As your artwork and brush library grow, keeping things organized in Procreate becomes more important. A tidy workspace not only saves time but helps you focus more on the creative side of things. Whether you’re managing layers, brushes, or color palettes, Procreate gives you plenty of flexibility to set things up your way.
Managing the Gallery
Your Procreate home screen — the Gallery — is where all your canvases are stored. You can keep things organized using Stacks, which are like folders:
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To create a stack, drag one artwork on top of another.
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Tap “Select” to group multiple files at once and create a stack.
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You can rename stacks and artworks by tapping their names.
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Rearranging is simple: just tap and hold, then drag files or stacks.
This is especially useful if you work on different projects or want to separate client work from personal art.
Keeping Layers Under Control
Inside a canvas, things can quickly get messy if you don’t manage your layers. Here are a few tips:
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Name your layers by tapping the name — especially for large projects.
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Group related layers by selecting them (swipe right) and tapping “Group.”
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Use colors or thumbnails to spot things at a glance.
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Collapse groups to reduce visual clutter and keep the Layers panel clean.
Layer organization is key when you're doing detailed work or returning to a file weeks later.
Organizing Brushes
The Brush Library can get crowded fast, especially if you import custom sets. You can create custom brush sets by tapping the “+” at the top of the list. Then:
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Drag brushes into your custom sets to sort them.
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Rename sets for specific styles (e.g., “Sketching,” “Textures,” “Inking”).
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Duplicate and customize brushes so your tools match your workflow.
Keeping brushes sorted helps you switch between styles without slowing down.
Managing Color Palettes
In the Color Panel’s Palettes tab, you can create, delete, and rename color palettes. Some helpful tips:
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Use one palette per project or client.
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Name palettes clearly (e.g., “Comic Tones,” “Warm Landscapes”).
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Import palettes from reference photos for consistent tones.
You can also pin a palette to keep it always visible, which is helpful for quick access.
Procreate’s flexibility makes it easy to keep things in order — you just need to set up your system once and tweak it over time. With a well-organized workspace, you’ll spend less time searching for tools and more time making great art. In the next post, we’ll walk through exporting your work — whether it’s for Instagram, print, or animation.
