A simple and quick, but also useful tutorial on how to create a “Supernatural” text effect in Procreate. I am talking about this one:
![“supernatural text effect”](https://ioannaladopoulou.design/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/F16D2670-01C1-4C58-B5BB-A0B561D97E4B.jpeg)
Here is my Procreate workflow:
1. Choose your background
It can be a simple one-color background or a complex illustration. Since we are talking about “Supernatural”, I chose a digitized version of my older traditional pencil drawing:
![Traditional drawing - Supernatural](https://ioannaladopoulou.design/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/6AFAC8CC-3947-4487-9787-A42582941B63.jpeg)
2. Add the text
Select a font you like (you can use mine) and insert the text into the Procreate file. This is what my text looks like:
![Typernatural font](https://ioannaladopoulou.design/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/6FD12A18-118A-4C89-B52A-16DEF5AA1D66-1024x576.jpeg)
Since I do 99% of my work on an IPad, (and I believe you do too, if you are reading this tutorial!) my photos have all backgrounds, ergo a black one. All it needs is the right blending mode.
Extra tip: Practice blend modes!!! There is nothing that cannot get fixed!!!
![Blending mode](https://ioannaladopoulou.design/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/5C2C0FD1-FD2E-4323-8858-47C162A82302-1024x768.jpeg)
I choose the layers button -> Lighten -> Lighten. Note that depending on the background color, or the text color, or the effect you’d like to achieve, you might need to use another blend mode. Just practice with them! 🙂
The final result should look something like this:
![Text layered](https://ioannaladopoulou.design/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/39A150C4-F039-43C4-B11A-FAA74EEDE5EF.jpeg)
3. Tweak the text to your liking
What I like most about Procreate is that, unlike photoshop, it is so so so easy to use. There is only a limited amount of buttons/choices, that the user can find instinctively, and the best part: 99% of the work that is done in photoshop, can be done in Procreate too! It just might need a few extra clicks.
Anyway, what I do at this point is duplicate my text layer. Then I go to adjustments -> motion blur and drag my Apple Pencil (or my finger) across the screen, towards the direction I want the effect to be. Just practice with it until you get it right.
![Text - motion blur](https://ioannaladopoulou.design/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/6894BCF8-8B17-474A-B4ED-8A2038CD0E08-1024x768.jpeg)
Depending on the intensity of the effect I want to achieve, I sometimes play with the opacity of the layer or duplicate the layer and do the same process (adjustments -> motion blur) until satisfied. The finished work looks something like this:
![Final](https://ioannaladopoulou.design/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/DA28696A-33E8-4667-AEC6-41948BBE2D32.jpeg)
So, here you have it! Professional design work, with just a few clicks and the comfort of your iPad!