Which graphic design program do you use?

Many people ask me this question - I use Procreate with the Apple Pencil. I love using them both and can’t believe it took me so many years to get the pencil after my iPad!

Why did you choose Procreate?

I had just decided to get back into painting and creating artwork and also wanted to have a go at surface pattern design and digital drawing. I did a lot of research and as I have an iPad rather than a desktop computer, Procreate and the Apple Pencil were the best choice for me.

If I have a desktop in the future, I may learn Adobe Illustrator but for now, Procreate it just what I need. Also, Procreate is a raster-based program and Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based program.

Changing autumn leaf digital illustration

What do raster and vector mean?

Simply, raster means your artwork is made up of pixels so if you enlarge it too much it will look like an old 80s computer game.

Whereas vector means the artwork is made up of mathematical equations linking points, lines and curves so that it can be enlarged infinitely.

What difference does it make for you?

For me, using Procreate it means I have to choose before starting a piece the largest size I would like to have it printed or which products I might want to use the design on. There is also less maths involved!