Top 10 Procreate Tattoo Brushes Every Artist Should Have

Top 10 Procreate Tattoo Brushes Every Artist Should Have

When it comes to designing tattoos in Procreate, the right brushes can make or break your artwork. Over the years I’ve tested hundreds, and these 10 have become my absolute go-tos. Some are from my own brush packs, others are from creators I respect and use in my daily workflow. Together, they’ll help you layer shading, create bold fills, and speed up your design process.

1. True Stipple Set (Procreate Tattoo Brushes)

[Link: https://www.procreatetattoobrushes.com/shop/p/true-stipple-set]

• Build layered shading and texture

• Versatile for both large areas and small details

• Subtle, controlled stipple effect

• Essential for depth and gradients

2. True Grit Bundle

[Link: https://www.truegrittexturesupply.com]

• Textured shaders that feels organic

• Pressure-sensitive build up for smooth blends

• Great for all styles of retro work

• Perfect for background textures

3. Weaver’s Spitshading Set (Procreate Tattoo Brushes)

[Link: https://www.procreatetattoobrushes.com/shop/p/weavers-spitshading-set]

• Digital watercolor-style spitshading brushes

• Perfect for classic tattoo flash sheets

• create depth and an authentic old school feel

• Great for traditional tattoo inspired artwork

4. Retro Supply The Texture Brush Pack

[Link: https://www.retrosupply.co]

• Natural textures with a handmade feel

• Build shading and background slowly and organically

• Adds depth with a printed style

• Perfect for retro-inspired digital work

5. Fineline Flowers & Botanical Stamps (Procreate Tattoo Brushes)

[Link: https://www.procreatetattoobrushes.com/shop/p/fineline-tattoo-flowers]

• Pre-made floral stamps save time

• Crisp, delicate outlines

• Great for quick compositions

• Perfect for fineline tattoo styles

6. Fazdes Freestyle Abstraction

[Link: https://fazdes.com]

• Unique brushes for experimental textures

• Works as well if you are a letter artist

• Adds personality and character

• Fun to combine with artwork

7. Blackwork Brush Collection (Procreate Tattoo Brushes)

[Link: https://www.procreatetattoobrushes.com/shop/p/blackwork-brush-collection]

• Shaders for traditional & graphic tattoos

• Great for creating contrast and depth

• Variety of textured brushes included

• Best for traditional and graphic artists

8. Retro Lo-Fi Subtle Grain And Noise Brushes

[Link: https://www.retrosupply.co]

• Noisy, buildable shading brushes

• textured transitions without looking digital

• Ideal for shadows and backgrounds

• Works across both bold and retro styles

9. 100 Classic Traditional Tattoo Stamps (Procreate Tattoo Brushes)

[Link: https://www.procreatetattoobrushes.com/shop/p/100-classic-traditional-tattoo-stamps]

• Packed set of bold, timeless designs

• Flash-ready outlines for instant use

• Huge time-saver for building compositions

• Great starting point for tattoo layouts

10. True Grit The Rusty Nib

[Link: https://https://www.truegrittexturesupply.com]

• Rough, responsive fine line work

• Ideal for details, lettering, and outlines

• Excellent for layering small touches

• Works perfectly with textured shading brushes

Pro Tip:

Keep your brushes organized into folders like Outlines, Shading, and Texture. It’ll save you time and keep your workflow smooth. And when experimenting, duplicate your layers so you can build shading without worrying about messing up your base sketch.

Ready to Try?

Want to test some of these techniques without committing? Grab my free sample pack of 14 brushes and stamps here:
[https://www.procreatetattoobrushes.com/shop/p/free-sample-pack]

How to Use Procreate for Tattoo Design: Beginner’s Guide

If you’re a tattoo artist or aspiring designer, chances are you’ve heard of Procreate. This iPad app has become one of the most powerful digital tools for creating tattoo flash, refining concepts, and experimenting with styles before putting needle to skin. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to start using Procreate for tattoo design, even if you’re a total beginner!

Why Use Procreate for Tattoo Designs?

• Efficiency: Quickly sketch, edit, and refine ideas.

• Layers: Experiment with linework, shading, and color on separate layers.

• Custom Brushes: Use tattoo-specific brushes for authentic textures and strokes.

• Portability: Take your entire tattoo portfolio anywhere on your iPad.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Canvas

1. Open Procreate and tap the “+” to create a new canvas.

2. For tattoo design, a good starting size is 3000px by 3000px at 300 DPI (print quality).

3. Name your canvas only if you want

+ Icon will display canvasess and custom options

Step 2: Using Tattoo Brushes for Linework

Linework is the foundation of tattoo design. Instead of using default brushes, install specialized Procreate tattoo brushes that replicate what you’d like your tattoos to resemble.

• Use fine liner brushes for delicate outlines.

• Try bold liner brushes for traditional tattoos.

• Keep your strokes on a dedicated “Linework” layer.

Bolder lines for a more traditional tattoo style

Check out our free sample pack of 14 brushes & stamps

Step 3: Shading and Depth

Shading creates realism and depth as well as a finished result in your tattoos.

• Use shading brushes like soft round shaders or stipple shading brushes.

• Experiment with opacity and pressure sensitivity.

• Place shading on a new layer under your linework.

Pro tip: Don’t over-shade. Less is usually more, especially for tattoos that will be on skin.

Step 4: Adding Color

If your design requires color, Procreate makes it easy:

• Create a new layer beneath and linework, you can also have a seperate layer for shades.

• Use tattoo-inspired color palettes (like Eternal Inks, chart/ palletes here!) for authentic tones.

• Keep saturation moderate so the design looks realistic when designing for skin.

Step 5: Using Stamps for Flash Sheets

Tattoo stamps are a great way to build flash sheets or artwork quickly:

• Drop in skulls, flowers, animals, or symbols as base elements.

• Modify them with linework, your own elements and shading to make the design unique.

• Group multiple stamps into one sheet for showing potential clients or when seeking an apprenticeship.

Step 6: Exporting Your Design

When you’re finished, export your design for sharing or printing:

• JPEG or PNG for web sharing.

• TIFF or PDF for high-resolution artwork prints (good for selling/passive income).

• Save multiple versions (linework-only, shaded, colored).

Final Thoughts

Procreate has become an essential tool for tattoo artists offering flexibility, speed, and a limitless creative toolkit with every single tattoo artist (almost) worldwide using it. With the right brushes and a bit of practice, you can take your designs from concept to skin-ready tattoos in no time.

Ready to go? Download our free sample pack of 14 Procreate tattoo brushes & stamps, or explore our full collection of linework, shading, stipple, and flash sets to upgrade your digital tattoo workflow.