Today we'll learn how to make washi tape in Procreate. Not just regular washi tape, but fall washi tape with pumpkins, acorns, apples, and leaves. If you do digital bullet journaling and are thinking about the next theme for fall, these are great digital bullet journal stickers!
If you don't have time to make it yourself and just want to have downloadable washi tape, take a look at these Vintage Washi Tape Paper Collections Bundle from Envato Elements:
What You'll Learn in This Digital Washi Tape Tutorial
- How to create a new canvas in Procreate
- How to use the drawing guides in Procreate
- How to create a new color palette
- How to color a few objects at once
- How to create a Clipping Mask in Procreate
- How to use a pattern brush
- How to apply a texture
- How to create torn edges for the washi tape
What You Will Need
1. How to Create a New Document in Procreate
Let's begin learning how to make digital washi tape in Procreate! Open Procreate and click on the + sign in the top-right corner. A new menu will pop up where you want to choose your canvas size. Choose the A4 format and click on it. It will open a new canvas for you. The canvas size depends on the page size of your digital planner or bullet journal. I usually do my planning on a page A4 format.
2. How to Create a Sketch for Digital Washi Tape
Step 1
Let’s switch on the Drawing Guide to help us with our digital washi tape. Click on the Actions button (find a wrench symbol) to open up the Actions menu. Click on the Canvas > Drawing Guide. It will create a checkered guide for you.
Stay in the Actions menu and look at the Edit Drawing Guide. Here you can edit it to your liking. Click on it.
After you click, it will open a new window like this:
Just make sure you select 2D Grid. You can adjust the Opacity, Thickness, and Grid size as you like. Then, click Done.
Step 2
Let’s start with a sketch. It will allow you to decide how many digital washi tapes you want to create and how long they should be. Grab your favorite brush and color, and draw washi tape shapes following the Drawing Guide.
3. How to Create a New Color Palette
Step 1
Now we want to decide what colors we will use for the washi tape. To make sure the colors go nicely together, we need to try them on the canvas. First, choose any color you like and draw a little blob. Then, choose another color you think will go nicely with it and draw over the previous color. The first color will be the washi tape background color, and the other one will be the pattern color.
For example:
Step 2
Using the same method, draw a swatch for each of your washi tape pieces. Here are mine:
Step 3
Now that we’ve decided on the colors, we want to create a new color palette with them. In the top-right corner, click on the Color tool, and it will open the Colors menu. Then click on Palettes (bottom right), then the + sign (top right), and Create new palette.
Step 4
Did you know that you can move the menu on your canvas? Find the word Palettes on the Color tool, and just above it you’ll see a small horizontal line. Hold this line and move your menu. Your interface will look like this:
Step 5
Take your Eyedropper tool (you most likely have it by default: using your finger, click on the canvas and hold), and choose the background washi tape color from one of your swatches. Then just tap on the Palettes menu, and the color should be there now! Using the Eyedropper tool, click on the line color, and it will be the color of the washi tape pattern. Once again, tap on the Palettes menu, and the second color should be there.
Using the same method, create the whole palette for your digital washi tape. For your future convenience, try to make the order like this:
- background color
- pattern color
- background color
- pattern color, and so on
4. How to Create and Color in the Fall Washi Tape
Step 1
So now that we have the sketch and the color palette, let’s create the washi tape in Procreate. First, decrease the Opacity of the sketch layer. Click on the Layers tool and then on the capital letter N. In the new drop-down menu, move the slider to the left, making the Opacity about 20%. After that, create a new layer by clicking on the + sign in the Layers tool. Here we will create our digital washi tape.
Step 2
Take the Selection tool and make sure the Rectangle selection is activated as well as the Add button. Using the Selection tool (it should be always activated), select all the sketched areas.
Your canvas should look like this:
Step 3
Keep the selections activated. Open the new palette you just created in the Palettes menu, being careful not to remove the selection. Click on the first color, which should be the washi tape background color. You need to drag this color from the Color tool. While dragging this color to the washi tape, you will notice the ColorDrop Threshold, which should be around 90%. Only after you drag the color will the washi tape have it.
Step 4
Look at the new palette again. Remember when we decided that every odd number is the washi tape's background color, and every even number is the pattern color? Now, select the third color and drag it to the second washi tape. After that, select the fifth color and drag it to the third washi tape. At the end, your pieces of digital washi tape should look like this:
Step 5
Now you can switch off the Drawing Guide: Actions (wrench tool) > Canvas > Drawing Guide (move the round slider to the left). Also, you can switch off the layer with your sketch: remove the tick on the Layers tool.
Step 6
Now, we will color our washi tape using pattern brushes. Pattern brushes are quite handy to use, as they create a seamless pattern in one stroke. But how do you make sure that the pattern brushes don’t go outside the pieces of washi tape? I will show you a trick.
Create a new layer on top of the layer with the washi tape (not on top of the sketch!). Click on that layer one more time. It will open a menu on the left side. Choose Clipping Mask; you will draw here. The Clipping Mask makes the pattern brush stay inside the washi tape. Take a look at the color palette you created. Click on the second color, but don’t drag it anywhere yet. Take any brush you like from the Procreate Pattern Brushes, Fall Edition set. You can adjust the brush size to your liking on the left sidebar. And now, start to draw.
Step 7
By selecting every even-numbered color on the new color palette and using any brush you like from the fall Procreate brush set you downloaded, cover each piece of washi tape with a pattern.
5. How to Create Torn Edges and Add Texture to the Fall Washi Tape
Step 1
Technically we could now leave the pieces of washi tape as they are. But I want to make them more interesting, adding texture to them and creating torn edges.
Create a new layer on top of all the layers. To add a texture, we need a special textured brush, and a very good brush for that is Pencil 15 from Basic Pencil Procreate Brushes. Make your color black, use a large brush size, and draw over each piece of washi tape. Don’t make harsh strokes—just lightly press a few times over each piece of tape.
Step 2
Go to the Layers tool, click on the layer you've just drawn on with black, and tap on the layer one more time. On the left side, a drop-down menu should appear. Tap on the Clipping Mask, and stay here. Then click on the capital letter N, and in the drop-down menu, choose Soft Light. Click on your canvas and zoom in on any piece of washi tape.
We just added a texture to our washi tape.
Step 3
Now for the last thing: the torn edges. Make sure you like everything on your canvas. After that, go to the Layers tool and, using two fingers, pinch together all the layers except the layer with the sketch. Take the Erase tool and choose Pencil 11 from Basic Pencil Procreate Brushes. Erase the vertical edges:
Congratulations!
Just look at how cute our digital washi tape is! Washi tape for a bullet journal is essential, and now you know how to create it. More than that, using the technique you learned today, you can create a digital washi tape template and use it with other pattern brushes according to the season. Great idea, right?
Popular Procreate Brushes and Digital Washi Tapes From Envato Elements
I would like to bring to your attention some procreate brushes and downloadable washi tape that you can use right away. Envato Elements has a great variety of downloadable washi tape and digital washi tape templates which can satisfy all tastes.
Cute Washi Tape Doodle (AI, EPS, JPG)
For example, these cute digital washi tape templates are perfect for digital bullet journaling or planning. Use these cute, bright designs for cheerful spreads.
25 Paper Tape Overlay HQ (PNG)
If you like more realistic tape, here's an excellent choice. This way, you don't need to worry about how to make washi tape in Procreate.
Pattern Brushes for Procreate (BRUSHSET)
Here are some adorable, ready-to-use Procreate brushes you can apply when creating your washi tape.
90 Procreate Stamps & Photoshop Brushes (ABR, PNG, BRUSHSET)
Here's a big collection of Procreate stamp brushes that can help you to create unique designs for your washi tape.
100+ Journal Decoration Elements Pack (PNG)
Try this huge collection of digital decor for your digital planner or bullet journal. Digital bullet journal stickers, washi tape, dried flowers, and ripped paper—I’m sure you’ll find something you like!
More Tutorials for Your Creative Skills
If you want to learn more, here are some excellent tutorials to check out:
