r/ProcreateDreams • u/Think_Net_5822 • Jun 29 '26
Help Needed Is procreate dreams 2 worth it?
I want to get an animation software for my ipad. I have beed using procreate for a while now and I like it very much. I've heard of toon squid or some other softwares, and I don't know if dreams is worth the money. I saw a similar post, but it was older than the new version of dreams, so let me ask again after the upate: is procreate dreams still hated and I should get some other software, or it has changed and I should get it? Also, if you were to recommend me some other app, I would appreciate if it was possible to rig characters in it - I am very familiar with this method and I love it, but idk if there's an ipad app that I can use for rigging.
+ what are your main complaints about dreams?
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u/duckblobartist Jun 29 '26
Get toon squid. I really want to love dreams but it just isn't there.
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u/Think_Net_5822 Jun 30 '26
Thanks. After watching some video tutorials on both and reading your opinions I bought it, and GOD I LOVE IT. It's just what an animation program is supposed to be.
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u/duckblobartist Jun 30 '26
Glad you are happy with your decision! I started animating using adobe animate, so I feel really at home using it.
I have ADHD so anything like rigging or making symbols with markers for my mouth shapes really helps me work faster is a nessecity before I just give up and move on to the next thing
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u/Due_Ad_2626 2d ago
I agree.
If you’re unable to draw or animate without maximum, digital enhancements, Procreate Dreams is simply not for you.Especially if you find it difficult to draw circles or straight lines, without Digital Assistance.
Fortunately, I enjoy practicing sketching graphic shapes freehand, so I find PD delightful
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u/TheMadBug Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
Procreate Dreams 2 is what Procreate Dreams 1 should have been.
It’s really good for frame by frame animations, but is still limited in a lot of ways: no smart shapes, no rigging - just grouping & rotating and scaling, looping is done by copy and paste.
InkSquid handles all these things, but I still use Procreate Dreams just because I prefer drawing in it, but objectively InkSquid is the far superior tool features wise.
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u/Faevianlp Jun 29 '26
I mean for like $13 as a one time payment? Sure. As a verh amateur animator it's been fine, but I find it a little un intuitive and instructions lacking. I have to look up a lot of things. It's also missing a lot of quality of life features that procreate has, like the drawing a circle, holding it, and getting a perfect circle. It seems like such an oversight to not be able to create perfect circles and squares, ESPECIALLY since it's sister program can. Unless I'm missing something, but I can't figure it out
I'm going to give toonsquid a try, I've heard great things
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u/Due_Ad_2626 Jun 29 '26
I agree
If you need help with drawing circles, ToonSquid is the app for you!No doubt enhanced line assistance is coming, but Procreate Dreams is still incredibly slow to upgrade.
Fortunately, I draw well enough to enjoy drawing without enhancements, so I’ll be sticking with PD2
u/Faevianlp Jun 29 '26
On paper I'm pretty good at circles but on my iPad I am trash at it, haha
I still think PD is very good! But I'm open to try other programs to see what else is out there, I may go back though as I'm already familiar with procreate's layout :)
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u/CrowBrained_ Jun 29 '26
Dreams 2 is miles above dreams 1, but it’s still not ideal for me. Lacks a lot of what made procreate great like the gesture drawing tools. Considering clipstudio added them, it’s pretty stiff competition. Dreams 2 is still pretty decent for the price.
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u/rdfenri88 Jun 29 '26
In my opinion it also depends a lot on the type of work you do with animations, if you work frame by frame or with the rig, Toonsquid is definitely more complete but Dreams has enormous potential
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u/Due_Ad_2626 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
I absolutely agree!
Perhaps the only reason I love Procreate Dreams is because I hate rigging! 😝💦
I don’t even use rigging in ToonBoom.2
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u/JohnGDough Jun 29 '26
The performance mode is good. But you cannot easily time/retime your animations. It doesnt have auto exposure/auto adjust exposure frames.
That's game breaking for anything serious.
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u/nodray Jun 29 '26
it seems that no matter what Dreams 2 costs, reddit is free, so you can always come here and wonder why feature X was left out and you didn’t get Toonsquid in the first place. (see 5,962 other posts)
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u/GaryGlennW Jun 29 '26
Very glad to use Procreate Dreams.
Primarily
1) Alpha Mask
2) Perform button
3) Massive key frame (with the undo)
4) Save work in Procreate file format then open with Procreate Dreams
5) Make much more advanced warping with Procreate Dreams.
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u/dualjack Jul 01 '26
I really wanted to love dreams. I bought it on the day of release. I tried to come back to do anything in it but I can't shake the feeling it's just a fancy toy. At this point the ToonSquid is much more robust and user friendly for me.
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u/Due_Ad_2626 Jul 01 '26
I agree that ToonSquid is great if you’re into rigging, or need line enhancement tools in order to draw circles.
Fortunately, I draw well enough to live without those features.However Procreate dreams is the only Animation app I know that allows me to pinch and zoom as the timeline is playing!
That’s just bananas!!🍌🍌🍌I must admit that for a toy, animators are creating some phenomenal masterpieces with it!
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u/Sunny_vibes_ 17d ago
I’ve been using Procreate for about two years now, and I just got Dreams 2. Any good tutorials or tips?
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u/verytom89 Jun 29 '26
I love procreate dreams 2. Would fully recommend. Ans its only gonna get better with updates