Procreate Unstacking: Tips & Tricks for Artwork Organization

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 7 min read

Digital artists are no strangers to the wonders of Procreate, a popular drawing and painting app. But when it comes to organizing your work, things can get a little tricky. The ability to unstack in Procreate is a game changer. It's a simple yet powerful feature that can help declutter your workspace and streamline your creative process. Let's dive into the world of Procreate and learn how to unstack your artworks effectively.

1. Get to Know Procreate

Before we delve into the art of unstacking in Procreate, it's crucial to familiarize ourselves with the basics of this versatile app. Let's start with the interface, the layers, and the variety of brushes and tools at your disposal.

Exploring the Interface

Procreate's interface is intuitive and user-friendly. Here are some key points to remember:

Gallery View: This is where all your artworks are displayed. You can stack similar artworks together to keep your gallery organized.
Canvas: When you open an artwork, you'll be taken to the Canvas. This is where you create and edit your art.
Toolbar: Located at the top of the screen, the Toolbar contains options for actions like undo, redo, and sharing your work.

Understanding Layers

Layers are fundamental to creating complex artworks in Procreate. Here's what you need to know:

Creating Layers: To create a new layer, tap the plus icon in the layers panel.
Managing Layers: You can rearrange, merge, or delete layers as per your needs. Remember to name your layers for easy identification.
Unstacking Layers: If you've grouped layers together, you can unstack them by dragging the layer out of the group. This is a practical way to unstack in Procreate and keep your layers organized.

Brushes and Tools

Procreate offers a wide variety of brushes and tools to bring your creative vision to life. Here are some quick tips:

Brush Library: From sketching to painting, there's a brush for every purpose. Don't be afraid to experiment with different brushes.
Custom Brushes: If you can't find the perfect brush, create your own. Procreate allows you to make custom brushes that suit your style.
Smudge and Erase Tools: These tools are based on your current brush, giving you the consistency across your artwork.

Now that you have a basic understanding of Procreate's interface, layers, brushes, and tools, you're ready to create your digital masterpiece and learn how to unstack in Procreate.

2. Create Your Digital Artwork

Armed with an understanding of Procreate's fundamentals, it's time to put your knowledge into action. Let's start creating and unstacking in Procreate!

Choosing The Right Brush

Getting the right brush can mean the difference between a masterpiece and a mess. Here are a few hints:

Consider Your Style: If you're aiming for a realistic look, go for texture-rich brushes. If you prefer a more cartoonish style, flat brushes might be your best bet.
Test Brushes: The best way to choose a brush is to test it out. Use a blank canvas to try different brushes and their effects.
Customize: If no brush seems to fit your vision, customize one. Procreate allows you to change everything from the shape and grain of your brush to its behavior.

Using Layers Effectively

Layers are the secret sauce of digital art. They can give your artwork depth, complexity, and flexibility. Here's how you can use them effectively:

Keep It Organized: Name your layers and use groups to keep similar layers together. This way, you can easily find, edit or unstack them in Procreate later.
Preserve Your Art: By drawing different elements on separate layers, you can edit or remove parts of your artwork without affecting the rest.
Blend and Experiment: Use layer modes to blend layers and create interesting effects. Don't be afraid to experiment and see what works best for your artwork.

Coloring Tips

Colors can make or break your artwork. The right colors can convey emotion, set the mood, and bring your art to life. Here are some coloring tips for Procreate:

Use Palettes: Procreate comes with pre-made color palettes. You can also create your own. Palettes help maintain color consistency across your artwork.
Understand Color Theory: Knowing the basics of color theory can enhance your art. Complementary colors, color harmony, and color contrast are all useful concepts.
Experiment with Blending: Use different brushes and layer modes to blend colors. This can add depth and interest to your artwork.

With these tips in mind, you're well on your way to creating stunning digital artwork. But creating is only half the battle. Next, let's learn how to keep your Procreate gallery tidy by using stacks, naming your work properly, and sorting your artwork effectively.

3. Organize Your Artwork

Once you've created your art, keeping it organized is key to maintaining a smooth workflow. Let's dive into how you can use Procreate's tools to do just that.

Using Stacks

Think of stacks like drawers for your digital art. They're a great way to organize your artwork by theme, project, or any way that makes sense to you. Here are some tips:

Creating Stacks: To create a stack, simply drag one artwork thumbnail onto another in your gallery. Voila! You've just created a stack.
Unstack Procreate: To unstack in Procreate, you can either open the stack and drag out the artwork, or swipe left on the artwork within the stack and tap "Unstack".
Renaming Stacks: Keep track of your work by naming your stacks according to their content. To rename, open the stack and tap on the name at the top.

Naming Your Work

It's easy to forget to name your pieces, but a little effort here goes a long way in staying organized. Here's how to do it:

Naming Artwork: Tap on the thumbnail of your artwork, then tap on "Rename". This can be a descriptive name, a project name, or a version number.
Be Consistent: Consistency in naming can help you locate specific pieces faster. Consider developing a system for naming that works for you.

Sorting Artwork

Sorting your artwork can be a game-changer for productivity. Here's how:

Sort By Date or Name: You can sort your Procreate gallery by date (newest or oldest first) or name (alphabetically). Just tap "Select" and then "Sort".
Use Favorites: Mark your most-used or in-progress pieces as favorites. They'll appear at the top of your gallery for easy access.

With these organization tips, you'll be able to maintain a clean and efficient Procreate gallery. Now, let's move on to sharing and exporting your amazing artwork!

After you've put your heart and soul into your digital art and organized it all neatly, it's time to show it off to the world. Procreate offers several ways to share and export your work. Let's take a look.

Export Options

Procreate supports a variety of file formats to cater to your needs. Here's how you can make the most of them:

Procreate Format: If you want to maintain all your layers and effects, save your artwork in Procreate's native format.
JPEG, PNG, and TIFF: These formats are best for sharing online. JPEGs are smaller and great for quick sharing, while PNGs and TIFFs offer higher quality.
PDF: If you're planning to print your art, consider exporting to PDF. This format preserves quality and is widely accepted by professional printers.

Sharing your artwork on social media can help you gain exposure and connect with other artists. Let's see how you can do this directly from Procreate:

Direct Sharing: Procreate allows you to share directly to popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Just tap on the 'share' icon and select your preferred platform.
Saving to Camera Roll: If you prefer, you can save your artwork to your device's camera roll and share from there. This gives you the flexibility to use any sharing app you like.

Creating Time-Lapse Videos

Procreate records your every stroke and allows you to create time-lapse videos of your art process — a fun and engaging way to share your creativity. Here's how:

Replay Your Artwork: Tap on the 'actions' menu, then 'video' and select 'time-lapse replay' to watch your art come to life.
Export Time-Lapse Video: If you want to share your process with others, you can export the replay as a time-lapse video. This can be a wonderful learning tool or just a fun behind-the-scenes look at your work.

Sharing your work is an exciting part of the creative process. But what if something goes wrong? Don't worry, up next we'll cover how to troubleshoot common issues in Procreate.

5. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even the best tools can sometimes throw a curveball. Don't sweat it; most common issues in Procreate have simple fixes. Let's dive in and unstack some solutions.

Dealing with Crashes

We've all been there — you're in the middle of creating a masterpiece when suddenly, the app crashes. Here are some steps you can take to rectify this:

Restart Procreate: Sometimes, a simple restart is all it takes to fix minor glitches.
Update the App: Ensure you're using the latest version of Procreate. Developers often release updates to fix bugs and improve stability.
Reset iPad: If Procreate continues to crash, try resetting your iPad. Remember to save your work before doing this to avoid losing any data.

Solving Storage Issues

Running out of storage can be a major roadblock in your creative journey. Here's what you can do to avoid this issue:

Manage Your Stacks: Keep your Procreate gallery organized and unstack excess layers. This can significantly reduce the storage used by the app.
Export and Delete: Export completed projects and delete them from Procreate. You can always re-import them if needed.
Upgrade Your Storage: If you're frequently running out of space, consider upgrading the storage on your iPad.

Finding Lost Work

Nothing can be more frustrating than losing your work. Fortunately, Procreate has features that can help you recover your lost artwork:

Check the 'Recently Deleted' Folder: Procreate has a 'Recently Deleted' folder where your deleted work is stored for 30 days.
Use the Time-Lapse Replay: If you accidentally mess up a layer, use the time-lapse replay feature to see what went wrong and how you can fix it.
Contact Support: If you're still unable to locate your work, consider reaching out to Procreate's support team. They're pretty helpful and might be able to assist you.

Remember, sometimes issues are just part of the creative process — they test our patience, but also teach us to problem-solve and think on our feet. Now you're all set to unstack Procreate and unleash your creativity with confidence!

If you're looking to improve your Procreate skills and artwork organization, don't miss out on the workshop 'Creating the Cosmos with Procreate' by Jeffrey Thelin. This workshop will not only teach you how to create stunning cosmic art but also provide you with valuable tips and tricks for organizing your Procreate projects effectively.