while a textured brush can add interesting grain and character to your blends. Try brushes you already love for painting to see how they behave when set to smudge.
Adjusting brush settings for the perfect smudge
Procreate’s Brush Studio includes a specific setting that controls how much a brush smudges when set as the Smudge tool. You can adjust this smudge amount to fine-tune the behavior of any brush. Additionally, the opacity slider in the left sidebar gives you real-time control: higher opacity strengthens the smudge effect, while lower opacity makes it subtler and more delicate. Experiment with both the brush setting and the sidebar slider to dial in exactly the blend you want.
Smudging techniques for blending colors
Smudging at full pressure smears color like wet paint, creating bold, painterly blends. Lower strengths produce smoother, softer results that are ideal for building gradients, blending shadows and highlights, or smudging pencil drawings for a polished look. For smooth gradients, use a low-strength smudge and make long, even strokes across the boundary between two colors. For a wet-paint smear effect, increase the opacity and use full pressure with a brush that has a soft edge. These techniques are essential for coloring, shading and rendering in Procreate.
Creating depth, texture, and shadows with smudge
The Smudge tool is excellent for adding depth and texture to your artwork. Use lower strengths to create smooth gradients that define form, blend shadows and highlights for a dimensional look, or smudge pencil drawings to soften lines and integrate shading. By varying the direction and pressure of your strokes, you can simulate different surfaces and materials. For example, smudging in the direction of a curved surface helps reinforce its volume, while cross-hatched smudging can create subtle texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Smudge tool on Android?
Procreate’s Smudge tool is documented for Procreate on iPad and Procreate Pocket. Procreate is available exclusively for iOS devices such as iPads; not compatible with iPhones or other smartphone devices.
Does the Smudge tool work with Apple Pencil?
Yes, the Smudge tool is fully compatible with Apple Pencil, and pressure sensitivity affects how the brush smudges. Full pressure creates a wet-paint smear, while lighter pressure gives a softer blend. Procreate supports touch input, allowing users to draw and paint with their fingers or other compatible stylus pens, not just Apple Pencil.
Can I use any brush for smudging?
Yes. The Smudge tool shares the same Brush Library as Paint and Erase, so any brush in the library can be used for smudging.
How do I make the smudge effect stronger or weaker?
Adjust the opacity slider in the left sidebar (on iPad) or the pressure slider (in Procreate Pocket). Higher values strengthen the effect; lower values make it subtler. You can also adjust the smudge amount in Brush Studio settings.
What is the difference between smudging and blending?
In Procreate, smudging is the action of moving pigment around the canvas to blend colors. The Smudge tool is specifically designed for this purpose, and its behavior can be controlled by brush choice, opacity, and pressure. Procreate is a one-time purchase app available on the App Store for $9.99, with no hidden subscription fees or in-app purchases required.
