Using The Procreate Eraser Function Tool in Home Decor Design

How to Cut or Erase a Background In Procreate? Using Procreate

Procreate is a wonderful design program to use for all kinds of home decor and home furniture design. One of the features that we love is the feature to cut out the background by erasing it.

In Procreate, the easiest way to cut out the background is to use the eraser to erase off and cut out the background you do not want. When erasing the background, first crop the image as close as possible so you have less background to erase; then you can start to erase the background you do not want by using the eraser mode on Procreate.

Cutting out a background in Procreate by erasing it is quite easy to do. You need to follow a few simple steps to erase a background. You can use the erase function to erase almost anything on your Procreate layer. We use the erase function to erase or cut out a background in a photo.

Table of Contents

You can watch our video to see how we cut out a background using Procreate:

How to Erase or Cut Out a Background in Procreate
Video on How to Erase Background Using Procreate

Here are the steps to erase a background on a photo in Procreate:

Crop the Image

The first thing we do is crop the image. We crop the image because you want to have as little background as possible to erase it.

We try to crop the image as close to what we need. This allows us to ensure that we have less background to erase.

Procreate Eraser and Erase Size Tools
Procreate Eraser and Erase Size Tool Guide

Switch Procreate to the Erase Function

Procreate has an erase function so that you can erase on Procreate. You will see an erase icon at the top right-hand side of Procreate. It would help if you pressed that on so that Procreate will be in the erase function mode.

The Procreate erase function is similar to using a regular eraser on a piece of paper. The only difference is that the eraser is on your IPad, and you are using your Apple Pen to erase what needs to be erased.

On the left-hand side of the Procreate is the eraser function key. You can set what size you want the eraser to be as you erase the background. You can set this on the left-hand side of your canvas, the same way, you will change the setting on a pencil or brush in Procreate.

Once you have completed these basic settings in Procreate, you are now ready to erase your background or anything else you want to erase on your Procreate canvas.

Start To Erase the Larger Areas First

I will start to erase the larger areas first. I do that because I want to get off as much of the background as I can. I usually set my erase at a larger setting to erase the larger background.

Sometimes with the erase function, it may not get the background completely clean, so I have found that I often need to go over the background with the eraser a few times and in a few directions to ensure the background area is clean. If you do not need it to be clean, you can stop this step and erase it as much as you need to.

Feel free to adjust the size of the eraser as you need to. One of the great things about Procreate is that it is straightforward to adjust the eraser’s size as needed.

Use a Smaller Eraser Size to Obtain Fine Detail

Once I have erased all the larger areas that I can, the larger-sized eraser can use a smaller eraser to erase in finer detail. When I am erasing in the finer detail, here are a few things I will do:

  • Use my two fingers to enlarge the image – I will use my two fingers to enlarge the canvas image. This is as you will do on your iPad to enlarge something. This allows me to see all the fine detail of the image I want to erase.
  • Get as close to the image as possible – I will try to get as close to the image as possible with my fine eraser tip. The only way to do this is to bring the image in as large as possible and then use your eraser pencil to erase as close as you can to the image.
Shade background we erased was put on a lamp design
The shade background we erased was put on a lamp design

How to Use The Erased Background Images

Once the background has been erased from the image, you can decide the best way to use it. We use the erased image in a lot of different ways.

  • Color background – Now that the background is erased, you can add another color to the image background. You can do this by dragging and dropping the color on the background layer.
  • Add to another background- We used our erased images to add to another background. For example, in our video, we show we have added this woven shade, which we eventually added to a lamp base.

The eraser function on Procreate is easy to cut out any background you may not want on your Procreate image or canvas. We often use this function in our home decor and home furniture product design.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I erase around a shape in Procreate?

: To erase around a shape in Procreate, you can use the Eraser tool and carefully erase the areas outside the shape manually.

Can I cut out an object in Procreate?

While Procreate does not have a dedicated “cut out” tool, you can achieve a similar effect by using selection tools to isolate the object and then deleting or erasing the surrounding areas.

Is there a way to feather or soften the edges of a cut-out shape in Procreate?

Yes, in Procreate, you can soften the edges of a cut-out shape by using the Gaussian Blur or Motion Blur filters. Apply the desired blur effect to the edges of the cut-out shape to create a feathered or softened look.

Can I create a precise and clean cut-out of complex shapes in Procreate?

Yes, Procreate offers various selection tools like the QuickShape feature, which can help create precise and clean cut-outs of complex shapes. Additionally, utilizing zoom and taking your time can contribute to more accurate results.

Are there any specific brush settings or techniques to improve the precision of erasing or cutting out in Procreate?

Using a smaller brush size, adjusting the opacity and flow settings, and zooming in for more precise control can help improve the precision when erasing or cutting out in Procreate.

Can I change the position of a cut-out image in Procreate?

Yes, you can easily move a cut-out image in Procreate by using the Transform tool. Select the image layer, tap on the Transform tool, and then use gestures or the on-screen controls to reposition the image.

Can You Design Home Decor Products With Procreate?

Procreate is a straightforward design program to learn that has a lot of great design functions. Procreate can save you time and money for your home decor and furniture product design needs. It will also allow you to set up trend colors in your design palettes so you can easily find them again. You can easily make repeat patterns and use the clipping mask function to get a design looking close to the finished product.

To find out more about Procreate and Home Decor design, you can read our blog on Using Procreate In Designing Home Decor Products – Why We Love It! by clicking here.

How Do You Use The Clipping Mask Function in Procreate?

The clipping mask function in Procreate allows the top layer to be clipped or cut to the same size and shape as the bottom layer. This clipping mask function lets you see how a product will look with a specific finish when completed. The first thing you must do is make sure the photo or file you import is prepared properly. Then you must complete the actual product design while being sure to layer and fill in each layer with color. Once the Procreate design is completed, you are ready to do the clipping mask and to clip the top layer to the bottom layer.

We love the clipping mask function and use it a lot in our home decor and furniture designs. You can find out more about using the clipping mask function in Procreate by reading our blog 4 Easy Steps to Using the Clipping Mask Function in Procreate by clicking here.