Procreate — Illustration & Cover Design for Authors

Procreate is an iPad drawing app for book illustrations and cover art. Sketch, ink, and paint with Apple Pencil, CMYK profiles, and PSD/PDF/PNG/TIFF exports—great for KDP interiors, covers, and promos.

Procreate — Illustration & Cover Design for Authors
Highlights

Why Authors Use Procreate

  • 🖊️
    Natural Apple Pencil drawing – Pressure/tilt curves, custom brushes, and Brush Studio for hand-inked covers and interior art.
  • 🎯
    Print-ready color profiles – Choose CMYK or RGB at canvas creation for accurate print or screen output.
  • 📤
    Flexible exports – Export layered PSD, PDF, PNG (transparent), JPEG, or high-quality TIFF for downstream layout and print.
  • 🎞️
    Animation Assist – Create short teasers or looping flourishes for social promos and ads.
  • 📚
    Page Assist – Multi-page workflow for comics, storyboards, and PDF import/editing.
  • ⏱️
    Time-lapse recording – Auto-captures your drawing process for marketing reels.

Pricing

One-time purchase on the App Store (around $12.99 USD; regional pricing varies). No subscription required.

Last checked: October 6, 2025 — pricing may change; see App Store for current details.

💲 Get Procreate on the App Store

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

  • Excellent Apple Pencil feel; fast, intuitive brush engine.
  • CMYK profiles + 300-DPI canvases for print workflows.
  • Exports PSD/PDF/PNG/TIFF; easy handoff to InDesign/Canva.
  • One-time price; offline iPad app.

⚠️ Cons

  • Raster-based; less suitable for long, text-heavy layout (use InDesign/Atticus).
  • iPad-only; no desktop app.
  • No built-in generative-AI features (manual art only).

Procreate FAQ

Is Procreate good for book covers?

Yes. Create high-resolution canvases in CMYK or RGB and export PSD/TIFF/PDF. For complex multi-page layouts, finalize in Adobe InDesign or Canva.

What export formats does Procreate support?

Layered PSD plus PDF, PNG (transparent), JPEG, and TIFF—ideal for print and downstream editing.

Does Procreate support CMYK?

Yes. Choose a CMYK profile when creating a canvas for print-accurate color.

Can I create animations in Procreate?

Yes. Use Animation Assist for short loops and teasers; export frames or video for social promos.

Is Procreate a subscription?

No. It’s a one-time App Store purchase. Regional prices vary.

Compare Top Alternatives

Canva – Online Book Cover Design & Publishing Tool

Canva – Easy Book Cover Design Templates for Authors

Canva is a fast, beginner-friendly design tool for authors who need professional book covers, KDP graphics, and marketing visuals without hiring a designer. Use the drag-and-drop editor, thousands of book-cover templates, and free stock assets to create ebook and paperback covers, A+ Content, ads, and social posts in minutes — on desktop or mobile.

Adobe InDesign – Professional Book Layout & EPUB Export for Authors

Adobe InDesign – Professional Book Formatting & Layout Software

Adobe InDesign is the industry‑leading layout tool for professional book interiors and print‑ready PDFs. Build consistent long‑form documents with master pages and styles, export clean EPUB (reflowable or fixed‑layout) for Kindle/Apple Books, and run preflight checks before handing files to your printer. Ideal for authors, designers, and small presses who want press‑quality output and flexible digital formats.

BookBrush — Book Cover & Ad Design for Authors

BookBrush — Book Cover & Ad Design for Authors

BookBrush helps authors design book covers, 3D mockups, trailers, and social ads fast. Use genre templates, Instant Mockups, and background removal to create KDP-ready visuals for launches and ongoing marketing.

Other Top tools for Authors in category

Canva – Online Book Cover Design & Publishing Tool

Canva – Easy Book Cover Design Templates for Authors

Canva is a fast, beginner-friendly design tool for authors who need professional book covers, KDP graphics, and marketing visuals without hiring a designer. Use the drag-and-drop editor, thousands of book-cover templates, and free stock assets to create ebook and paperback covers, A+ Content, ads, and social posts in minutes — on desktop or mobile.

BookBrush — Book Cover & Ad Design for Authors

BookBrush — Book Cover & Ad Design for Authors

BookBrush helps authors design book covers, 3D mockups, trailers, and social ads fast. Use genre templates, Instant Mockups, and background removal to create KDP-ready visuals for launches and ongoing marketing.