Cropping an image in Procreate is one of the simplest ways to focus on the best parts of your artwork or adjust the size to fit your needs. We can easily crop an entire canvas by using the Crop & Resize tool found in the Actions menu, letting us drag to select exactly what we want to keep. This tool also lets us enter specific dimensions to get precise results, making it perfect for any project.
If we want to crop just a single layer, Procreate doesn’t have a direct crop feature, but we can use clipping masks as a neat workaround. This trick helps us crop layers without damaging the original artwork so we can adjust or undo the crop anytime. Whether we’re trimming our whole canvas or working layer by layer, Procreate offers flexible options to keep our creative process smooth and efficient.
By learning how to crop well in Procreate, we can make sure our images look just right before sharing or exporting them. Let’s explore how to make the most of cropping so our digital art always shines.
Key Takeways
- We can crop the entire canvas quickly with Procreate’s Crop & Resize tool.
- Clipping masks are the best way to crop individual layers non-destructively.
- Precise cropping helps prepare our artwork for export or final use.
Preparing Your Image for Cropping
Before we start cropping, it’s important to get everything ready to make the process smooth. This means bringing your image into Procreate correctly, knowing your canvas settings, and keeping a backup so we don’t lose any work.
Importing Images into Procreate
To crop an image, we first need to import it into Procreate. From the Gallery, tap the + button in the top right to create a new canvas or open an existing one.
If you want to import a photo, tap the Actions menu (the gear icon), then tap Add > Insert a photo. This places the image as a new layer. We can then adjust its size and position before cropping.
It’s important to work on a clean layer. This helps avoid accidentally changing other parts of the project. If your image is too big or small, resizing it before cropping can save time.
Understanding Procreate Canvas Settings
Our Procreate canvas size affects cropping options. When creating a new canvas, we can choose preset sizes or set custom dimensions.
Canvas resolution matters too. A higher DPI means better image quality but can slow down editing. Lower DPI saves space but may lose detail.
We find the canvas settings under Actions > Canvas > Crop and Resize. Here, we can manually set crop dimensions or adjust the canvas size. Knowing how your canvas settings work helps us crop with accurate sizing and ensures the image fits where we want to use it.
Creating a Backup Before Cropping
Before cropping, it’s smart to save a backup. Cropping with Procreate’s Crop & Resize tool removes parts of the image permanently, so we want to avoid losing anything important.
To create a backup, duplicate the layer or the entire canvas. Simply open the Layers menu, swipe left on the layer, and tap Duplicate.
Alternatively, export your work to your device by going to Actions > Share, then save a copy as a PNG or PSD file. This gives us a safety net in case we need to go back and make changes.
Backups mean we can experiment with cropping without worry. It’s an easy habit that saves time later.
For more help, checking out detailed Procreate tutorials can also guide us through each step.
Cropping an Image in Procreate
Cropping and resizing images in Procreate helps us focus on the important parts of our artwork. We can change the size, shape, or orientation of our canvas and adjust the crop area to fit our needs. Let’s explore how to find and use the tools for cropping and resizing effectively.
Accessing the Crop and Resize Tool
To start cropping in Procreate, we head to the Actions menu. This is the wrench icon at the top left of the screen. From there, we select Canvas and then tap on Crop & Resize. This opens the cropping interface where a highlighted box appears around our canvas.
The edges and corners of this box have handles we can drag to resize the crop area. This tool works on the whole canvas, not just one layer. If we change our mind, there’s a Cancel button to back out, or Reset to undo any changes while still in this mode.
Using this tool is the first step to selecting the exact parts of our image we want to focus on or remove.
Adjusting the Crop Area
Once we open the Crop & Resize tool, we adjust the crop area by dragging the handles around the canvas. Dragging a corner changes both width and height at the same time, while dragging a side handle changes just one dimension.
We can also move the entire crop box by tapping and dragging from inside the highlighted area. This allows us to reposition the part of the image we want to keep.
Turning on Snapping can help here. It snaps the crop edges to the center or quarter points of the canvas, so we get precise alignment without guessing. After setting the crop area, tapping Done applies the change.
This part of cropping lets us remove unwanted space and focus our composition exactly where it looks best.
Setting Custom Dimensions and Orientation
Procreate lets us set exact crop sizes if we want something precise. While in Crop & Resize mode, we tap Settings at the top right. Here, we can type in specific width and height numbers for the crop box.
There’s also a Rotation slider to change the angle of the crop area. This helps us straighten or tilt the canvas to match our design needs.
If we want the image to scale with the cropping, we can toggle Resample on. This resizes the entire artwork along with the canvas, keeping proportions balanced.
After choosing size and rotation, we tap Done to finalize. This makes cropping in Procreate very flexible, whether for quick edits or precise adjustments.
For a full explanation of how to crop and resize your images in Procreate, check out this detailed crop and resize guide.
Advanced Cropping and Layer Techniques
Mastering cropping in Procreate goes beyond just trimming the edges of your entire canvas. It’s about working smartly with layers, shapes, and selections so we can shape our art exactly how we want. These methods give us more control and freedom to cut, crop, and refine details.
Cropping a Single Layer
In Procreate, we can crop individual layers without affecting the whole canvas. This is super helpful when only part of our artwork needs adjustment.
First, select the layer you want to crop by tapping the layers icon. Then use the Transform Tool (arrow icon) to resize or move the content within that layer.
To crop precisely, tap the wrench icon, go to Actions > Canvas > Crop and Resize. This affects the entire canvas, so to crop just one layer, we can trim its content by selecting the layer, then using the Selection Tool to isolate the area we want. After selecting, tap Cut or Clear to remove the unwanted parts.
This way, we keep the rest of our drawing untouched while focusing only on the layer that needs change. It’s a handy tip for detailed editing and keeping our workflow neat.
Freehand Cropping with Selection Tools
Sometimes our cropping needs aren’t square or rectangular. That’s where Procreate’s Selection Tools come in handy.
We can choose from different selection modes like Freehand, Rectangle, or Ellipse. For freehand cropping, pick the Freehand mode by tapping the ‘S’ icon, then draw around the part of the image we want to keep or cut.
Once selected, options appear at the bottom. We can tap Cut to remove the area outside the selection, or Copy to move it to a new layer. This method lets us crop irregular shapes easily, which is great for creative freedom.
Using selections combined with cropping helps us refine parts of our image without changing the whole canvas size or messing with other layers.
Using Clipping Masks to Crop
Clipping masks offer a smart way to crop parts of a layer without permanently deleting any content.
We create a new layer above the one we want to crop. On this new layer, draw or place shapes that define the visible areas.
Then, tap the new layer and select Clipping Mask. This clips the content of the upper layer so that only the parts overlapping the shapes below show through.
It’s a non-destructive way to crop because we can always adjust or remove the mask to change what shows. Plus, it keeps our original art safe inside the layer.
Clipping masks help us cut specific parts of our artwork with precision and flexibility, a great addition to our Procreate tips for detailed cropping.
Exporting and Saving Your Cropped Image
After cropping and resizing our image in Procreate, the next step is to save it properly. We want to make sure we pick the right file type and save it where we can easily access or share it later.
Choosing Export Formats
When exporting, Procreate lets us choose from several file formats. The most common are JPG, PNG, and sometimes TIFF or PSD.
- JPG is great for photos and projects where file size matters.
- PNG keeps transparency, which is perfect if your image has no background.
- PSD (Photoshop format) is useful if we want to continue editing in other apps.
We find the export options under the Actions menu (wrench icon), then the Share tab. Picking the right format depends on what we plan to do next with the cropped image.
Saving and Sharing Your Final Image
Once the format is selected, Procreate asks us where to save. We can choose to save directly to our device, send it to iCloud Drive, or share it via email or social media.
To save, we tap Save or Export after choosing the location. If we want to share right away, Procreate offers quick options like AirDrop, Messages, or Instagram.
Remember, cropping in Procreate actually cuts the canvas size, so exporting creates a new file with only the cropped pixels. It’s a simple way to keep our artwork neat and ready to use anywhere. For detailed steps, check out this guide on how to crop and export images in Procreate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cropping in Procreate can be done in different ways depending on what you need. We can crop imported images, resize and crop at the same time, or even cut specific parts of an image. Some features help with shaping the crop or removing backgrounds as well.
What are the steps to crop an imported image in Procreate on an iPad?
First, we import the image by going to Actions → Add → Insert a Photo. Then, tap Actions → Canvas → Crop & Resize, and drag the corners to crop. Once set, we tap Done to apply the crop.
Can I crop an image to a specific shape, like a circle, within Procreate?
Yes. We can use the Selection tool with Ellipse to trace a circle. After selecting the shape, invert the selection and clear the outside area by swiping three fingers left on the screen.
Is there a way to crop and resize an image simultaneously in Procreate?
Absolutely. While in Crop & Resize, we can turn on the Resample option in Settings. This scales the artwork while changing the canvas size, keeping the image quality smooth.
How do I crop an image to a custom size or shape in Procreate?
We can use the Freehand Selection tool to trace any shape manually. After selecting the area, invert the selection to remove everything outside of it. This allows us to crop in any form we want.
Does Procreate offer a feature to automatically remove the background from an image?
Procreate doesn’t have a single automatic background remover. However, we can use Automatic Selection to tap the background color and adjust the selection before deleting unwanted parts.
What tool should I use in Procreate to cut out parts of an image?
The Selection tool is best. We choose from Automatic, Freehand, Ellipse, or Rectangle selection modes to outline the area. After selecting, we can delete or cut the unwanted parts easily.