How to Vectorize Procreate Artwork AND Keep Your Layers!

Why convert Procreate artwork into vectors if you can just make your artwork the size you need it at 300dpi?
Here are a few possibilities:
1. You end up needing your artwork larger than you planned and you don’t want to remake it (you should never enlarge your pixel-based artwork after it’s been created; even at 300dpi, rescaling stretches those pixels, creating blurry edges)
2. A client requests it
3. You can add it on as an extra option (upsell!) for freelance work
4. Logos should really always have a vector option because there’s no telling where + how they’ll be used
5. A type of merch you want manufactured may require it
6. Lettering needs to be vectorized to convert it into fonts (more on that next month!)
7. Vectors cooperate well with cutting/craft machines, like Cricut and Silhouette (vectors can also be exported as svgs - and you can def make some good side hustle $ from those!)
In this video, I’m sharing my process for vectorizing Procreate artwork and it keeps all of your layers 🎉
You'll notice I'm using Adobe Illustrator instead of Affinity - here's why:
The image trace option in Illustrator is the ideal way to convert your pixel artwork into vectors. There are workarounds for this, sure, but 👉 I value your time and your time is best spent using the right tools for the best outcome. 👈 Adobe Illustrator is also the design industry’s standard for vector software, so if you ever want to take your design skills further, you’ll already be on your way.
Even if Illustrator isn’t your cup of tea, take a peek at the process - it may spark some lightbulbs for other things, too ✨
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Looking for more Procreate tutorials + freebies?!
👉 Head to my site: every-tuesday.com
👉 Free Procreate brushes + swatches: tuesdaymakers.com
✨ New to Procreate? Take my free course, Procreate for Beginners here: learn.every-tu...
🎨More Procreate projects like this one: • Creative Design Projec...
🎓Love the flat style in Procreate ? Check out my full florals course here:
learn.every-tu...
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CREATE THIS PROJECT WITH:
✅ Ink Lovers Brush Set: every-tuesday....
✅ Free color palette: every-tuesday....
✅ the desktop or laptop version of Adobe Illustrator (or just watch for the process!)
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TECH STUFF + ACCESSORIES I USE
✨ This artwork was created on a 5th gen iPad Pro (12.9”, 256GB) with a 2nd gen Apple Pencil using the Procreate app
✨I recommend any iPad listed here for working in Procreate: every-tuesday.... as they all allow for pressure sensitivity. I only recommend an Apple Pencil because of its reliability compared to other 3rd party styluses
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro + Specs
00:20 Paint the lemon
04:22 Export artwork
04:40 Bring into Illustrator
07:40 Vectorize elements
11:25 Re-order layers
11:50 Vector clipping masks
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LET’S CONNECT!
👉 Website: every-tuesday.com
👉 Instagram: / everytuesday
(Use #procreateit and #tuesdaymakers to tag your work!)
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[@lakshmiganesan9644]

This is super useful and an incredible time saver. I am gonna incorporate this in my workflow and bookmark this for future reference. Thanks so much Teela!

[@EveryTuesday]

Thanks friend! So glad it was helpful! 💕

[@PaperDollFriend]

This is THE video I’ve been looking for. TYSM for being thorough!!!!

[@AngelaAng-nearaquietstream]

Hi Teela! What are your thoughts on using Illustrator’s Shape Builder Tool to combine the shapes, i.e. veins and leaves, instead of clipping masks? As in, use clipping masks in Procreate and then use the Shape Builder Tool in Illustrator when assembling the vectorized layers?

[@evelynwald9132]

Love this video. I had to laugh when you said it was a strange moment you were having being back in Illustrator, especially since that’s where you got your start. I discovered you because of Illustrator as I wanted to learn how to make svg files to be used for machine embroidery and Cricut. I have been a fan girl ever since and have learned so much from your video’s and courses that I have purchased. Even bought an iPad because of you so I could get Procreate. Thanks so much for all of the content you create, both free and paid!

[@EveryTuesday]

Aww thank you so much for this Evelyn! That truly means the world to me - you made my day!! ❤️

[@oddryblack3066]

GIRLLLLLL YOU SAVED MY LIFE! THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH FOR THIS TUTORIALLL

[@hellocreativefamily4208]

This was such a great video. I've been thinking of switching from Inkscape to Illustrator for designing my SVG files. I was worried it would be too hard but you made it look so easy. Thank you!

[@malpilcher]

You are an angel sent from heaven - thank you for making this!! So extremely helpful!

[@MildaMade]

Thank you. This video was amazing. It was exactly what I was looking for, and explained at the pace I needed to learn at! I have subscribed. You have a new fan!

[@claraelia]

this is awesome, thanks for sharing!

[@dianeisely6394]

Illustrator won't let me drag and drop the layers all into the same artboard. It keeps putting them each in separate ones. If you see this, do you know the fix? I am desperate for a project deadline today! Thanks!

[@EA-102]

This is incredibly helpful!! Thank you so much for this.

[@JacquieHughes]

Thank you very much for this! Quick question - what is the reason you do not just create directly in illustrator thus avoiding the conversion?

[@EssGeeSee]

I was super interested until you mentioned Illustrator.

[@lyndametcalf590]

Thanks for sharing your process. I’ve done this before and have always exported is as a Photoshop document. When I open it in Ai and select “keep layers” they all come into your document in order. You don’t have to rearrange them.

[@EveryTuesday]

That def works well, too! PSDs don't retain the separate components of clipping masks, though.

[@keikoo20]

this helped me so much! thank you! you'd be surprised at how hard it is to find straightforward tutorial when it comes to this haha

[@akraftingalley]

This was awesome...so helpful! Thanks :)

[@SPRIETOable]

Hi! Thank you so much. I have an issue tho, I cant seem to find the “expand” button. It’s some letterwork done in white tho

[@katefrancesdesigns]

This is a super helpful workflow. Wish I’d known this way soon 😅

[@Vision09]

How to remove the background?

[@annieschmid1121]

You're a lifesaver! Thank you Teela!

[@EveryTuesday]

Thanks for watching!

[@Phanericx]

Could this be done in Fresco? I will no pay for illustrator. It is an excellent software no doubt, but it’s robbery for creatives like myself who are being charged every month for a software that I am not using all the time. I am a mom of 4 (1,2,4, and 10yrs). There is no consistency with my art right now… so it feels so unfair to charge monthly rather than allowing users to buy the latest software and let them choose to upgrade when they choose. So frustrating

[@CarrieGaston]

Very useful information. Thanks so much.

[@sheverleyclacken3676]

Thank you. I’m going to give it a go.

[@dianed2014]

Thank you so much - this is so extremely helpful!

[@mgaeddert1]

Thank you sooooo much! Very helpful!!!

[@catboy_]

Very helpful thank you!

[@maridarlison9880]

What is the benefit to drawing first in Procreate? Why wouldn't you draw directly into Illustrator? I'm new to Procreate, so still trying to work out how to use it and make it part of my workflow. Thanks.

[@EveryTuesday]

Sure - many people prefer the versatility of drawing directly on the iPad's screen and Procreate makes it easy to draw and hand letter with countless pressure sensitive brushes 👍

[@ninjahaggblom]

Very interesting and good to know.

[@wanderingcreativity]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@devindoran67]

Can this be done with more complex projects that have shading, textures, and intricate line work? Or is this or is this strictly for more simple designs. Thanks for the video!

[@EveryTuesday]

Simple designs work best, but it’s still adaptable for more complex ones. You’ll likely need to do some manual editing on the appearance of shading depending on how textured it is, but can def still follow the same vectorizations steps!

[@ezswan]

why would you not export it to psd and simply open the psd inside illustrator or export the layers to illustrator from the psd? or even export to pdf and then open the pdf inside illustrator?

[@EveryTuesday]

You could do that (the psd option), but if you have any masks applied, it flattens the mask with the element it's applied to into one layer (the veining in the leaves in this example). If you want every element to be accessible in its entirety, this would be the way to go. The pdf route puts each element on its own artboard which I find to be more of a hassle than dragging the elements in. Thanks for watching!

[@ezswan]

@@EveryTuesday yea but what if the pieces are too complex with many different paths and such? having to put them back together seems like an impossible task

[@EveryTuesday]

Which path to take depends on the art, the client, what's expected in a file delivery, etc. If it's super complex, it may be better to recreate everything in Illustrator. This is simply me sharing a method that can be used to vectorize and retain your layers - it isn't the *only* method, but the one I'd recommend in similar scenarios as the example.

[@Yoursocialmediabigsister469]

Teela can the AI part of the process be done on an IPad?

[@EveryTuesday]

You would have to do a workaround combo of Adobe capture to vectorize then move that to affinity or illustrator on the iPad 👍

[@clairemardesich8576]

As always, you are amazing, thank you! 😊

[@Yoursocialmediabigsister469]

Thank you!

[@eyhtwozed2606]

If you have adobe app on ipad then just draw using fresco because you have vector brush for that. Dont need all this steps