the ultimate

Procreate
companion guide
with Avalon Yarnes of Cake and Cookie Planner
INTRODUCTION

My advice?
First, hi, I’m Avalon! The woman behind Cake and
Cookie Planner.

I hope you find this companion guide helpful in

learning your way around to Procreate.

But, my advice to you?

Just start sketching! Play around!

I wouldn’t suggest trying to learn everything

by reading this guide from start to finish.

For most of us, that’ll just leave us feeling overwhelmed.

Instead, get inside the app, start playing and go to this guide when you’re exploring
tools, just not sure, or you hit a wall.

This is a fairly comprehensive guide, but if the answer isn’t in this guide, please do
check out these other helpful resources:
Our Knowledge Hub full of how-to videos
Our Free Facebook Group - look around our live videos or pop your question into
the group, you’re surrounded by fellow cakers that love to help!
The Procreate Handbook (really helpful and deep!)
And good ole’ YouTube... seriously, try just searching...

p.s. Also, be sure to use the clickable links throughout this guide to help you get
around with ease!

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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 Contents
Introduction 2

Our tools 4

What you need 6

Installing 8

Troubleshooting 9

Home - Procreate Interface (Linked) 8

Layers & Panel 9 -13

Color Panel
14-15
Brush Panel
16-17
Transform Tool
18-19
Selection Tool

Action Menu 20-27

Knowledge Hub Videos 28

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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BUT FIRST, A LITTLE MORE ABOUT

Our Cake Sketching Tools

The original award-winning cake sketching tool for Procreate are tailored specifically for
the cake decorators. Our tools are designed to cut your design time in half, while taking
your designs to new, extraordinary levels. Leading to more clients, more dream cakes and
more profit!

Why do you need Procreate Digital Sketching Tools?

Versatility at Your Fingertips: Our diverse range of brushes and stamps are
meticulously crafted to cater to all your design needs.
Time-Saving Designs: Speed up your design process with stamps that instantly add
common cake decorations and elements. Spend less time on repetitive tasks and
more time bringing your unique ideas to life.
Easy to Use: Whether you're a Procreate veteran or new to digital sketching, our
brushes and stamps are user-friendly. Plus, with our included tutorials, you'll master
these tools in no time.
Inspire and Be Inspired: Join a community of passionate bakers and decorators using
these tools. Share your creations, gather feedback, and stay inspired.

Perfect for planning, presenting, or simply exploring new creative avenues with your
designs. Become an even better cake designer, start to book your dream clients and start
bringing in more profit in your cake business. Add them to your toolkit today and watch
your design skills, and business, flourish!
click here!

SHOP CAKE AND COOKIE PLANNER BRUSHES AND STAMPS

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
4
MUST HAVE ITEMS

What you need to get started...

iPad or iPhone + Stylus
Procreate ONLY works on iPad or iPhone devices at this
time.

o p t io n !
b e s t Stylus

iPad Apple Pencil iPhone

or

Click here to see all iPads Procreate works on.

iPad Suggestions:
Complete list of iPads- generations and
Good - iPad Mini (small but will get you by)
which generation Apple Pencil they work
Good - iPad 10.9" with.
Best - iPad Pro 12.9"

Procreate App installed

You can find them in your Apple app store or if you’re on your device,
click the links below.
iPad - Procreate
iPhone - Procreate Pocket

Please note there is a one time charge for these apps. No, it does NOT
come out monthly or even yearly, just once! Which in our humble
opinion is a steal of deal.

nks iPhone version

lickable Li iPad Version Procreate Pocket
C
*Note: Procreate Pocket’s
interface will look a little
different, but it has 90% of
the same features in this
guide, just a more
compact interface.

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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How to install your brushes
2 easy steps!
1. On your device, click the download link (or button) for the file you’re
trying to install.
2. A screen will pop up, click "Open in Procreate". Procreate will open and it
will look like nothing happened (see note below). But you will find your tools
in your interface once you open or create a new document.

⚠️ Please note: It might not seem like the item was installed, Procreate does not have a
success message when they have installed

To see if your brushes have installed, create a new document (or open an old one) and click
the brushes icon.

Click "+" icon in top right corner.

Create a new document.

Click brushes
new doc icon.
will open
Your new brush
folders will
appear here.

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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Installing troubleshooting
(what not to do)
⚠️ Do NOT use this "Import" button to try to import Brushes or Color Palettes,
it's meant for image documents only. Instead, follow the instructions on page 1.

Issue: The files are greyed out and won't be clickable.

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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CLICKABLE MAP KEY

Procreate Interface CLICK the stars to learn

more about that tool

Brushes &
Stamps Panel
Transform
Smudge
Tool
Tool
Home
Eraser
Selection Layer
Actions Tool Panel
Menu
Adjustments
Menu Colors
Panel

Brush
Size

Color Picker
(customizable)

Brush
Opacity

Undo

Redo

Inside this beginners guide, we’ve outlined the most important things you’ll
want to become familiar with. Things not listed in this guide can be learned
once you become a more advanced user.

Above, you’ll find a map of the Procreate interface.

We’ve also made all the ⭐ above link to a section with more information on
that tool!

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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 TOOL

Layers
How do they work? Why should I use them?

Think of layers like individual

transparency sheets..

When you stack them, or

flatten them, they make a
complete image.

The order in which they are

If you take one away
stacked, is the order in which
(or turn it off), you’ll no
they will appear in your
longer see it.
document.

Layers allow you to work only on the

contents of that layer, so you can freely:
Move
Resize
Rotate
Paint
Edit in anyway...
...without effecting your other layers.

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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TOOL

Layers Panel (hint: layers are key!)

→ GOLDEN RULE ←
Always stamp on a new layer!

You're going to want to create a new Click the “+” to

layer every time before your stylus create a New
goes into stamp or create a new Layer.
element.

This is key to allow you to

move/resize/rotate individual To work on a layer, tap
elements, color, etc. to select it.

It will highlight in blue

when it’s selected.

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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TOOL

Layers Panel (hint: layers are key!)

When you tap the

Inside this menu, image thumbnail in the
you’ll find a lot of layers panel, a menu
essential functions. will open.
(See the next page)

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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 TOOL

Layers Panel (hint: layers are key!)

closer look
Rename your layer

Select only the pixels in the layer

Copy the layer or selection in layer

Fill the layer with whatever

color is currently selected in
color panel
Clear (delete) contents of the
layer or selection in layer

(See Masking Video)

Toggles on Drawing Assist

Invert the colors on the layer

Toggles on Reference (Advanced)

Flattens this layer with the one below

Groups this layer with the one below

Layer Blending Modes

(Advanced)

Open to change the

opacity of the layer or
Layer Visibility
give it a special blend
mode.
(turn it on and off from
showing up on your
document)

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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TOOL

Layers Panel (hint: layers are key!)

closer look

LOCK, DUPLICATE, DELETE

Swipe left on a layer to reveal
more actions
Lock
Duplicate (I use this often!)
Delete

SELECT MULTIPLE LAYERS

To select multiple layers at
once, swipe right on each
layer you want to select.

You can now group them or

you can edit with tools like
Transform to move, resize
and more on the canvas.

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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 1
TOOL Tap to colored circle to

Color Panel open the color panel

3
Select your final color

2
Select your hue

(optional) adjust
saturation here

(optional) adjust
brightness here

Submenu of Panels
History of colors you’ve
used.

Color palette you

currently have set to
default.
Color Palettes
(saved colors)
Panels for selecting
your colors,
I prefer Classic

Helpful color panel for

finding harmonious
colors combos.

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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 Select “...” to open
TOOL menu and set your
Create a New blank

Color Panel
color palette here.
current color palette
(default)

When you find a color

you want to save,
simply tap one of the
blank squares to save
it.

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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TOOL

Brush & Stamp Panel

(left side)
Brush and Stamp Folders 📂
These are folders where
collections of brushes live.

✨Tip: Use emojis to help

quickly identify. Simply hold
down on the folder to rename.
Tap once to select
your brush or stamp.

It will highlight in
blue when it’s
selected.

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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TOOL

Brush & Stamp Panel

If it is a stamp,
you’ll see a single
image.

If it is a brush, you’ll
see a long path like
this.

To use, simply select

your brush/stamp and
then use your stylus to
draw (brush) or tap
(stamp).

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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TOOL

Transform Tool

Click here to turn on/off

Transform tool

Transform Tool Menu

Scales layer with locked ratio
(You’ll use this 95% of the time)

Distorts Warps
Stretches (advanced) (advanced)

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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TOOL

Transform Tool

SCALE LAYER SIZE UP

AND DOWN

Scale in size by dragging the

little blue dots

MOVE LAYER

Drag around screen to desired

location

ROTATE

Rotate by dragging little

green dot

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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TOOL

Selection Tool

Click here to turn on/off

Selection tool

Selection Tool Menu

Freehand
(use like a exacto knife)

Automatic
(tap and it selects Rectangle Elipse
alike colors) Selection Selection

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
20
 TOOL

Selection Tool

Selection Tool Menu

Functions
(advanced)

Clears selection (does not

Add to your selection
delete what is in the
selection, use Clear in
Copy and Paste your layer panel
Selection into New Save and load your
Remove from your submenu)
Layer selections for future
selection
use
Invert your selection to
Feathers out Fills selection with
opposite area
selection whatever color is selected
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 TOOL

Action Menu

Open Action Menu

Sub Menu

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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 TOOL

Action Menu
Sub Menu

Opens image files from your files, dropbox, etc.

Opens image from your device’s photos

Opens Camera to take a live photo

Add Text to your document

Cut selection or layer

Copy selection or layer

Copy a flattened version of whatever is on your canvas

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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 TOOL

Action Menu
Sub Menu

Resize your canvas or crop it.

(Advanced) Tools to help you animate

(Advanced) For creating multipage PDFs

Settings for Drawing Guide (Drawing Assist)

We love using the symmetrical setting!
Edit drawing assist

Pops up a reference window, choose image from your

library
Flips the canvas

Information on your canvas

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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 TOOL

Action Menu
Sub Menu

Save it as a Procreate project with layers intact.

Save as a Photoshop file with layers intact

Save as PDF

Save as JPEG (most common, lowest size)

Save as a PNG (larger file but allows for a transparent

background)

Save as tiff

(Advanced)
Save the individual layers in
special ways.

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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 TOOL

Action Menu
Sub Menu

Watch a time-lapse of you sketching!

Turn time-lapse recording on

Save time-lapse as a video

✨Tip: Great, easy content for

social media!

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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 TOOL

Action Menu
Sub Menu

Dark/Light Interface

Right or Left hand Interface

Turn ON while using our brushes ⚠️

Project to another Apple device screen

Brush cursor visible while painting

(Advanced) Cursor settings

(Advanced) Pressure and Smoothing settings

Gesture Controls (set these to

work with your workflow!)

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
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Want to learn more or learn
through videos?
Get inside the Digital Sketching Knowledge Hub!
Avalon has created a FREE central hub where you can access a library of
videos teaching you how to use Procreate to the fullest with our stamps!
Each stamp/brush set has it's own "Tour" video where we go over the basic
need-to-knows of that set. You'll also have access to a library of Procreate
tutorials, Live Sketching replays and access to our Facebook group!

HERE'S HOW...

1 Create a free account with Avalon

Cakes School using this special link.
(if you already have a free account or
membership with Avalon Cakes website,
please sign in first and then click the link
below!)

Create an Account / Sign In

(NOTE: Your account on Avalon Cakes

account may be different from your
account on Cake and Cookie Planner)

2 Once you've registered and signed in,

you can find the Digital Sketching
Knowledge Hub link inside your
"Home Dashboard" and in the side
menu, or you can click here.

Once inside you'll get access to our

ever-growing knowledge library!

Also, be sure to join our Cake and

Cookie Planner Free Facebook
Group where we do lives, share our @REALLYGREATSITE
work and connect!

28
 HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE GUIDE!

Ready to grab your some

brushes and stamps?
Become an even better cake designer, start to
book your dream clients and start bringing in click here!
more profit in your cake business.
Grab our Procreate Tools and watch your design
skills, and business, flourish!

SHOP CAKE AND COOKIE PLANNER BRUSHES AND STAMPS

[Link] @CAKEANDCOOKIEPLANNER
4