iPad Hand Lettering 101: Tips & Tricks for Hand Lettering in Procreate
- Katie Kelly
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 25
Louella Paper Co. was born from a love of hand lettering, and up until 2019, it was all pen and paper. Custom wedding and baby shower invitations, canvas art, framed prints, and sometimes even large wooden signs. Before I had an iPad, digitalizing my hand lettering and calligraphy was a clunky task and it almost never came out exactly like I wanted it to. Then for Christmas in 2019, my husband got me an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil and my whole life changed.
Shameless plug: if you've been on the fence about getting an iPad and/or Apple Pencil, I cannot recommend it enough. While it's a big upfront investment, there are so many ways to make money with digital art nowadays that overtime, it's worth it—not to mention the simple joys of breathing life into your creativity. Here are some quick links from Amazon of the versions that I have:
Whether you're new to hand lettering or been doodling for decades like me, you know that hand lettering is a rewarding creative outlet—and with Procreate, it’s easier than ever to get started making your own art. I actually used other apps before getting into Procreate, and I can confidently tell you that it's the best app out there for both beginners and seasoned designers.
What Is Hand Lettering?
Hand lettering is the art of drawing letters—not writing them. Unlike regular handwriting, each letter is crafted with intention and style. Think of it as creating typography by hand, where you have full control over every curve, flourish, and stroke. You can make it completely your own and follow your own creative instincts. You can mix cursive letters with regular letters, create shapes with your words, and so much more.
Why Use Procreate for Hand Lettering?
Procreate is a favorite among digital artists because it’s powerful, portable, and intuitive. With features like pressure sensitivity, layering, customizable brushes, and time-lapse recordings, it’s a literal playground for lettering artists of all levels!
TIP: Lettering on a screen can be tricky, especially with the slippery and smooth texture of an iPad screen. Getting a paper textured matte screen protector gives your Apple Pencil a "paper like" feel which slows down your pencil and really optimizing your design. It also doubles as a screen protector! Here's the one I have:
Step-by-Step: Your First Hand Lettering Project
1. Set Up Your Canvas
Open Procreate and create a new canvas. A good starting size is 8x10 inches at 300 DPI—perfect for printing later if you love your design.
2. Choose a Brush
Procreate comes with great default brushes under “Calligraphy” and “Inking.” Start with the Monoline brush for consistent lines, or try the Script or Brush Pen for pressure-sensitive strokes that mimic traditional hand lettering.
Tip: You can download free or paid lettering brushes from sites like Creative Market, Design Cuts, or Gumroad.
3. Sketch Your Guidelines
Create a new layer and use a light pencil brush to draw guidelines. Basic horizontal lines help keep your letters straight and consistent in height. You can also add slant guides for script lettering.
4. Draw Your Letters
On a new layer, slowly draw each letter. Don’t worry about perfection! You can zoom in, undo, and refine as much as you want. Focus on consistent stroke weight and spacing.
Tip: Use pressure for varied line weight—press harder on downstrokes, lighter on upstrokes.
5. Refine Your Work
Once you're happy with the basic shapes, use the eraser tool to clean up edges and curves. You can also use Procreate’s Liquify tool to nudge or reshape letters slightly without redrawing.
6. Add Flair
Use layers to add flourishes, shadows, textures, or colors. Try clipping masks and blend modes to experiment with effects.
Bonus Tips for Beginners
Use references. Study type styles and other hand letterers on Pinterest or Instagram.
Practice basic strokes. Practice upstrokes, downstrokes, and ovals to build muscle memory.
Don’t zoom too much. Keep an eye on the whole composition—details matter, but flow is key.
Use symmetry or grid tools. These built-in features help with balance and alignment.
Hand lettering on Procreate is not only accessible but incredibly fun and satisfying. Whether you're creating a custom quote, a digital card, or branding elements, the possibilities are endless. Start simple, practice often, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles.
So open up that blank canvas and start lettering—your next masterpiece is just a stroke away! For some doodling inspiration or to see what I've been hand lettering lately, follow me on Instagram @louellapaperco!
My Top Hand Lettering Amazon Picks:
*All Amazon links here are eligible for commissions to Louella Paper Co.
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