I wanted to see if I could make a seamless texture in Procreate because I love using gold textures in my surface pattern designs. But all the ones that I use were made using various different programs on my desktop computer and I wanted to share a tutorial that those of you who only use Procreate could still follow. So, I challenged myself to see if I could make a seamless gold texture for free using just procreate on my iPad!
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a seamless gold texture almost from scratch, without the need for any fancy software. With just a few simple steps, you can add a touch of luxury and sophistication to your designs. So sit back, grab your iPad and let’s get started!
Free Treasure! Gold textures from Unsplash
First of all we’re going to go and find a gold texture from unsplash.com which is a great place to find images you can use for free without any copyright issues. There are loads to choose from, so I definitely suggest experimenting and seeing which you like best. Some will work better than others and some will be easier to make seamless than others. I’ve chosen 2 for this tutorial. We have a gold glitter one as the easy option and then this larger scale one which will require a bit more processing.
The glitter texture is by Pierre Bamin https://unsplash.com/photos/BnsplFkReXQ
The larger scale texture is by Peter Olexa https://unsplash.com/photos/Ax6ggq8cSxw
Once you have your textures downloaded, watch the video below to see how easy it is to turn them into seamless gold textures in Procreate!
Using Your New Gold Texture
Now that you’ve created a seamless gold texture on your iPad with Procreate, it’s time to incorporate it into your digital creations. The possibilities are endless – you can use it to add some sparkle to your surface patterns, add it as a texture to typography, or even use it to create a custom brush.
These textures will work best when applied to things like line work or small details in a pattern or illustration. When you’re only using them on thin line work like this you can definitely get away with a few minor imperfections along the way and they won’t be noticeable within the whole design, but if you were using it on large areas, those tiny imperfections might become a bit more conspicuous, so always use your own eye to judge whether the resolution and quality is appropriate for the design you’re working on.
Another tip is to use your texture sparingly. While it may be tempting to go all-in on the gold, too much of a good thing can be overwhelming. Instead, use it strategically to draw attention to key elements and add visual interest.
If you want to find out more about how to make floral patterns in Procreate then have a look at my class on making patterns in Procreate.
Have fun and stay creative until next time!