# How to Expertly Name and Organize Your Files and Stacks in Procreate

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/how-to-expertly-name-and-organize-your-files-and-stacks-in-procreate/
- Published: 2024-04-10
- Author: Jordan Brown
- Categories: [Software & APP](https://33rdsquare.com/category/software-app/)

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As a digital illustrator, your Procreate app is the epicenter of your creative world. It‘s where ideas are born, refined, and brought to life in a flurry of layered, vibrant pixels.

But as your gallery grows, so does the risk of falling into an unorganized abyss. Imagine wasting precious minutes (or worse, hours) sifting through a sea of poorly labeled files and stacks just to find that _one_ sketch from last month. Yikes.

That‘s why developing a consistent naming convention for your Procreate files and stacks is not just helpful – it‘s essential. By taking a few extra seconds to label your work strategically, you‘ll be able to:

- Locate specific files quickly and easily
- Present a polished, professional image to clients
- Maintain an efficient, organized workflow
- Avoid the stress and wasted time of hunting for misplaced artwork

Don‘t just take my word for it. A survey by the Creative Group found that creatives spend an average of 4.5 hours per week searching for files. That‘s over a full work day per month!

Plus, according to Apple, the average Procreate user has over 500 files and 50 stacks in their gallery after just one year of use. Without a naming system, that‘s a recipe for digital disaster.

But fear not – I‘m here to help you tame the Procreate chaos. In this expert guide, I‘ll walk you through my proven step-by-step process for naming individual files and stacks. I‘ll also share pro tips for creating an intuitive naming structure, keeping your gallery organized long-term, and troubleshooting common issues.

By the end of this post, you‘ll have all the tools you need to transform your Procreate gallery from a disorganized mess into a well-oiled, productivity machine. Let‘s get started!

## How to Name Individual Procreate Files in 4 Easy Steps

First up, let‘s talk about naming individual Procreate artworks. Whether you‘re starting a new file or retroactively organizing older pieces, the process is the same:

Step 1: Open your Procreate gallery and tap to open the file you want to name. If you‘re starting a new canvas, skip this step.

![Open Procreate file to name](https://33rdsquare.com/open-procreate-file.jpg)

Step 2: Tap on the file name at the top center of the screen. If it‘s a new canvas, it will default to something like "Untitled Artwork." If you‘ve previously named it, the current name will appear.

![Tap Procreate file name to edit](https://33rdsquare.com/tap-file-name.jpg)

Step 3: Type in your desired file name using the on-screen keyboard. I‘ll share my best practices for choosing a name in a minute!

![Type new Procreate file name](https://33rdsquare.com/type-new-file-name.jpg)

Step 4: Once you‘re happy with the name, tap "Done" on the keyboard. Boom – your file is now christened with a shiny new moniker.

![Renamed Procreate file](https://33rdsquare.com/renamed-file.jpg)

See? Told you it was easy!

If you need to modify a file name later (which is totally normal), simply repeat the process above. You can rename a file an unlimited number of times.

## How to Name Procreate Stacks in 3 Simple Steps

Stacks are like file folders in Procreate – they let you group related artworks together for easy access and organization. Naming them well is just as important as naming individual files. Here‘s how:

Step 1: Open your gallery and locate the stack you want to name. If you need to create a new stack first, tap and drag one file on top of another.

![Open Procreate gallery to stack](https://33rdsquare.com/open-procreate-gallery-stack.jpg)

Step 2: Tap and hold the stack until a menu pops up, then tap "Rename."

![Tap rename Procreate stack](https://33rdsquare.com/rename-stack-menu.jpg)

Step 3: Enter your desired stack name, then tap "Done" on the keyboard to save it.

![Renamed Procreate stack](https://33rdsquare.com/renamed-stack.jpg)

That‘s it! Your stack is now labeled and ready to house all your related masterpieces.

One thing to note is that Procreate stack names are independent from the names of files inside them. So renaming a stack will not automatically change the individual file names, and vice versa. Keep that in mind as you‘re developing your naming structure.

## 9 Pro Tips for Naming Procreate Files & Stacks

Now that you know the mechanics of naming files and stacks in Procreate, let‘s dive into some best practices. These tips come from my 5+ years of experience as a professional illustrator and Procreate power user.

1. **Keep it descriptive:** Avoid vague titles like "Logo" or "WIP." Instead, use names that clearly convey the subject or purpose of the file, like "Bistro Menu Illustration" or "Watercolor Floral Pattern."
2. **Include key details:** When applicable, add the client name, project, or deliverable to your file name. For example, "Smith Wedding Invite – Draft 2" or "Acme Co. Brand Guidelines."
3. **Use versioning:** If you‘re creating multiple variations or iterations of a design, include a version number or letter in the file name. "Logo Concepts v1" or "Homepage Layout – Option A" are much clearer than "Logo" or "Homepage."
4. **Add a date:** For time-sensitive projects or ongoing series, include a date in your file name. I like to use the YYMMDD format for easy chronological sorting, like "Sketch – 210518."
5. **Stick to a formula:** Consistency is key when it comes to naming. Pick a formula that works for you and stick to it across all your files. For instance, mine is usually "Client/Series – Descriptive Name – Date or Version."
6. **Mind your characters:** While there‘s technically no character limit for Procreate names, aim to keep yours under 30 characters so they‘re fully visible in the gallery. Additionally, avoid using special characters like / \ : ? * " > < |, which can cause issues across operating systems.
7. **Use delimiters purposefully:** Delimiters like underscores (_), dashes (-), and capitals (CamelCase) can make your file names more scannable. For example, "Client_Project_Deliverable" is easier to parse than "clientprojectdeliverable."
8. **Develop a stack structure:** Think about how you want to categorize your files, then name your stacks accordingly. You might group by client, project, type of work, or stage of completion. For instance, "Concept Art," "Works in Progress," "Finals," etc.
9. **Don‘t be afraid to change it up:** If your naming system isn‘t working for you anymore, tweak it! As your business and artistic style evolves, so too might your labeling needs. The key is to find a sustainable structure that supports your workflow.

To see these tips in action, here are a few examples of strong Procreate file names:

- Sunrise Coffee Branding_Opt 2_220601
- Watercolor Floral Collection_Peonies_FINv2
- Editorial Illustration – Vogue July Issue – rough sketch

And here are some examples of well-named stacks:

- 01 – Personal Projects
- Weddings 2022
- Instagram Series
- Teaching Content
- [Client Name] Branding

Remember, the goal is to create a naming convention that is descriptive, intuitive, and easily maintainable for you. It‘s an upfront time investment that will pay dividends in the long run!

## Bonus: How to Use Procreate Stack Covers

If you really want to up your organization game, try implementing stack covers. These are custom thumbnails for your Procreate stacks that make them easy to identify at a glance.

For example, you might create a pink label for all your personal passion projects, a green one for client work, and a yellow one for sketches. Or you could design mini "logos" for each client stack to match their brand.

Here‘s how to set up a stack cover:

1. Create a square canvas to serve as your cover image. I recommend making it at least 500×500 pixels for crisp rendering.
2. Design your stack cover using textual labels, icons, solid colors, gradients, or whatever visuals you like.
3. Export the cover design as a PNG.
4. In your gallery, create a new stack or open an existing one. Drag the PNG file into the stack.
5. Tap and hold the stack, then select "Set as Stack Cover."

Voila! You now have a custom "book jacket" for your stack. Repeat the process for any other stacks you want to customize.

Here‘s a quick mock-up of what stack covers might look like in action:

![Procreate stack covers example](https://33rdsquare.com/procreate-stack-covers-example.jpg)

Nifty, right? It‘s a small touch that can make a big difference in the usability and polish of your gallery.

## More Tips for Keeping Your Procreate Gallery Organized

In addition to implementing a solid naming structure, here are a few more tips for maintaining an organized Procreate gallery:

- **Nest stacks strategically:** Did you know you can put stacks inside of other stacks? This is great for categorizing projects by client and then subdividing into phases. For example, you might have a "Sunrise Coffee" stack with substacks for "Branding," "Package Design," and "Social Media Assets."
- **Use color coding:** You can assign colors to stacks by tapping and holding > "Set Stack Color." Use this to create a visual filing system, like blue for client work, purple for personal projects, and orange for downloads.
- **Add dividers:** Procreate allows you to add text-based dividers between stacks in the gallery view. These are perfect for creating sections like "Current Projects," "Archived," or "Inspiration."
- **Create a WIP stack:** Whenever you start a new piece, first save it to a designated "Works in Progress" stack. Once it‘s complete, you can move it to a more permanent home. This keeps your in-progress pieces contained and easy to find.
- **Clean up regularly:** Every month or so, take a few minutes to audit your gallery. Delete any unwanted files, move older projects to an "Archive" stack, and make sure everything is labeled correctly. Staying on top of digital clutter makes it much easier to find what you need quickly.

![Example of organized Procreate gallery](https://33rdsquare.com/organized-procreate-gallery.jpg)

## Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions about naming files and stacks in Procreate? I‘ve got answers!

**Is there a way to see the full name of a file if it‘s too long for the gallery thumbnail?**

Yes! Simply tap on the file to open it, and you‘ll see the full name at the top center of the screen.

**Can I rename a file outside of Procreate?**

Technically yes, but I don‘t recommend it. Any names you add outside the app (like in the Files app) won‘t be reflected in your Procreate gallery and could cause syncing issues. It‘s best to do all your renaming within Procreate itself.

**What happens to my stack if I rename or delete the file I‘m using as a stack cover?**

Don‘t worry – your stack cover will stay put even if you rename the original file. However, if you delete that file completely, the stack will revert to a default thumbnail preview.

**Can I search for files by name in Procreate?**

Yep! Just tap the search icon (magnifying glass) in the upper right corner of the gallery, then type in your search term. Procreate will surface any files or stacks with that phrase in the name.

**Help! I‘m trying to rename a file/stack and it‘s not working.**

First, make sure you‘re tapping the name in the right place – the top center of the screen for individual files, or tap and hold > Rename for stacks. If that doesn‘t work, try force quitting and reopening the Procreate app. As a last resort, restart your iPad. Those steps resolve naming glitches 99% of the time.

## Farewell, File Chaos! 👋

If you‘ve made it this far, congratulations – you‘re now a certified expert in naming and organizing Procreate files!

I know it might seem nitpicky or even tedious to put this much thought into your file names. But believe me, Future You will be so grateful for the effort.

Not only will a clear naming structure save you time and headaches in the long run, but it also lays the foundation for a more polished, professional creative practice. When your files are in order, you can focus less on the admin work and more on the fun part – making art!

Of course, the system I‘ve outlined here is just one approach. Feel free to use it as a starting point and then customize it to fit your unique needs and preferences. The key is to find a naming convention that is intuitive and sustainable for _you_.

Do you have any other tried-and-true strategies for keeping your Procreate gallery organized? I‘m always looking for new tips and tricks. Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time, happy sketching! 🎨

Sources:

- "How Much Time Are You Wasting on Disorganized Files?" – Creative Pro
- "Artists: Here‘s Why You Need to Organize Your Procreate Files ASAP" – Bardot Brush
- "Procreate 5X: Organizing Your Artwork" – Every-Tuesday
- "The Life-Changing Magic of Naming Your Procreate Files" – Jenn Coyle

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Source: [How to Expertly Name and Organize Your Files and Stacks in Procreate](https://33rdsquare.com/how-to-expertly-name-and-organize-your-files-and-stacks-in-procreate/)