Quick answer: If the symmetry tool in Procreate is not working, the most common fix is turning on Drawing Assist for the layer you are painting on: tap the layer thumbnail and select Drawing Assist. If that does not help, go to Actions, Canvas and make sure Drawing Guide is on, then tap Edit Drawing Guide, choose Symmetry, confirm Assisted Drawing is enabled and tap Reset to re-center the guide. New layers do not inherit Drawing Assist automatically, which is why symmetry often seems to stop working partway through a piece.
You were mirroring a mandala perfectly, added a new layer, and suddenly only one side is drawing. Or the symmetry line appears off-center, or strokes mirror in the wrong direction. Procreate’s symmetry tool is reliable, but a few settings have to line up for it to work, and they are spread across different menus.
This troubleshooting guide walks through how symmetry works in Procreate, each common problem and its fix, the settings that confuse people most, and tips for getting better results once it is working. It is written for current versions of Procreate on iPad; menus in older versions may look slightly different. If you are trying to recreate the same mirrored workflow on a PC, our comparison of the best Procreate alternative for Windows users covers desktop apps with symmetry rulers.
How the Symmetry Tool Works in Procreate
Procreate’s symmetry feature is part of the Drawing Guide system. It has three parts that all need to be active:
- Drawing Guide toggle (Actions, Canvas): turns the guide on or off for the canvas.
- Symmetry guide settings (Edit Drawing Guide, Symmetry): chooses the type of symmetry and whether Assisted Drawing is on.
- Drawing Assist per layer (tap layer, Drawing Assist): decides which layers actually mirror your strokes.
If any one of these is off, symmetry will not work as expected. Most “broken symmetry” problems come down to the third item.
Symmetry types
| Option | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical | Mirrors left and right across a vertical line | Faces, characters, butterflies, vases |
| Horizontal | Mirrors top and bottom across a horizontal line | Reflections in water, playing card designs |
| Quadrant | Mirrors into four sections | Tiles, patterns, ornamental designs |
| Radial | Mirrors into eight sections around a center point | Mandalas, flowers, snowflakes, kaleidoscope art |
There is also a Rotational Symmetry toggle. When it is on, strokes are rotated around the center rather than mirrored, which produces pinwheel-like patterns instead of reflections.
How to Set Up Symmetry Correctly From Scratch
If you are not sure which setting is off, the fastest fix is to set everything up again:
- Tap Actions (the wrench), then Canvas.
- Turn on Drawing Guide.
- Tap Edit Drawing Guide.
- Select Symmetry at the bottom.
- Tap Options and choose Vertical, Horizontal, Quadrant or Radial.
- Make sure Assisted Drawing is switched on in the Options menu.
- Decide whether you want Rotational Symmetry on or off.
- Tap Reset if the guide is off-center.
- Tap Done.
- Open the Layers panel. Check that the layer you are drawing on says Assisted under its name. If not, tap the layer and choose Drawing Assist.
Draw a test stroke. If it mirrors, you are set. If not, work through the problems below.
How to Fix the Symmetry Tool in Procreate: Common Problems
Problem 1: Symmetry stopped working on a new layer
Cause: Drawing Assist is set per layer. New layers start with it off, even if the layer below has it on.
Fix: Tap the new layer’s thumbnail and select Drawing Assist. You will see “Assisted” appear under the layer name. Do this for every new layer you want mirrored.
Problem 2: The symmetry line is not showing
Cause: Drawing Guide is turned off, or guide opacity is set very low.
Fix: Go to Actions, Canvas and switch on Drawing Guide. In Edit Drawing Guide, raise the Opacity slider at the top. You can also change the guide color with the color bar if it blends into your artwork.
Problem 3: The guide is visible but strokes do not mirror
Cause: Assisted Drawing is off in the symmetry options, or the layer lacks Drawing Assist.
Fix: Open Edit Drawing Guide, tap Options and make sure Assisted Drawing is on. Then confirm the layer shows “Assisted.”
Problem 4: The symmetry is off-center
Cause: The guide’s center point was moved, possibly by an accidental drag.
Fix: In Edit Drawing Guide, tap Reset to return the guide to the center of the canvas. You can also drag the blue node to place the center precisely where you want it, and drag the green node to rotate the axis.
Problem 5: The mirror line is tilted
Cause: The guide was rotated using the rotation node.
Fix: Tap Reset, or drag the rotation node back. When dragging, Procreate snaps to common angles, which helps you return to perfectly vertical or horizontal.
Problem 6: Strokes mirror but look rotated instead of reflected
Cause: Rotational Symmetry is turned on.
Fix: In Edit Drawing Guide, tap Options and switch Rotational Symmetry off for a true mirror effect.
Problem 7: Eraser or smudge is not mirroring
Cause: The layer is not assisted, or you switched to a layer without Drawing Assist.
Fix: On an assisted layer, painting, smudging and erasing generally follow the symmetry guide. Check the layer status first. If one tool still behaves differently, test it on a fresh assisted layer to rule out a layer issue.
Problem 8: Selection, Transform or fill tools ignore symmetry
Cause: Symmetry applies to brush-based strokes. Selections, transforms, adjustments and ColorDrop fills are not mirrored.
Fix: For fills, fill each mirrored area separately, or fill one side, duplicate the layer, flip it horizontally (Transform, Flip Horizontal) and align it. Adjustments such as Hue, Saturation, Brightness apply to the whole layer anyway; see our guide to adjustment layers in Procreate for non-destructive ways to handle those changes.
Problem 9: Symmetry is on but you do not want it on certain layers
Cause: Drawing Assist was enabled on a layer you want to paint freely.
Fix: Tap the layer and select Drawing Assist again to turn it off. Painting asymmetrical details, such as a lock of hair falling across one side of a face, is easier on its own unassisted layer.
Problem 10: Procreate is lagging or symmetry strokes are delayed
Cause: A very large canvas, many layers, heavy brushes or high StreamLine values combined with symmetry’s extra strokes can slow things down.
Fix: Close other apps, merge unneeded layers, lower StreamLine on the brush, or restart Procreate. Updating iPadOS and Procreate can also resolve bugs.
Quick Troubleshooting Checklist
| Check | Where | Should be |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing Guide | Actions, Canvas | On |
| Guide type | Edit Drawing Guide | Symmetry |
| Symmetry option | Edit Drawing Guide, Options | Vertical, Horizontal, Quadrant or Radial |
| Assisted Drawing | Edit Drawing Guide, Options | On |
| Rotational Symmetry | Edit Drawing Guide, Options | Off for mirroring, on for rotating |
| Layer status | Layers panel | Shows “Assisted” |
| Guide position | Edit Drawing Guide | Centered (tap Reset) |
Tips for Better Results With Symmetry
Turn symmetry off for natural details
Perfect symmetry can look stiff, especially on faces and characters. Use symmetry for the base structure, then switch Drawing Assist off and add asymmetric details: a slightly different eyebrow angle, hair strands, shading that follows a light source from one side.
Use radial symmetry for mandalas and patterns
Radial symmetry creates eight segments. Start in the center with small shapes and work outward in rings. Use a monoline brush for clean pattern lines, then color on a separate layer below the line layer.
Offset the center for creative compositions
You do not have to keep the symmetry center in the middle. Placing it off-center or near an edge produces interesting reflections and partial mandalas that can feel more dynamic.
Combine symmetry with QuickShape
Draw a line, hold to snap it into a straight line or arc, and the mirrored copy snaps too. This speeds up geometric designs.
Use horizontal symmetry for reflections
For water reflections, sketch with horizontal symmetry, then turn it off and distort the reflected half using Liquify or a wavy Warp to suggest ripples. Lower the reflection’s opacity slightly and add a subtle color shift.
Create seamless patterns with Quadrant
Quadrant symmetry helps create balanced tile designs. Combine it with the Transform tool’s Snapping options to align repeats when building a full pattern.
A Symmetry Workflow for Character Faces
Faces are one of the most popular uses for vertical symmetry, and a simple layer plan prevents most of the problems described above.
- Set up Vertical symmetry and tap Reset so the axis sits in the exact center of the canvas.
- Create a “Structure” layer with Drawing Assist on. Sketch the head shape, eye line, nose base and mouth line. Both halves appear at once, so proportions stay even.
- Create a “Features” layer and turn on Drawing Assist again, since new layers start without it. Draw eyes, brows, nostrils and lips.
- Turn the guide off visually by lowering guide opacity, so you can judge the face without the blue line splitting it.
- Add an unassisted “Asymmetry” layer. Tilt one eyebrow slightly, shift the part in the hair, add a smirk on one side. Small differences make the face feel alive.
- Paint lighting on unassisted layers. Light usually comes from one side, so shading should never be mirrored.
If you later merge the structure and features layers, the merged layer keeps or loses Drawing Assist depending on the layers involved, so check its status before you keep drawing. Naming layers by whether they are assisted saves confusion later, especially when you return to a file after a few days.
Symmetry Projects to Practice
- Butterfly (Vertical): Draw one wing; the other appears automatically. Add asymmetric coloring for realism.
- Mandala (Radial): Build rings of petals, dots and lines from the center outward.
- Character face (Vertical): Block in the head and features with symmetry, then add expression and lighting with it off.
- Lake reflection (Horizontal): Paint a treeline and let it reflect, then distort the reflection.
- Ornamental tile (Quadrant): Create a decorative corner motif that repeats into a full square design.
When Symmetry Issues Are Actually Something Else
Sometimes the problem is not symmetry at all:
- Nothing draws at all: Check whether the layer is locked, hidden or has Alpha Lock turned on with no content.
- Strokes appear very faint: Check brush opacity, layer opacity and the layer blend mode.
- Strokes appear in the wrong place: An active selection limits where you can paint. Tap the Selection tool and clear it.
- Only part of the stroke appears: You may be painting inside a clipping mask or a masked area.
FAQs
Why is my symmetry not working in Procreate?
Most often the current layer does not have Drawing Assist enabled. Tap the layer thumbnail and select Drawing Assist, and make sure Drawing Guide and Assisted Drawing are on.
How do I turn off symmetry in Procreate?
To stop mirroring on one layer, tap it and deselect Drawing Assist. To hide the guide entirely, go to Actions, Canvas and switch off Drawing Guide.
How do I re-center the symmetry line in Procreate?
Open Edit Drawing Guide and tap Reset. You can also drag the blue node to set a custom center point.
Can I use symmetry on only one layer?
Yes. Drawing Assist is a per-layer setting, so only layers with it enabled will mirror strokes.
What is rotational symmetry in Procreate?
Rotational Symmetry rotates strokes around the center point instead of mirroring them, which creates pinwheel-style patterns. Turn it off for normal mirror symmetry.
Does ColorDrop work with symmetry?
No. ColorDrop fills are not mirrored. Fill each side separately or duplicate and flip the layer.
Final Thoughts
Nearly every symmetry problem in Procreate traces back to three switches: Drawing Guide, Assisted Drawing and per-layer Drawing Assist. Check those first, tap Reset if the guide drifts, and remember that new layers never inherit assist settings. Once those habits stick, the symmetry tool becomes one of the fastest ways to build balanced designs.
If you are planning to work on a PC as well as an iPad, look at our breakdown of Windows art apps that rival Procreate to find one with symmetry tools that fit how you already work.
