Sketchbook Pro is a powerful digital drawing app that helps illustrators create incredible artwork. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, mastering this software can make your workflow much faster and more fun.
Here are 10 essential tips and tricks from platforms like Tuts+ Design that every illustrator should know. 1. Turn Any Custom Brush into an Eraser
You do not have to limit yourself to standard, boring erasers. In Sketchbook Pro, you can turn any brush into an eraser. Click the transparent color icon next to the color wheel. Now, your favorite textured or sketchy brush will erase instead of paint, allowing you to keep a unified look in your art. 2. Master the Round Puck Buttons
The two tiny circles on your screen are called Pocks. They are major timesavers.
Click and drag the Brush Puck left or right to change your brush size. Drag it up or down to change the opacity.
Use the Color Puck to quickly adjust the brightness or saturation of your current color without opening a giant menu. 3. Smooth Your Lines with Predictive Stroke
If you struggle with shaky hands or wobbly digital lines, use the Predictive Stroke tool. You can find this tool on the top toolbar. It automatically smooths out your lines as you draw. You can change the settings from level 1 to 5 to get the perfect, clean stroke. 4. Create Perfect Depth with Perspective Guides
Drawing buildings or rooms can be tricky. Sketchbook Pro has built-in Perspective Guides that do the hard math for you. You can choose 1-point, 2-point, or 3-point perspective. Once you turn it on, your brush strokes will lock directly to the vanishing points, making your angles perfectly straight every time. 5. Use the “V” Shortcut for Fast Transformations
Instead of clicking through menus to move your art, just tap the “V” key on your keyboard. This single shortcut activates the transform tool. It lets you zoom, rotate, change position, or distort your active layer instantly. 6. Paint Faster with Symmetry Tools
Save time when drawing faces, mandalas, or symmetrical characters. The Symmetry Tools mirror whatever you draw on one side of the canvas onto the other. You can lock the line of symmetry vertically, horizontally, or use radial symmetry to create intricate patterns with a single stroke. 7. Build Your Own Custom Brush Palettes
Do not waste time scrolling through dozens of brush libraries to find your favorite tools. You can drag your most-used brushes out into their own custom palette. Keep your favorite sketching pencil, inking pen, and blending brush grouped together so they are always one click away. 8. Use Steady Stroke for Precision Details
Unlike Predictive Stroke, which fixes your line after you draw it, Steady Stroke gives you a tiny “string” to pull. As you drag your stylus, the line follows slightly behind it. This gives you absolute control over long, sweeping curves and fine details. 9. Share Easily with PSD Export
If you need to move your art to other programs like Adobe Photoshop, Sketchbook Pro has you covered. You can export and import files as a PSD. This feature saves all your layers, blending modes, and opacity levels exactly as they are. 10. Make Quick Animations in FlipBook Mode
Sketchbook Pro is not just for static drawings; it is also a great tool for simple animations. Switch to FlipBook mode to animate frame-by-frame. It even lets you use “onion skinning,” which lets you see faint versions of your previous frames so you can draw smooth motion.
Watch this alphabet breakdown of cool software hacks to see these tips and shortcuts in action: A to Z of Sketchbook Pro: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks! Envato Tuts+ YouTube · Dec 21, 2021
If you want to know more about digital drawing, let me know:
What device are you using Sketchbook Pro on? (iPad, Android tablet, or a computer?)
What style of art do you want to create? (Anime, realistic portraits, or landscapes?) I can give you advice tailored exactly to your art style!
A to Z of Sketchbook Pro: Hacks, Tips, and Tricks to Drawing!
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