The Ultimate Guide to Exporting Files in Procreate: Everything You Need to Know
Hello fellow digital artists! I‘m Carolyn, a professional illustrator and Procreate enthusiast. In my work, I‘m constantly exporting Procreate files in various formats for all sorts of uses, from sending to clients and printers to posting online. Over the years, I‘ve learned all the ins and outs of Procreate‘s export options.
Exporting your work is a crucial step – you‘ve put hours into your digital drawing or painting, and you want to make sure it looks its best when it leaves Procreate. In this guide, I‘ll walk you through the 4 simple steps to export your Procreate art, and dive deep into the technical details of each file type so you can always choose the perfect format for your needs.
Step 1: Finish Your Artwork
Before we get into exporting, make sure your artwork is truly done. Do a final check for any stray marks, unintended transparency, or forgotten layers. Once you export, any edits you make will need to be re-exported.
Step 2: Open the Share Menu
Tap the Actions menu (wrench icon) in the top left of your canvas, then tap "Share". This will bring up the Share menu, where you‘ll see all the different places you can send or save your exported file.
But before we get into that, look at the top of the Share menu – this is where you choose your export file type.
Step 3: Choose Your Export File Type
Procreate offers several file types for exporting. Here‘s a rundown of each one and when you might want to use them:
JPEG
JPEG is a widely compatible format that‘s best for web use. It compresses the image to reduce file size, but this also reduces quality. JPEG doesn‘t support transparency.
Use JPEG when:
- Uploading to social media
- Emailing previews to clients
- File size is more important than maximum quality
Fun fact: The JPEG format was standardized in 1992 by the Joint Photographic Experts Group, hence the name! [1]
PNG
PNG is a lossless format, meaning it preserves all the original image data. It‘s great for digital use when you need transparency or the highest quality. The trade-off is larger file sizes than JPEG.
Use PNG when:
- You need transparency
- Printing at small sizes (stickers, cards, etc.)
- Displaying on the web at exact dimensions
PNG is widely supported by modern web browsers and operating systems. According to W3Techs, PNG is used by 74.3% of all websites. [2]
TIFF
TIFF is a lossless format that‘s popular for high-quality printing. It supports multiple color profiles and compression types. Procreate exports TIFFs with layers intact, great for sending to Photoshop.
Use TIFF when:
- Printing professionally (posters, art prints, etc.)
- Sending files for further editing
- Archiving maximum-quality masters
In a survey of 1,000 creative professionals, TIFF was the most preferred file type for printing, used by 47% of respondents. [3]
PSD
PSD is the native file format of Adobe Photoshop. Procreate‘s PSD export maintains all your layers for further editing in Photoshop.
Use PSD when:
- You or your client will be editing the artwork in Photoshop
- Keeping a layered "master" file for archiving
Despite the rise of other tools, Photoshop is still used by over 90% of creative professionals, according to a 2020 survey. [4]
PDF is a versatile format that‘s great for sharing, presentations, and printing. You can choose JPEG or PNG compression, and your layers will be exported as separate pages.
Use PDF when:
- Sending a final design to a client
- Making a multi-page document from your layers
- Printing at small sizes
Procreate
The native Procreate format (.procreate) saves all your layers, adjustments, and time-lapse recording. It‘s the best way to save an editable master file or share with other Procreate users.
Use Procreate format when:
- Saving a project to return to later
- Collaborating with other Procreate users
File Type Comparison Table
Here‘s a quick reference comparing the key attributes of each export file type:
| File Type | Quality | Transparency | Layers | File Size | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | Lossy | No | No | Small | Web/email |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | No | Medium | Web/digital |
| TIFF | Lossless | Yes | Yes | Large | Printing |
| PSD | Lossless | Yes | Yes | Large | Editing |
| Varies* | Yes | Yes** | Varies | Sharing | |
| Procreate | Lossless | Yes | Yes | Large | Archiving |
*PDF quality depends on compression settings
**PDF exports layers as pages
Step 4: Customize Your Export Settings
Once you‘ve chosen your file type, you may see some additional options depending on the format. Here‘s what each one means:
Quality (JPEG): A slider that controls the amount of compression. Higher quality means a larger file size.
Resolution (DPI/PPI): Dots/pixels per inch, controls the resolution of your exported file. 300dpi is standard for printing, while 72dpi is typical for web use. The higher the dpi, the larger the file size.
Color Profile: Defines the range of colors. sRGB is best for digital use, while CMYK is standard for professional printing. Work with your printer to choose the right profile.
Compression (TIFF): The type of compression applied, which affects compatibility. ZIP is a lossless method widely supported by image editors.
Layers (PDF): If toggled on, each layer is exported as a separate page in the PDF.
Tip: If you‘re unsure what settings to use, Ask the intended recipient what specs they need, whether that‘s your client, printer, or social media platform.
Once your settings look good, tap "Export". Then you can choose where to save or send your file, such as your Photos library, Files app, or any other app on your iPad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What‘s the best format for printing my Procreate art?
For best results, export as a high-quality TIFF with at least 300dpi resolution. Avoid JPEG, as the compression artifacts can show up in print. Work with your printer to determine the ideal color profile and resolution for the specific print job.
How big can I export my canvas from Procreate?
Procreate supports canvases up to 8192 x 4096 pixels on iPad Pros with 4GB RAM or more (2019 models and later). Older iPads are limited to 4096 x 4096 pixels. When exporting, you can scale the canvas up or down by adjusting the DPI/PPI – just keep in mind scaling up will not add more detail. [5]
Can I export my Procreate file as a vector?
No, Procreate is not a vector application, so you cannot export true vector files. However, the high-resolution exports are still suitable for many uses that traditionally required vector art, such as logos and illustrations. Just work at a high enough resolution for your needs.
My exported file looks pixelated or blurry – what happened?
There are a couple potential causes. First, check the resolution (dpi/ppi) – if it‘s too low for the intended use, the exported file may look blurry or pixelated. 72-150dpi is typical for web, while 300dpi is standard for print.
Second, if you‘re viewing the exported file on a screen, make sure the zoom level is at 100%. Zooming in can cause pixelation. If it still looks off, the file may be getting compressed somewhere – check if it was automatically optimized for email or by a website.
Why do my export options look different?
If you don‘t see all the settings I described, you‘re likely using an older version of Procreate. Restore purchases in the App Store to make sure you have the latest version.
Key Takeaways
By now you should have a solid grasp on exporting files from Procreate:
- Finish your artwork before exporting
- Access export options from the Share menu
- Choose your file type based on the intended use
- Customize settings like dpi and color profile
- Save or share your exported artwork
I hope this guide has empowered you to export your Procreate artwork with confidence! As you‘ve seen, Procreate‘s flexibility means you can get your art from the canvas to just about anywhere, whether that‘s Instagram or the side of a building.
The most important thing is to understand the strengths of each file type, so you can make an informed decision based on your project. When in doubt, ask the recipient what format and specs they prefer.
If you have any other questions or tips to share, leave a comment below – I‘m always eager to learn from my fellow Procreate users. Now go export some masterpieces!
References
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG[2] https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/im-png
[3] https://www.designbolts.com/2020/12/30/popular-graphic-design-file-formats/
[4] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200929005153/en/GRAPHIC-Design-Software-in-the-US–Industry-Market-Research-Report
[5] https://procreate.art/faq/canvas-and-printing