The basic copy and paste workflow in Procreate

Procreate does not have a traditional copy-paste menu like desktop software. Instead, you copy and paste by selecting content with the Selection tool, then using two-finger tap to bring up the context menu. The Selection tool lives in the toolbar on the left — it looks like a dotted rectangle. Once you select what you want, a two-finger tap on the canvas shows a menu with Copy, Paste, and other options.

The pasted content lands on a new layer automatically, which keeps your original work separate. You can then move, scale, or rotate the pasted layer using the Transform tool before flattening it down if you want to merge it with other layers.

This workflow is different from copying text or images from outside Procreate. If you want to paste something from your Photos app or another program, you use the same two-finger tap menu, but the content comes in as a floating selection that you can position before committing it to a layer.

Key Takeaways

  • Select content with the Selection tool (dotted rectangle icon), then two-finger tap the canvas to open the context menu and choose Copy.
  • Pasted content appears on a new layer, so your original artwork stays intact and you can adjust the pasted layer independently.
  • You can paste content from outside Procreate — like images from Photos — using the same two-finger tap menu.
  • After pasting, use the Transform tool to move, scale, or rotate before you flatten or merge layers.
  • Procreate stores copied content in memory, so you can paste the same selection multiple times in one session.

Selecting content before you copy

The Selection tool is your starting point. Tap the dotted rectangle icon in the toolbar, then drag a box around the area you want to copy. You can adjust the selection by dragging the handles at the corners and edges. If you need to select a specific shape rather than a rectangle, swipe down with two fingers to see other selection options — Procreate offers an Automatic selection tool and a Freehand selection tool.

Once your selection is active, you will see marching ants (an animated dotted line) around the selected area. This shows exactly what will be copied. If the selection is not quite right, tap outside it to deselect, then draw a new one. You can also use the Select menu at the top to choose All, Deselect, or Invert your selection.

Copying and pasting within the same canvas

After you have selected your content, place two fingers on the canvas and tap. A menu appears with Copy at the top. Tap Copy, and Procreate stores that selection in memory. You can now paste it anywhere in the same document or even in a different Procreate file.

To paste, two-finger tap the canvas again and choose Paste. The content appears as a floating selection in the center of your canvas. You can drag it to move it, pinch to scale it, or use two fingers to rotate it. Once you are happy with the position, tap elsewhere on the canvas or press the Merge button to lock it into place on its own layer.

If you paste multiple times without merging, each paste creates a new floating selection. You can move them independently before merging, which is useful if you want to duplicate an element several times in different positions.

Pasting images and content from other apps

You can paste images directly from your Photos app, Safari, or other programs into Procreate. Copy the image in the source app first — long-press and choose Copy, or use the standard copy gesture. Then switch to Procreate, two-finger tap the canvas, and choose Paste.

The image lands as a floating selection, the same way content pasted from within Procreate does. You can resize, rotate, and position it before you merge it to a layer. If the image is larger than your canvas, Procreate scales it to fit, but you can use the Transform tool to enlarge it again if needed.

Pasting from other apps is useful for reference images, textures, or elements you want to incorporate into your artwork. The pasted content respects your canvas resolution, so a high-resolution image stays sharp even if you scale it down.

Using the Transform tool after pasting

Once you paste, the floating selection is ready to transform. Tap the Transform tool (it looks like a corner bracket) in the toolbar, or swipe up with three fingers to activate it. You will see handles around the pasted content.

Drag the corner handles to scale while keeping the aspect ratio locked. Drag the edge handles to stretch or squeeze in one direction. Place two fingers on the content and rotate to turn it. You can also tap the content once to see additional options like Flip Horizontal, Flip Vertical, or Rotate 90 degrees.

The Transform tool also shows a grid overlay, which helps you align the pasted content with other elements in your artwork. Once the position and size are correct, tap outside the selection or press Merge to commit the layer.

Copying and pasting between Procreate files

Procreate stores copied content in memory, so you can switch between different files and paste the same selection into multiple documents. Copy content in one file using the two-finger tap menu, then open a different Procreate file and paste using the same gesture.

This is helpful if you are working on a series of illustrations and want to reuse elements — like a character pose, a background detail, or a texture — across multiple pieces. The copied content retains its size and appearance when pasted into a different file, though the resolution of the receiving canvas may affect how it looks.

Keep in mind that closing Procreate clears the clipboard, so if you need to paste content into a file later, you will need to copy it again. If you want to save a reusable element permanently, create a separate Procreate file with just that element, or export it as a PNG to your Photos app and paste it back when needed.

Troubleshooting common copy and paste issues

If the Paste option is grayed out, you have not copied anything yet. Make sure you have selected content with the Selection tool and used the two-finger tap menu to copy it. If you closed Procreate or switched apps, the clipboard was cleared — copy the content again.

If pasted content appears very small or very large, the source and destination canvases may have different resolutions or sizes. Use the Transform tool to scale it to the size you need. If the pasted layer is not appearing where you expect, check that you are looking at the right layer in the Layers panel — pasted content always creates a new layer.

If you are trying to paste an image from another app and nothing happens, make sure the image was actually copied. Go back to the source app, long-press the image, and choose Copy explicitly. Some apps require a specific gesture or menu option to copy images to the clipboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste between Procreate and Photoshop?

Not directly through the clipboard. Procreate and Photoshop do not share a copy-paste buffer across apps. Instead, export your Procreate work as a PNG or PSD file, then open it in Photoshop. You can also copy a Procreate layer to your Photos app and paste it into Photoshop from there, though this loses some quality.

What happens if I paste something bigger than my canvas?

Procreate scales the pasted content to fit within the canvas bounds automatically. You can then use the Transform tool to enlarge it again if you want it to extend beyond the original canvas size, or keep it scaled down. The content will not be cropped unless you flatten the layer.

Can I undo a paste?

Yes. Use two fingers to swipe left on the canvas, or go to Edit and choose Undo. This removes the pasted layer and returns you to the state before you pasted. You can undo multiple times to go back several steps.

Does copying use a lot of memory?

Copying a large selection can use memory, especially on older iPad models. If Procreate becomes slow or crashes after copying, try working with smaller selections or closing other apps to free up space. Procreate clears the clipboard when you close the app, so memory is not permanently consumed.

Can I copy and paste text in Procreate?

Procreate does not have a text tool for editable text. If you want to add text, use the Text tool to type directly in Procreate, or copy text from another app and paste it as an image. Once text is pasted as an image, you cannot edit the words — you can only move, scale, or transform it.