Procreate 5.4 Brings a Major Brush Overhaul and Smarter Creative Tools

One of the most popular apps on iPadOS has to be Procreate. This week, Procreate received a major update to version 5.4.4, with the marquee new feature being a new Brush Library.

New Brushes

Procreate 5.4 introduces 18 brand-new brush sets with over 150 brushes created from the ground up alongside in-house brush developer Kyle T. Webster. The new brushes span a variety of styles, from traditional mediums like watercolor to more unique styles like street art.

To help manage all of the new brushes at your disposal, the update adds Brush Search and the ability to create custom brush libraries. Those brush libraries can be backed up to the Files app, either to iCloud Drive or the local storage section (On My iPad).

Other New Features

Some other notable new features in Procreate 5.4 include:

Smarter Color Tools

Color history now appears on every iPad, even the iPad mini, making it easier to revisit recent hues while painting. There are also fresh example palettes and subtle refinements to the color interface for a cleaner look.

Brush Studio Upgrades

Brush Studio has gained several advanced controls for fine-tuning performance and realism. Artists can now:

Adjust anti-aliasing with a new alpha threshold
Create per-brush pressure curves for finer Apple Pencil response
Add jitter controls to stroke spacing and roundness
Preview brush behavior in real time with the new Preview tab

Full release notes below:

This update delivers an all-new brush library, bursting with hundreds of wonderful brushes. There is stacks more to love in this update too, like search and libraries. We’ve had lots of fun with this massive overhaul. Now it’s your turn.

New Brushes
This is big. Get ready to express yourself in a whole new way with Procreate’s new brush collection. 18 new sets with over 150 brushes built from the ground up with our in-house Brush Developer Kyle T. Webster. It’s like being handed the keys to your own fully stocked art store; one that’s filled with brushes and styles that combine real-world familiarity with the endless possibilities of digital art. The beloved Classic brush library is still available by pinching out.

Brush Search
We see you brush collectors, and we are here for you – brush search has arrived! This highly requested feature will make finding the ideal brush so much faster. To search, simply swipe down in the library and start typing text or emoji.

Brush Libraries
Libraries will take your workflow and projects to a higher level. Build collections containing the brush sets you need most and dive into your creative zone. To access, create, edit, or share libraries, use the pinch gesture in the brush panel. We’ll start you off with two libraries: the new Procreate Library and the Classic Library. What you make next is up to you.

Brush File Management
Sleep better at night by protecting your precious brush collection. Backup, organize and share them right in the Files app. Choose from storing your brushes On My iPad or in iCloud Drive, and if you change your mind, you can move them later in the Actions menu.

New Brush Studio Settings
While crafting the new Procreate Library, we made a bunch of new brush settings. You can now remove anti-aliasing with alpha threshold; perfect for pixel art. We’ve also added more controls for spacing, shape roundness, stroke jitter, and per brush pressure curves.

Brush Preview
Brush thumbnails have been updated to better reflect how brushes mark the canvas. And with the new Preview tab in Brush Studio, you can make further adjustments to how your brush thumbnails appear in the brush library.

Color Improvements
iPad mini owners rejoice. Color history is now visible on all devices, including the small but mighty ones. There are also fresh, new color palettes. If you can’t see them, select ‘Restore example palettes’ from the + menu in the palette panel.

Custom Brush Set Icons
Finally, you can personalize brush set icons to quickly find your favorite sets. Pick an icon from a list or rename your set with an emoji to use that instead.