Adding text to your canvas in Procreate

To add text in Procreate, tap the Text tool in the toolbar on the left side of your screen — it looks like the letter "A". Then tap anywhere on your canvas where you want the text to appear. A text box will open with a keyboard, and you can type your message directly.

Once you've typed your text, you can move it around by dragging the text box, or resize it by pulling the corner handles outward. The text stays editable until you tap outside the text box or select a different tool. If you need to go back and change the wording later, tap the Text tool again and tap on your existing text to edit it.

Key Takeaways

  • The Text tool is the "A" icon in Procreate's left toolbar, and tapping it lets you place text anywhere on your canvas.
  • You can change font, size, color, and alignment using the options that appear in the top menu after you create a text box.
  • Text remains editable as long as you don't flatten the layer or merge it with other content.
  • Once you're satisfied with your text, you can convert it to a regular layer by tapping "Rasterize" so it becomes part of your artwork permanently.

Choosing fonts and adjusting size

After you tap the Text tool and create a text box, the top menu shows your formatting options. Tap the font name (usually "Procreate" by default) to open a list of all available typefaces. Procreate includes a range of built-in fonts, and you can also add custom fonts by installing them on your iPad through the system settings.

The size slider sits next to the font name. Drag it left to make text smaller or right to make it larger. You can also tap the number directly and type a specific size. The size you choose depends on how far away viewers will be and how much space you have on your canvas — text that looks readable at 48 points might be too small if you're creating a poster meant to be seen from across a room.

Changing text color and opacity

The color of your text matches whatever color is currently selected in your color palette. To change it, tap the color swatch (usually shown as a circle in the top toolbar) before you create your text box, or tap it after to change text that's already there.

If you want your text to be semi-transparent, use the opacity slider in the top menu after selecting your text. Drag it left to make the text more see-through, which is useful if you want text to sit over an image without completely blocking it. The opacity setting affects only that text layer, so you can have some text fully opaque and other text transparent on the same canvas.

Aligning and positioning text

Once your text box is active, the top menu shows alignment buttons. You can align text to the left, center it, or align it to the right. These buttons only affect how the text sits within its own text box, not where the box appears on your canvas.

To move the entire text box around your canvas, tap and drag it with your finger. If you want to position it precisely, you can use Procreate's alignment tools by selecting the text layer in your Layers panel, then using the Arrange menu to snap it to guides or other objects. This is especially helpful when you're working on designs where text needs to line up with other elements.

Converting text to a permanent layer

Text in Procreate stays editable as long as it remains a text layer. However, once you're happy with how it looks, you can convert it to a regular drawing layer by tapping and holding on the text layer in your Layers panel, then selecting Rasterize. This turns the text into pixels that become part of your artwork.

Rasterizing is useful when you're done editing and want to apply effects like blur or distortion to your text, or when you're preparing your file for export. Once text is rasterized, you can't edit the wording anymore, so make sure your text is exactly how you want it before you take this step. If you think you might need to change it later, keep a copy of the file with the text layer still editable.

Working with multiple text layers

You can add as many text layers as you want to a single canvas. Each time you tap the Text tool and create a new text box, Procreate automatically creates a new layer for it. This means you can have different text in different fonts, sizes, colors, and positions all on the same artwork, and edit each one independently.

In your Layers panel, each text layer shows the letter "A" icon so you can tell them apart from drawing layers. You can rename text layers by tapping and holding on them, which helps keep your file organized if you have many text elements. You can also reorder text layers by dragging them up or down in the panel, which changes which text appears in front when layers overlap.

Troubleshooting common text problems

If your text looks blurry or pixelated, the font size might be too small for the resolution you're working at. Try increasing the size or switching to a different font that renders more clearly at small sizes. Some decorative fonts are harder to read when they're tiny, so a simple sans-serif font often works better for small text.

If you can't find the Text tool, make sure you're not in a mode that hides the toolbar — swipe from the left edge of the screen to bring it back. If text isn't appearing where you tap, check that you have a layer selected and that your canvas isn't locked. You can unlock a layer by tapping the lock icon next to it in the Layers panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rotate text in Procreate?

Text layers can be rotated using the Transform tool. Select your text layer, tap the Transform tool (the arrow icon), then use the rotation handle to turn it. You can also use the Arrange menu to rotate by a specific angle like 90 degrees or 45 degrees.

What happens if I flatten my image with text on it?

Flattening merges all layers into one and converts text to pixels permanently. You won't be able to edit the wording afterward. Always keep an unflattened version of your file if you think you might need to change text later.

Can I add custom fonts to Procreate?

Yes. Install fonts on your iPad through Settings > General > Fonts, and they'll appear in Procreate's font list automatically. You can download fonts from websites like Google Fonts or purchase them from font marketplaces.

How do I make text follow a curved path?

Procreate doesn't have a built-in curved text tool. To create text on a curve, you can rasterize your text and use the Warp or Liquify tools to bend it manually, though this gives less precise results than dedicated design software.

Can I copy and paste text between Procreate files?

You can copy a text layer by tapping and holding it in the Layers panel and selecting Duplicate. To move text to a different file, duplicate the layer, then use the Selection tool to copy the pixels and paste them into another document.