Combine Down forms a new group, but still keeps each individual layer's specifications active. Merge Down makes two layers into one (i.e., if you had Alpha Lock on to protect line boundaries in a layer, it will turn off). Simply tap a layer and you can select either Merge Down or Combine Down. To stay organized, or if you want an added level of security to a section of art, you can combine layers into groups. Just tap the little 'N' next to the check mark that selects the layer. You can find extra light and color editing features for each layer as well. You can also swipe on a layer to access more features like delete, lock and duplication. To start adding layers to your work, tap the overlapping squares in the upper right. Using layers is another way to add a level of professionalism to your art, and can make your work easier to edit later if needed, since you'll have put down your drawing piece by piece. The feature is set default as 'draw and hold,' but you can customize the settings to best fit your needs. You can find Quickshape by tapping the wrench icon > Preferences > Gesture Controls > Quickshape. After Quickshape 'fixes' your lines, you can hold to adjust the shape and size. The Quickshape feature helps to rid your hand-drawn work of unwanted shaky lines and lopsided shapes.

Read more: The best Apple iPad apps of all time Quickshape You can also use three fingers to scrub the screen and clear a layer. For example, you can set it so that you tap four fingers to immediately populate the copy and paste options. You can explore all the customization options by tapping the wrench icon > Preferences > Gesture Controls. IPadOS lets you use gesture controls in Procreate that can make your creative process more efficient and further personalize the app for you. Here's what the Gesture Control panel will look like. Here are 15 tips that I've found most useful in my time with Procreate to work smarter, not harder: Gesture controls Whatever your art style, you can explore the app and try out all of the different features it offers. Read more: Procreate app review: Become an iPad artist with this $10 app Procreate also supports certain stylus models from TenOneDesign, Adonit and Wacom. I still use a third-gen iPad Air and a first-gen Apple Pencil.

After a year, I've established a good working knowledge of the software, but there's always something to learn in the app. It was a bit of a culture shock starting with digital art after only using physical media in the past.

Procreate app erase with apple pencil