Let's "Trace" to Create!

Over the past few days, I have been putting together resources for a Procreate session I will be leading next week at the MACUL conference. One of the powerful digital drawing "tricks" that I will be sharing is how to trace a photo or image to make an outline for your drawing. Once you have this framework, it is easy to add your own coloring and details. It makes you look like a pro who can draw from scratch, but actually you just had a little help to get started!

Over the years, I have had many student moan "I can't draw" when we begin digital drawing activities. I always tell them that they will learn a great trick that will help them to draw. Tracing gives students confidence and success and lets them do amazing creative things with their work.

Here is my video show how to set up tracing a portrait in Procreate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj4dOHIHYH8

Here is my video showing how to trace a portrait in Keynote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUEP0LPyS3c&list=PLFjWZ1U2VuUHMbpJQlfRrJw-jezjCroWp&index=10

Besides tracing self-portraits, my student have created traced portraits of famous people. Traced elements become a part of sketchnotes and augmented reality projects. It is wonderful to give them creative options where they personally design the elements that are a part of the protect!

3 replies

March 10, 2023

Looks so easy when you do it Karen! I’m one of those who moans “I can’t draw” 😊. You’ve encouraged me to try this. Thanks for the tutorial.

October 10, 2024

Couldn’t watch due to the whispering. Waste of a tutorial.

October 14, 2024

I'm so sorry - I recorded the tutorial quickly while students were in my classroom, so I had to talk softly so I wouldn't disturb them while they were working. Sometimes that is the best you can do. I hope you found something better to help you out.

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