Procreate Backup

Artwork

File format

Control the default file format for drag & drop exports in the Procreate app settings.

• iPad Settings > scroll down on the left to Procreate
  • Drag & Drop Export group
    • Preferred File Format: PSD or Procreate

Drag & Drop export

1. Open Procreate
2. Go to Gallery view
3. Swipe up from bottom of iPad screen to reveal dock
4. Choose app for export, e.g. Files or (Google) Drive
   1. Click and hold the app icon
   2. Drag the app to the right side of the iPad.
   3. Hold the app on the right side of the screen until it docks side-by-side with the Procreate app.
5. Click Select on the upper right of the Procreate Gallery
   1. Select files to export
   2. Drag the files to the other app window.
      Note that if you select and drag folders from within the Procreate Gallery, those folders will not be created in the destination app. Instead, the files within those Gallery folders will be exported to the folder that is open in the destination app.

The Files app allows access to both servers on the LAN and cloud services, like Google Drive, so it may be the most versatile option for receiving files.

Export via Share

1. Open Gallery view in the Procreate app.
2. Click Select at the top right of the Procreate Gallery
3. Select files to export
4. Click Share at the top right of the Procreate Gallery
   1. Select format to use to export, e.g. Procreate or PSD
5. Select app to export to, e.g. (Google) Drive or Files
   1. Select destination folder
   2. Click Upload

Previewing Procreate files on Mac OS

A plugin can be installed on Mac to allow previews of Procreate files in Mac OS Finder windows.

Troubleshooting

Exporting Procreate native files fails

Use case

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

Procreate export error

Both of these cases apply to exporting images as native Procreate files. Exporting the same in PSD format will be successful.

1. Select files in Procreate Gallery and drag them to external app. The app will show a dialog with a message like, "Importing X item(s) X item(s) remaining," with a progress circle that does not change. Nothing seems to happen after this point. If the dialog is dismissed by pressing the Cancel button, no files will have been added to the external app.

2. Select a file or files in Procreate Gallery, and then press the Share button. Select "Procreate" as the file format. A message will display, "Exporting..." with a checkmark. Then another message, "Export unsuccessful."

Cause

Older Procreate images won't export successfully as native Procreate files. Newer Procreate images can be exported successfully.

Solution

If an image cannot be exported, open it in Procreate and crop the image by one pixel in either dimension. Close the image to save the changes. This seems to update the image so that it can now be exported like newer Procreate images.

Brushes

1. Open up a split view with Procreate and the app that will accept the exported brushes.
2. Open an image in Procreate.
3. Open the Brushes menu by clicking on the Brush icon at the top right of the screen.
4. Select a brush by clicking and holding on it.
5. After selecting a brush, multiple brushes can be selected by clicking on other brushes.
6. Drag the selected brushes to the other app to export to that app.

Palettes

1. Open up a split view with Procreate and the app that will accept the exported brushes.
2. Open an image in Procreate.
3. Open the Color menu by clicking on the current color preview at the top right of the screen.
4. Click on Palettes at the bottom right of the Color fly out menu.
5. Click and hold on a palette, and drag it to the destination app.
6. Looks like palettes are exported one at a time only. It's not possible to export multiple palettes.