8 Pro Tips for Painting 3D Models in Procreate

If you want to take your Procreate 3D models to the next level, use these tips.

Procreate has been around for over a decade, and Procreate 3D was released in 2021. If you're just getting started with the software (or trying the 3D feature for the first time), you might feel intimidated.

Don't stress—we've curated a list of pro tips for painting 3D models in Procreate that's sure to level up your experience.

Procreate 3D is a feature of Procreate that lets you paint 3D models. While you cannot create 3D models in Procreate, you can download and/or import OBJ or USDZ files to change up the paint style and material however you see fit.

If you don't have any 3D models to paint, and you don't want to use the options from Procreate, here are some great places to find 3D models that you can import into the app.

Painting 3D models in Procreate is fairly easy, but there are a few things you can do to make the experience even more smooth-sailing.

Download: Procreate for iPadOS ($12.99)

There are three materials in a mesh: Color, Roughness, and Metallic. Each serves a purpose in the overall appearance of your 3D object, and there are different ways you can alter them. However, if you simply select the mesh without specifically choosing a material, then the mesh will be altered as a whole, giving you potentially undesirable results.

To avoid this, after tapping on the selected mesh, tap the geometric icon next to Base Layer and choose a material to edit.

Now you can make changes to the material layers independently of each other.

You don't have to paint each mesh separately if they belong to the same texture set. Instead, you can select the whole texture set and paint the meshes at the same time, either as a whole or just a specific material. This isn't only time-saving, but it also ensures consistency.

This function is especially helpful when you're altering the roughness and metallic layer, where uniformity of the textures is important to achieve realistic results.

Select a texture set by tapping on a mesh, then hold down the Modify button (box icon) in the sidebar and tap on another mesh in the texture set. The highlighted area will flash blue.

Altering the environment and lighting tends to be an afterthought, but we recommend tackling this step before adding any kind of detail to your 3D model. The different environments and lighting modifications can drastically alter the mood and appearance of your object, changing colors entirely, so try to make this a priority.

It is particularly important to do this early if your 3D model is reliant on ambiance (for example, marketing purposes or gaming) because you could end up having to redo everything if you wait until the end.

Choose between 11 environment options, and add up to four lights, with the options to adjust Hue, Saturation, and Intensity.

Painting in 2D texture allows you to be precise about the details, especially if you're adding hard-to-draw shapes, intricate drawings, elaborate writing, stickers, or other small features. If you do this in 3D texture, you'll likely find that the details don't transfer easily or effectively.

If it's the details that matter most, you should also try out some of the best Procreate brushes while you're at it—and why not create your own color palette in Procreate too?

Head to the Actions menu and toggle Show 2D texture on (under 3D), and your canvas will automatically change.

Similarly to painting in 2D texture, you also want to duplicate and flip layers in this texture to avoid the layers warping.

If you try to flip layers in 3D texture, you'll find that it's increasingly difficult to get the correct placement, especially if the 3D object has many angles. And if you're duplicating another layer, it can take ages to achieve symmetry. So unless you can place the duplicate with absolute accuracy, it's more time effective to duplicate and flip in 2D texture.

To duplicate a layer, swipe the mesh name to the left and tap Duplicate. Next, tap the Transform icon and then Flip the layer vertically or horizontally.

You can add a reference guide to your 2D canvas to see how the drawing translates to the 3D object. This is great to use when you're in 2D texture because the angles can be somewhat confusing, so using the 3D reference is a sure way to know you're painting on the right area of the object, and the right way up.

You will find the Reference guide in the Actions menu under Canvas.

Instead of having to go back and forth between the layers and brush color, you can simply use the Adjustments tool in the top left corner to modify the Color, Roughness, and Metallic layers using Hue, Brightness, and Saturation. You can also adjust the Color Balance, Curves, and Gradient Map to matte your object or make it shine.

Using the Adjustments tool saves you a lot of time and effort because you get to see the results in real-time without having to alternate so much.

The material layers, Roughness and Metallic, do a fantastic job at adding texture, but they are somewhat limited. And while you can certainly use a brush to create textures and patterns, this could prove time-consuming depending on the surface area.

A quick and easy way to bring more texture or patterns to your 3D model is by using Noise, Glitch, and Halftone. You can find these under Adjustments in the top left toolbar.

From its straightforward actions and simple gestures, Procreate 3D's user-friendly interface means any iPadOS user can make use of the app with ease.

With Procreate, you don't have to have years of experience painting 3D models to paint like a pro, but with these tips, it will certainly look like you do.

Shannon began writing professionally in 2020, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing shortly after. In 2022, she joined MakeUseOf's Creative section and frequently covers music production, photo editing, and 3D modeling. Shannon has 20+ years experience in the creative industry, and takes a special interest in AI-generation.