How to Use the Symmetry Tools in Procreate

The Procreate Symmetry Tool allows you to create stunning artwork. You can use the Procreate software to create digital illustrations even if you are a complete beginner because it provides you with a variety of sophisticated tools. 

Some of these tools, such as the Procreate symmetry tool, are particularly valuable for novices, in my view.

If you use sketching software instead of paper, you may do the following tasks:

• Delete or erase without leaving a trace of the eraser markings
• Make use of tools to keep your lines stable.
• To construct excellent forms, make use of tools such as quick shape or sketching guidelines.
• Make use of layers to build upon your artwork, which will alleviate any concerns about making mistakes.
• Another excellent piece of advice for novices is to take advantage of symmetry in Procreate to increase the quality of your line work and illustrations.

After all, wouldn’t it be simpler to draw something once and then have it reflected rather than having to draw the same thing twice in the same place?

That’s exactly what the symmetry tool in Procreate does!

What is the Procreate Symmetry Tool, and how does it work?

The Procreate Symmetry tool is an option under the drawing guide that allows you to quickly and simply create symmetrical illustrations.

Consider it to be similar to a mirror image, but more powerful because there are so many different methods to achieve symmetry with Procreate!

In plain English, depending on whatever symmetry option you choose, Procreate will replicate anything you draw on one side of a line of reflection onto the opposite side of the line of reflection.

Drawing butterfly wings is an illustration that springs to mind for me when thinking about shading. 

When you utilize the symmetry tool in Procreate, you may draw one wing on one side of your canvas while having the second wing automatically drawn on the opposite side of your canvas as well.

What is the best way to acquire the symmetry tool in Procreate?

Select Edit Drawing Guide from the Actions > Canvas menu. Drawing Guides are displayed on the next screen once you click on this button. 

At the bottom of the screen, click on the Symmetry button to activate it. 

When you first launch Symmetry, the Vertical Symmetry Guide is displayed by default, which you may customise.

How can I enable the mirror feature in Procreate?

For those of you who are familiar with the use of Drawing Guides in Procreate, you can skip to step 5 if you choose; otherwise, please follow along.

• To access the settings menu, select the ‘Settings icon.
• Choose the Canvas icon from the drop-down menu.
• Toggle the ‘Drawing Guides’ toggle switch on.
• Select ‘Edit Drawing Guide’ from the drop-down menu.
• Choose the Symmetry to Mirror guide type from the drop-down menu.
• Make your selections for Opacity and Thickness.
• To mirror, press the Done button.

How to Make Use of Symmetry in Procreate

To begin exploring symmetry, let’s open up Procreate on our computer. It’s a lot of fun.

I plan to develop a few Procreate lessons over the coming several weeks to demonstrate exactly how much fun it can be to do this.

Prior to that, though, let me demonstrate how to find the symmetry settings.

Create a new canvas on your computer. A wrench icon should be visible at the top of your screen, to the left of the cursor. To do so, simply click on it.

You’ll find a menu option titled “Drawing Guide” under the drop-down menu on the right. Turn on the sketching guide to see what you’re drawing.

Select “Edit Drawing Guide” from the same drop-down option to proceed.

An entirely new screen will appear, with your canvas and some colors displayed at the top of the screen and a menu at the bottom, as seen below.

There are other elements in this drawing guide area, but for the sake of this tutorial, we will just be concentrating on the symmetry options.

Take a look at the drop-down menu at the bottom of your screen. On the right-hand side of the screen, you’ll find an item labeled “symmetry.” Press the corresponding button.

There are other elements in this drawing guide area, but for the sake of this tutorial, we will just be concentrating on the symmetry options.

Procreate Symmetry Feature Guide.

You may have spotted a choice to turn on rotational symmetry under your symmetry settings.

So, Procreate’s default symmetry setting is mirror symmetry.

Procreate’s rotational and mirror symmetry options are distinct in that everything drawn will be both rotated and mirrored if you enable rotational symmetry. To put it another way, whatever you make will be mirrored in every direction.

To enable rotational symmetry, go to the settings menu in Procreate’s drawing guide and toggle it on.

The brushstroke has been inverted and reflected in the image below. Options may be found on the sketching guide screen to the right of symmetry. 

To see the many forms of symmetry in your drawing guide, click on the alternatives.

Horizontal Symmetry Line – This is the initial drawing guidance. A precise horizontal reflection of the canvas’s centerline is created by this form of symmetry. 

As a result, whatever you draw on top of the line will be mirrored on the bottom.

Vertical Symmetry Line: When the vertical symmetry line is drawn across the center of the canvas, it acts as a mirror, reflecting everything in its path. 

In other words, anything you doodle on one side will be reflected on the opposite side of the canvas.

Quadrant Symmetry Line: This symmetry line is a combination of a vertical and a horizontal line, making it unique. 

This one works like this: anything you draw in one quadrant will be reflected in the other quadrants. I’ll be able to draw a circle in each of the four corners if I start in the upper right corner.

This is similar to quadrant symmetry, except it provides you with eight regions in which your item is replicated. 

Radial Symmetry Lines Think of a mandala when you think about this. As you work your way through the eight pieces, you’ll be making a symmetrical object. You may also see it as a slice of pizza.

Besides the four selections in the menu, there are other options that affect the symmetry of your project.

It is possible to enable rotational symmetry from the symmetry options. In the case of rotational symmetry, the object is mirrored in the same way it was drawn.

As long as I switch on rotational symmetry, I can draw an arrow pointing to the left in all eight areas of the diagram.

So, Just these 4 Procreate Symmetry Lines to go for?

Not at all.

In certain cases, you may not want to place your illustration in the center of your canvas.

In some cases, your symmetrical items may need to be placed at an angle rather than perfectly vertical or horizontal.

You may not want your radial symmetry to be exactly in the center of your canvas.

To return to your sketching guide, use the wrench tool.

Look at your canvas and you’ll notice a blue dot in the middle and then a green dot at the bottom of your screen (or on the side if using the horizontal option).

How do I get rid of symmetry in procreate?

By selecting the layer thumbnail and selecting ‘Drawing Assist’ from the drop-down menu, you may turn off the symmetry settings.

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