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In Procreate Dreams, choose a Flipbook when the artwork needs to change from frame to frame; choose a Drawing when the artwork should stay consistent while you move or animate it as a whole. Create either from the Create menu, draw in Draw & Paint, then return to the Timeline to build the rest of the scene.
Choose between a Drawing and a Flipbook
The key question is what changes during the shot: the drawn pose, or the position and scale of an otherwise unchanged element. Procreate’s Brushes handbook describes a Flipbook as “a multi-track cel animation that is completely contained.” A Drawing, by contrast, can serve as a static element or one you animate with keyframes or Perform mode.
| Approach | Best fit | How you animate it |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing | Backgrounds, props, or other artwork that should remain visually consistent | Draw the element, then animate the Drawing in the Timeline with keyframes or Perform mode. |
| Flipbook | Character poses or other motion where the artwork changes over time | Draw frames on its tracks; use frame duration and holds to shape timing. |
These approaches can work together: a character can be drawn frame by frame while a background or prop remains a Drawing and moves independently.
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- Create the artwork: Tap Create and choose Drawing or Flipbook to enter Draw & Paint.
- Choose a tool: Select Paint, choose a brush and color, then draw with a finger or Apple Pencil. A Pencil is optional; check compatibility with your particular iPad if you plan to use one. The official Brushes handbook documents finger and Pencil input.
- Return to the Timeline: When the artwork is ready, go back to the Timeline to arrange it with other content and continue animating.
Draw frame-by-frame with a Flipbook
Set the project frame rate first
A Flipbook’s initial frames correspond to the movie’s frames-per-second setting. Set that rate when creating the movie, or change it through Movie settings → Project → Frames per second. Choose with the intended playback in mind rather than treating one frame rate as best for every animation. See the Flipbook handbook.
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- WHY APPLE PENCIL - With pixel-perfect precision, tilt sensitivity, and low latency, Apple Pencil (USB-C) makes note-taking, signing documents, and drawing easy at an affordable price. It pairs and charges via USB-C and can magnetically attach to your iPad.
- COMPATIBILITY - Apple Pencil (USB-C) works with iPad Pro 13-inch (M4 and M5); iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generation); iPad Pro 11-inch (M4 and M5); iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation); iPad Air 13-inch (M2, M3, M4); iPad Air 11-inch (M2 and M3); iPad Air (4th and 5th generation); iPad (A16), iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad mini (6th generation); and iPad (10th generation).
- EASY AND NATURAL - Write, sketch, and draw with pixel-perfect precision. Apple Pencil (USB-C) does it all with low latency and tilt sensitivity. Apple Pencil pairs and charges via USB-C and features a flat edge that attaches magnetically.
- TRANSFORMS IPAD INTO A CANVAS - Draw, sketch, color, take notes, and mark up documents. Use built-in apps like Notes and Freeform, or choose from over a million more apps available on the App Store. And for pros, use Apple Pencil hover on iPad Pro and iPad Air to preview your mark before you make it.
- WHAT'S IN THE BOX - Apple Pencil (USB-C)
Draw poses and organize tracks
Make the changing poses in the Flipbook and use its multiple drawing tracks to organize artwork. Tracks can be reordered, and their visibility, opacity, blend mode, and masks can be adjusted to manage how the contents interact. This lets you keep parts of the animation separate instead of treating the Flipbook as a single, uneditable layer.
Control rhythm with holds and duration
Not every drawing needs to appear for just one frame. Adjust frame duration or extend a frame to hold a pose; holding frames can create animation on twos or fours. Preview playback as you adjust duration so the motion’s rhythm matches the action. The handbook documents these timing controls but does not prescribe a universal setting.
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- Compatibility: The stylus pencil only works with iPads from 2018 onwards, including iPad Air 11 inch (2026-2024, M4/M3/M2), iPad Air 13 inch (2026-2024, M4/M3/M2), iPad Pro 11 inch (2025-2024, M5/M4), iPad Pro 13 inch (2025-2024, M5/M4), iPad A16/11th (2025), iPad 10th Gen (2022), iPad Pro 11 inch (2022-2018), iPad Pro 12.9 inch (2022-2018), iPad Air 5th/4th/3rd, iPad Mini A17 Pro/7th/6th/5th, and iPad 9th/8th/7th/6th. Please verify your model in [Settings > General > About] before purchasing.
- Tilt Sensitivity: The iPad Stylus features tilt sensitivity, allowing you to create varying line thicknesses and shadows by adjusting the angle of your pencil for apple ipad 10th generation.
- Palm Rejection: You can comfortably rest your hand on the screen without gloves while using the stylus pen for ipad.
- Magnetic Adsorption: The iPad pencil 10th generation magnetically attaches to iPads released from 2018～2026 just like 2nd generation for Apple Pencil. Note: Does not support magnetic charging.
- Type-C Fast Charging: Fully charges the ipad pencil in just 15 minutes for up to 9 hours of use. Note: Sleeps after 5 minutes of inactivity to save power.
Animate an unchanged drawing without redrawing it
For an element that should retain the same appearance while it moves, create a Drawing and animate that element in the Timeline. Procreate Dreams offers Compose, Perform, and Keyframe workflows; use keyframes or Perform for whole-element motion rather than making a new painted pose for every frame. The Drawing handbook describes Drawings as suitable for backgrounds and objects intended for keyframing or Perform mode, and the Content handbook covers Timeline modes.
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Combine drawings and other content in the Timeline
A movie can bring together Drawings, Flipbooks, still images, video, text, and audio on tracks. Keep the frame-by-frame artwork in a Flipbook and use separate Timeline elements for content that does not need new drawn poses. Procreate’s Dreams help overview presents Flipbook and onion skins for frame-by-frame work, alongside keyframing and Performing as other animation tools.
Quick Recap
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- 【More Durable Tips】: Made of high-quality polymer, the Metapen's tips pass a 20 km durability test—2X more durable than original iPencil tips(NOTE：The package comes with two nibs, one already installed and one as a spare). Their internal structure remains intact even after 3,000 impacts. Each Metapen A8 pen comes with two extra replaceable tips , saving costs for frequent users
- 【Metal Barrel & Palm Rejection】: Metapen A8 Aluminum Metal Barrel iPad stylus pen supports Palm Rejection, so no need for a glove, with metal barrel, this stylus pen can provide you with a better writing experience. You can rest your palm or fingers on the screen during sketching, drawing, or writing. All-metal aluminum barrel: 4x harder, 10x more wear-resistant than plastic.Metal weight, metal strength. Not plastic. 200 MPa flexural strength, survives 1.2m drops 50+ times. A stronger and more durable iPad A16 penicl for Child/Kids than plastic iPad pencil.
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- 【Make Sure Your iPad Model is Compatible】: Metapen Pencil A8 is ONLY compatible with the iPad models 2018-2026: iPad 11/10/9/8/7/6 Gen, iPad Pro 13-inch M4, iPad Pro 11-inch 1/2/3/4/M4, iPad Air 3/4/5/M2/M3, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3/4/5/6 Gen, iPad Mini 5/6 Gen. NOTE: The Pencil A8 is NOT compatible with iPads before 2018, iPhone, Android or Microsoft devices. Please check your iPad model before ordering
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- WHY APPLE PENCIL PRO — Apple Pencil Pro is loaded with intuitive features for ultimate creative control. Gestures and haptics allow you to seamlessly create without missing a beat. And Apple Pencil Pro features pixel-perfect precision, tilt and pressure sensitivity, and low latency. Attaches magnetically for wireless pairing and charging.
- COMPATIBILITY — Apple Pencil Pro works with iPad Pro 13-inch (M5 and M4), iPad Pro 11-inch (M5 and M4), iPad Air 11-inch (M2, M3, and M4), iPad Air 13-inch (M2, M3, and M4), and iPad mini (A17 Pro).
- ADVANCED TOOLS — Apple Pencil Pro gives you ultimate creative control. Use gestures like squeeze and barrel roll to access tools, change brushes, and create strokes without missing a beat. Haptics allow you to feel shapes snap into place, and more. Use Apple Pencil hover on iPad Pro (M5 and M4) and iPad Air (M3 and M2) to preview your mark before you make it. And now you can use Find My to locate your Apple Pencil Pro.
- EASY AND NATURAL — Apple Pencil Pro does it all with pixel-perfect precision, tilt and pressure sensitivity, and low latency. Featuring a flat edge, Apple Pencil Pro allows you to change tools with just the tap of a finger. Apple Pencil Pro attaches, charges, and pairs magnetically.
- TRANSFORMS IPAD INTO A CANVAS — Draw, sketch, color, take notes, and mark up documents. Use built-in apps like Notes and Freeform, or choose from over a million more apps available on the App Store. And for pros, use Apple Pencil hover on iPad Pro and iPad Air (M2) to preview your mark before you make it.
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- 【Compatible with 2018-2026 iPad & iPad Pro】The stylus supports for iPad series 2018-2026 model: iPad Pro 13" (M4), iPad Pro 12.9"(3rd/4th/5th/6th), iPad Pro 11"(All Generations), iPad Air M4/M3/M2/5th/4th/3rd Gen, iPad 11th/10th/9th/8th/7th/6th, iPad Mini 7th/6th/5th Gen. Please confirm your devices before you place an order, another model is invalid
- 【Not compatible with models before 2018】The stylus doesn't support iPad pro 1st&2nd, iPad pro 10.5", iPad pro 9.7", iPad 1 to 5 Gen, iPad mini 1 to 4 Gen, iPad Air 1st/2nd Gen versions of iPad. Not Compatible With iPhone, Android, Microsoft devices.iPad 10gen cannt use magnetic attraction.
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- 【Palm Rejection Design】Stylus pen with palm rejection technology, rest your hand naturally on the screen while writing or drawing, effortless interaction with your screen, gives you more accuracy and control against the screen. We commend you to use this pen on the iPad with a glass screen protector.
- 【Touch Switch & Fast Charging】Activate this stylus pen with a simple touch of the cap button. A quick 5-15 minute charge provides 15 hours of work time. Please note: Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPad for normal use, no pairing required.
Quick workflow checklist
- Use a Flipbook when the artwork itself changes from frame to frame.
- Use a Drawing when an element should stay visually consistent as it moves.
- Set the project frame rate before building Flipbook timing.
- Use multiple tracks to separate and manage Flipbook artwork.
- Adjust frame holds and duration, then preview playback to refine pacing.
- Return to the Timeline to combine animated elements with other media.
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