Create Your Own Cartoon Profile Photo in Procreate

Create Your Own Cartoon Profile Photo in Procreate

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Creating a New Art Board in Procreate
3. Adding the Image to Illustrate
4. Outlining the Facial Features
5. Adding Color to the Illustration
6. Using a Reference Image
7. Building Colors from Top to Bottom
8. Adding Shadows to the Skin
9. Adding Highlights to the Skin
10. Filling in the Base Color of the Skin
11. Coloring the Hair
12. Choosing a Background Color
13. Adding Finishing Touches
14. Saving and Uploading the Cartoon Self

Creating a Cartoon Self in Procreate for Social Media

Have You ever wanted to cartoon yourself for your social media profile picture? In this tutorial, I will Show you step by step how you can achieve this using Procreate. So, let's get started!

Introduction

Cartooning yourself has become a popular trend on social media lately. It adds a fun and unique touch to your profile picture, making it stand out from the crowd. With the help of Procreate, a powerful digital art tool, you can transform your photo into a cartoon version effortlessly.

Creating a New Art Board in Procreate

Before we dive into the cartooning process, let's set up our canvas. Open Procreate and add a new art board by tapping on the "+" sign in the top right-HAND corner. Choose the size of the art board, preferably 11 x 8.5 for a standard profile picture.

Adding the Image to Illustrate

Next, we need an image to work with. Go to the wrench tool in Procreate, then select "add" and "insert a photo." Navigate to the photo you want to cartoonize and insert it into your canvas. For a profile picture, focus on illustrating the face only.

Outlining the Facial Features

To begin the cartooning process, Create a new layer on top of the background layer and rename it "outlines." Choose your preferred brush, like the "script" brush, and set the color to black. Lower the opacity of the background layer to improve visibility. Trace along the general outline of each facial feature, such as the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. Stay true to the Shape of each feature, but feel free to make variations since it's a cartoon.

Adding Color to the Illustration

With the outlines complete, it's time to add some color to bring your cartoon self to life. Before we proceed, it's helpful to have a reference image. Go to the wrench tool, enable the reference toggle, and import the same photo used earlier. This reference photo will guide your color choices and serve as a valuable resource.

Building Colors from Top to Bottom

To ensure a consistent coloring process, we'll work from top to bottom. Start by adding a new layer above the background layer and draw the colored iris, using a base skin color as a reference. Don't forget to add a white Sparkle to the eye for that extra pop. Proceed with a shadow layer for the white part of the eye and Continue adding layers for the base color and highlights. Repeat this process for other areas of the face, such as the nose, cheeks, and chin.

Adding Shadows to the Skin

Shading the skin properly can be challenging, but with careful execution, it can enhance the cartoon-like effect. Begin by creating a new layer above the background layer and select a shadow color that's slightly darker than the base skin color. This will be the first shadow color. Next, choose another shadow color that's darker than the previous one. Pay Attention to the areas where shadows naturally occur, like under the chin, cheeks, nose, and ears.

Adding Highlights to the Skin

Highlights add depth and dimension to the cartoon self. Using a lighter shade, create a new layer for each highlight color. Apply the lightest highlight color to areas such as the tip of the nose and under the cheekbones. Then, use a slightly darker highlight color for other highlighted areas. Referencing your photo and observing where light hits the face can inform your highlighting choices.

Filling in the Base Color of the Skin

After shading and highlighting, it's time to fill in the base color, which represents the rest of the face. Create a new layer and cover the remaining areas with the base color. This finalizes the coloring of the skin, giving it a well-toned appearance.

Coloring the Hair

The hair is an essential part of creating a cartoon self. Similar to the skin, color the hair by adding a shadow layer followed by a highlight layer. Use a base shadow color and a highlight color to add depth and texture to the hair. Apply shadows around the face-framing areas and underneath the line work. Focus the highlights on the outer edges of the hair.

Choosing a Background Color

To make your cartoon self truly stand out, select a background color that complements the overall illustration. Consider a bright and vibrant color that contrasts with the colors used in the cartooning process. In this tutorial, an orange background was chosen for its energetic and eye-catching effect.

Adding Finishing Touches

For the final touches, you can add extra details to the Outline layer, such as squiggly lines for curly hair or other desired elements. Additionally, you may consider adding a white stroke around the entire illustration to make it pop and enhance its visibility.

Saving and Uploading the Cartoon Self

Once you're satisfied with the final result, save your cartoon self. Go to the wrench tool, select "share," and save the image as a JPEG in your photo library. Finally, upload this cartoon version of yourself as your social media profile picture and watch it bring a smile to your followers' faces.

Highlights

1. Learn how to cartoon yourself using Procreate for social media.
2. Create a new art board in Procreate.
3. Add an image and outline facial features.
4. Add color using a reference image.
5. Build colors from top to bottom for consistency.
6. Shade the skin with shadow and highlight layers.
7. Fill in the base color of the skin.
8. Color the hair with shadow and highlight layers.
9. Choose a vibrant background color.
10. Add finishing touches and save the cartoon self.

FAQ

Q: Can I use Procreate to cartoonize any photo? A: Yes, Procreate can be used to cartoonize any photo, as long as you follow the steps outlined in this tutorial.

Q: Can I customize the colors and style of the cartoon? A: Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with different color palettes and styles to make your cartoon self unique and personalized.

Q: How long does it take to complete the cartooning process? A: The time it takes to complete the cartooning process depends on the complexity of the illustration and your familiarity with Procreate. With practice, you'll become faster and more efficient.

Q: Can I use this cartoon self as a logo or for commercial purposes? A: Yes, you can use your cartoon self for personal branding or commercial purposes, but make sure to review Procreate's terms of use and any applicable licensing requirements.

Q: Are there any alternative software or apps to Procreate for cartooning? A: While Procreate is highly recommended for its powerful features and user-friendly interface, there are other digital art tools and apps available, such as Adobe Illustrator, Sketchbook, and Clip Studio Paint.

Q: Can I edit or modify my cartoon self after it's completed? A: Absolutely! The great thing about working digitally is that you can always make adjustments, whether it's changing colors, adding or removing elements, or refining details.