Whether you're sketching from life, studying anatomy, or refining proportions, having visual support can make a huge difference. Procreate makes it easy to bring in reference images and use canvas guides to keep your drawings accurate, balanced, and consistent.
Using the Reference Companion
Procreate has a built-in Reference tool that lets you keep a floating image on-screen while you work. To activate it:
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Tap the Actions menu (wrench icon).
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Go to Canvas > toggle on Reference.
The reference window will appear, and you can drag it anywhere. Tap “Image” to import a file from your device, or use “Canvas” to see a zoomed-out view of your current piece. This is perfect for side-by-side drawing or checking details without switching tabs.
You can zoom and pan inside the reference window independently of your main canvas — especially useful when working from photo references or mood boards.
Importing Images Directly to Canvas
If you want to work over or trace an image:
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Go to Actions > Add > Insert a photo (or Insert a file).
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The image will appear as a new layer, which you can resize, move, or lower in opacity.
This is great for creating line art over sketches, studying poses, or breaking down complex shapes.
Setting Up Drawing Guides
Procreate also includes built-in canvas guides to help with layout and perspective. To turn them on:
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Tap Actions > Canvas > toggle on Drawing Guide.
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Then tap Edit Drawing Guide to choose from:
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2D Grid: Helpful for proportions and spacing.
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Isometric: Ideal for angled layouts like game design or maps.
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Perspective: Set up vanishing points for 1-point, 2-point, or custom perspective drawing.
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Symmetry: Mirror your strokes in real time — great for faces, mandalas, or designs.
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Each guide type has customization options like size, color, opacity, and rotation. You can also enable Drawing Assist on a layer to lock your strokes to the guide.
Tips for Realistic Drawing
When working with reference images, here are a few things to keep in mind:
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Use low opacity layers to trace or block shapes.
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Break down complex forms into basic shapes first.
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Flip your canvas horizontally to check proportions.
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Don’t just copy — observe why something looks the way it does.
Procreate’s reference tools and guides aren’t just helpful — they can completely transform how confident and accurate your drawing feels. Whether you're aiming for realism, symmetry, or structure, these built-in features will help you stay on track. In the next post, we’ll take a look at animation tools and how to bring your artwork to life frame by frame.
