How to Print From Procreate: Canvas, DPI and Export

Knowing how to print from Procreate is mostly about decisions you make before you draw a single line. Procreate is a raster app, so your canvas has a fixed number of pixels. If the canvas is too small, your print will look soft no matter how good the artwork is. This guide covers canvas sizes for common prints, DPI and color profiles, bleed, export settings, home printing versus print shops, and how to fix prints that come out too dark or blurry.

Step 1: Set Up the Canvas for Print

Tap the plus icon in the Gallery, then the custom canvas icon. Choose inches, centimeters or millimeters, enter your final print size, and set DPI to 300. Procreate calculates the pixel dimensions automatically.

Pixel dimensions for common print sizes at 300 DPI

Large canvases reduce the number of layers Procreate allows, and the limit depends on your iPad’s memory. If you hit the layer limit, merge finished layers, or work at a slightly lower resolution such as 200 to 250 DPI for very large posters viewed from a distance.

Plan for the biggest print you might make

Because raster art cannot be enlarged without losing sharpness, size the canvas for the largest print you are likely to sell or display. You can always scale down for smaller prints. A common approach is to work at 16 x 20 inches or 18 x 24 inches at 300 DPI if your iPad can handle it, then export smaller versions as needed.

Step 2: Choose the Right Color Profile

Procreate lets you pick a color profile when creating a canvas, under Color Profile in the custom canvas settings.

Ask your printer which profile they prefer. Many digital and giclée print services work from RGB files and handle conversion themselves. If you choose CMYK at canvas creation, you will see a more accurate preview of how bright colors will print. Changing the profile of an existing canvas is not straightforward, so decide at the start; if you need to switch, you can export the artwork and import it into a new canvas with the desired profile.

For a structured approach to building print-ready illustrations in Procreate, from canvas setup to final color, our guide to the best Procreate illustration guidebooks recommends resources by skill level.

Step 3: Add Bleed and Safe Margins

Bleed is extra artwork that extends beyond the final trim edge. Print shops trim through it so there are no white slivers at the edges. A common requirement is 0.125 inch (3 mm) on each side, but confirm with your printer.

1. Create the canvas at trim size plus bleed (see the table above).
2. Extend background color and artwork all the way into the bleed area.
3. Keep important elements, especially text and signatures, at least 0.25 inch inside the trim line (the safe zone).
4. Turn on the Drawing Guide with a grid to mark trim and safe lines, or draw guide lines on a separate layer you hide before export.

If you forgot bleed, go to Actions, Canvas, Crop and Resize, and enlarge the canvas without resampling, then extend the background into the new edges.

Step 4: Check Resolution With Crop and Resize

Open Actions, Canvas, Crop and Resize, then Settings to see the current DPI and dimensions. If your canvas was created at 72 or 132 DPI, you can change the DPI value without resampling, which simply changes the print size; the pixel count stays the same. Turning on resample to add pixels makes the file bigger but does not add real detail, so prints may look soft. It is always better to start at the right size.

Step 5: Prepare the Artwork

• Hide guide layers, sketch layers and reference images.
• Flatten a duplicate, if your printer prefers a single layer, but keep the layered original.
• Check edges at 100 percent zoom for stray marks.
• Adjust brightness slightly if test prints come out dark (see troubleshooting below).
• Sign the work inside the safe zone.

Step 6: Export From Procreate

Tap the wrench icon (Actions), then Share, and choose a format.

Save the exported file to Files, AirDrop it to a computer, or upload it straight to a cloud service or print site.

Step 7: Print It

Printing at home

1. Connect your iPad and printer to the same Wi-Fi network (the printer must support AirPrint).
2. Export as PDF or PNG, then open the share sheet and choose Print.
3. Select the printer, paper size and number of copies.
4. In the printer’s own settings (sometimes via its app or computer driver), choose the correct paper type and high-quality mode.
5. Use photo paper or fine art matte paper for vibrant results; plain paper absorbs ink and dulls colors.

Using a print shop or giclée printer

Send a TIFF or high-quality PDF at 300 DPI with bleed. Ask about their preferred color profile, paper options, and whether they offer a proof. Giclée printing uses archival inks and papers and suits art prints you plan to sell.

Print-on-demand services

Each platform publishes its own file requirements for products like posters, stickers and shirts. Check pixel dimensions, file type and whether transparent backgrounds are needed. PNG is the most common choice.

Troubleshooting Procreate Prints

How to Print Art From Procreate to Sell

• Work large. Keep a master file at the largest print size you offer.
• Use archival printing. Pigment inks on acid-free paper last longer than dye inks on standard paper.
• Proof every new paper. Each paper renders color differently.
• Standardize sizes. Common frame sizes such as 5 x 7, 8 x 10 and 11 x 14 inches make prints easier for buyers to frame.
• Keep the layered original. Save the .procreate file as an archive in case you need changes later.

How to Use Procreate for Cricut Designs and Print Then Cut

Cricut’s Print Then Cut feature prints a design on a home printer and then cuts around it, which is popular for stickers and labels. Procreate works well for this:

1. Create a canvas at the sticker sheet’s working size (check Cricut’s current maximum Print Then Cut dimensions for your machine) at 300 DPI.
2. Draw each sticker on its own layer with a clear outline, and hide the background layer so it exports with transparency.
3. Add a white or colored offset border around each design if you want a sticker edge; a slightly larger duplicate shape filled with white on a layer below works well.
4. Export as PNG with transparency.
5. Upload to Design Space, choose the Print Then Cut option, and print on sticker paper with the printer’s high-quality setting.

For cut-only projects such as vinyl decals, stick to solid black shapes and avoid textures; each separate shape becomes a cut path.

Procreate vs Adobe Illustrator for Print Work

Procreate is excellent for painterly art prints, cards and book illustrations as long as you plan the canvas size in advance. Illustrator creates vector artwork that scales to any size, which matters for logos, signage and packaging. If a print job might need to grow later, such as a design that starts as a postcard and becomes a banner, consider vectorizing simple artwork or working in a vector program from the start.

Common Mistakes

• Starting on a screen-size canvas. Default screen canvases are too small for most prints.
• Upscaling a small canvas. Resampling adds pixels, not detail.
• Ignoring bleed. Leads to white edges or cut-off art.
• Judging color on a bright screen. Always test print.
• Sending JPEGs at low quality. Compression artifacts show up in print.
• Forgetting to hide guide layers. Trim lines and grids exported by accident will print. Do a final layer check before every export.

FAQs

How do you print from Procreate?

Create a canvas at the final print size and 300 DPI, finish your artwork, then export via Actions and Share as a PNG, TIFF, JPEG or PDF. Print through AirPrint from the iPad or send the file to a print shop.

What DPI should I use in Procreate for printing?

300 DPI at the final print size is the standard for high-quality prints. Large posters viewed from a distance can often be printed at 150 to 250 DPI without obvious loss of quality.

Should I use RGB or CMYK in Procreate for printing?

Use RGB (usually sRGB) for home printers and most online print services. Choose CMYK only if your print shop requests it. Ask your printer before starting a big project.

Why does my Procreate print look darker than on screen?

The iPad screen emits light and is typically very bright, while paper only reflects light. Lower screen brightness when editing, lighten midtones slightly, and use test prints to calibrate your expectations.

Can I make a Procreate canvas bigger for printing later?

You can enlarge it in Crop and Resize, but resampling only adds interpolated pixels, which can look soft. For sharp prints, create the canvas at the right size from the start.

What file format is best for printing Procreate art?

TIFF and PNG are both lossless and good for print. TIFF is often preferred by professional print shops, while PNG works well for home printing and print-on-demand.

Next Step

Print success in Procreate comes from planning: the right canvas size, 300 DPI, a suitable color profile, bleed, and a test print before the final run. Set up a print-ready canvas template now so every new illustration starts correctly. To sharpen the illustration skills that go into those prints, explore our picks for the top Procreate illustration guidebooks for 2026.