In this article, we’re going to use Procreate for iPad to create our very own synthwave sunset scene. Synthwave is a genre which I recently learned about, if you haven’t encountered it before, it’s mainly focused around electronic music, sci-fi, and video games from the 1980’s. There are some really cool art and graphic design projects which we can create using these ideas as inspiration. A simple online search will show you lots of edgy and colourful pictures which have vibes of 80’s Miami with it’s all encompassing neon lights and palm trees, mixed with outer space and retro video games.
So, let’s get started with our project. There are plenty of ways in which you can put your own spin on this, so feel free to deviate your colours and patterns as you go, but if you want to create the same project as us, there are a couple of resources which are available to download from Creative Fabrica below.
First of all, create a new canvas by pressing the + in the top right corner of the gallery page. Select the screen size option.
If you haven’t already, install the brush set and colour palette listed above, unless you’re planning to use your own elements and colours.
Tap on the actions tool (the one which looks like a wrench, in the top left corner) and under the canvas section, toggle drawing guide to on.
You’ll now see the drawing guide page appear. Along the bottom of the canvas, select the 2D grid option with the below percentages. Don’t worry, we won’t see this on our final project!
Using one of Procreate’s inking brushes, draw a horizontal line across the screen. Hold your stylus down to make the line snap straight.
Choose a purple colour from your palette and drag this into the bottom section.
Use the layers menu to add a new layer.
Tip: for each new element you add, always create a new layer as this helps us mitigate mistakes.
Next, go to the brush tool and under airbrushing, select the soft brush. Set your size to around 40% and opacity at 100%.
In the top half of your canvas, choose three colours which will make up the sunset. I’ve gone for a pink, a peach and a light orange.
Tap on the adjustments tool (the button which looks like a magic wand, in the top left hand corner menu). Select gaussian blur and then tap on layer.
Slide your stylus across the screen to the right to alter the amount of blur. The higher the percentage, the more your colours will blend into one another. I’m going to blend mine to around 22.2%.
Open the layers panel and drag the sunset layer down below the purple layer.
Go back to the brush library, and under inking, select the technical pen (this is my favourite pen to use for simple drawings). Choose a yellow from your colour palette.
Draw a rough circle in the middle of the screen, it needs to be larger than a realistic sun, as synthwave is all about fantasy and surrealism!
Hold your stylus down on the screen to snap the shape to an elipse. In the menu which pops up across the top, tap on edit shape.
Drag your sun to your preferred size and position in the middle of the canvas, appearing as though it’s coming over the horizon.
Drag the same yellow colour which you used for the outline, into the centre of the circle to fill it in.
Open the layers menu, and tap on the sun layer. Select alpha lock from the pop up menu, then drag this layer down below the purple one, so that it’s peeping over the horizon.
Now, in a similar method to how we created our sunset, we’re going to create a gradient effect on the sun. Use the soft airbrush to create three sections.
You guessed it, use the gaussian blur to blend the shades together.
Once you’re happy with the sun, open the eraser tool and under painting, select round brush.
Set your brush size to around 4% (this may vary depending on the size of your sun) and at around half way down the sun, erase a horizontal line across. Hold your stylus on the screen to snap the line straight.
Repeat this step again, and then increate the brush size and repeat a few more times, like below.
Open the actions menu again, and toggle the drawing guide to on (if it’s not still on) and tap edit drawing guide.
In the menu at the bottom of the screen, tap on perspective. Then place the blue node in the middle of the screen. You should see a lined perspective guide, radiating outwards from the centre point. Hit done to exit the drawing guide.
Create a new layer, and in the brush library under luminance, select lightpen.
Pick whichever colour you want, I’m going for a light blue but may change it layer using layer adjustments.
Starting from the left hand side, follow the second line down from the outer side of your canvas to the centre. Repeat this, leaving a gap of two lines. Keep going, bearing in mind that as you get further towards the middle of your canvas, the gaps need to be bigger.
Go back into the drawing guide and change it to the 2D grid.
Now, use the grid as guidelines to draw horizontal lines across the canvas.
Keep drawing lines, making them closer together as you get further to the top.
In the actions menu, toggle the drawing guide to off.
If you look closely at where your neon lines all meet under the sun, they may have spilled out into the sunset section. Use the eraser tool on a small brush size, to carefully erase any spillage.
Create a new layer again, and go to your brush library and locate the trees brush set which we’ve downloaded. If you don’t want to add trees, you can add any element of your choice, or even draw something yourself.
Choose a dark colour and stamp a palm tree onto your canvas, above the horizon. Create a new layer and repeat this step.
We’re almost done, so let’s just add a couple of finishing touches.
Create a new layer and using the lightpen and a pale purple, draw a line across the horizon. Then, draw a rough circle around the sun. Ensure the layer you’re drawing on, is set below the sun layer.
Use gaussian blur to blend the lightpen to give a subtle glow.
I’m going to amend the blue neon lines slightly, this section is optional, but it may be worth exploring just to see what other effects we can create.
In your layers panel, tap on the N next to the lines layer, and then select lighten. You’ll see that the lines have changed to a very pale blue. I think I prefer this to my original colour choice, but feel free to use whichever colour you like best.
We’re all done! We hope you enjoyed this project, it’s definitely unique and has plenty of opportunity for you to put your own spin on the design.
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