How I Keep My Procreate Files Organized and Backed Up

How I Keep My Procreate Files Organized and Backed Up

In this video, I’ll show you how I keep my Procreate files organized and back up so I can always access them. I know many of you are visual learners (like me) and even learning new ways to organize your Procreate app files can be helpful to you.

What I Currently Use for Digital Art and Lettering

I currently use the iPad Pro 12.9″ Gen 3

Apple Pencil 2

And we’ll be using Procreate 5.2 at the time of filming this.

I also use Dropbox for storage. Get 500 MB of free storage when you sign up through me. This is an affiliate link.

Watch How to Keep Your Files Organized and Backed Up on Procreate

Step 1 – Backup Systems for Procreate

I currently use Dropbox for all of my backups. I’ve been using it for years. So I’ll be working on my method for using it. That being said you can use any cloud storage for backups.

Procreate does not have an automatic cloud backup system. You have to do it manually. Yes, in Settings for Procreate you can choose document and storage, but it will not sync automatically. At least not at the time of filming this video. It just gives you an option to upload here when sharing. I’ll show you that in a minute.

Step 2 – Creating Stacks in Procreate

In the Gallery of Procreate, you can create stacks. I like to do this and then create a title cover.

To create a stack, simply drag one piece of artwork onto another. This will start your new stack.

Tap the name of your stack and you can then rename it.

To make covers, just create your art and then make sure it’s the first one inside your new stack.

As you can see I have a stack of stickers I draw, Tutorials, Coloring Pages, and Line Art.

Step 3- Manually Saving Files to a Cloud Service

As I said before I use Dropbox for my backups. I have created a folder on Dropbox called Procreate backups.

Then, inside there I will make folders to match my stacks.  I have been known to get behind on this process! Do it every day and you’ll be much happier.

You also want to make sure that each of your pieces of art has a name. Untitled only makes it more difficult to locate items.

1. So, with my artwork open, I tap on the Actions Tool and then Share.
2. From here I export a Procreate file and a JPG file. The JPG is so I can be sure I can see the preview. Sometimes, the Procreate preview will not appear and only be an app icon.
3. After tapping Export, navigate down to Save to Files
4. Here I choose the Cloud service I’ll use. In this case, Dropbox.
5. Now, navigate to your backup folder. For me, this is the My Procreate Art Backups/Clipart.
6. Tap Save.

I will say only do a few at a time. Syncing can be slow. Once you’re sure it’s on your cloud backup, you can delete it from Procreate.

I will remove items from time to time to help free up space. And, if I choose to upgrade my iPad I don’t have a ton of files on my iPad making that transfer that much slower.

And that’s it! How do you do your backups? What type of system do you follow? We can all learn something new from each other.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell. Head over to hollypixels.com to sign up for freebies in the Vault and to see my shop.

Until next time!

Sharing is caring!