Last updated on 15 May 2022
I’ll be showing you how to quickly and efficiently duplicate images in Procreate with this quick and simple tutorial.
Despite only being released in 2011, Procreate has gained the same amount of praise as other industry-standard programs such as Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, and more.
Procreate is one of the most successful and accessible digital art programs out there, gaining popularity in late 2016, early 2017.
Common uses for copy & paste
- Create multiple versions
- Creating repeat patterns
- To mirror opposite images
- Saves redrawing images
Quick guide
- Go to the “Layers” tab and select the layer you want to copy & paste
- Then tap once on the layer that includes the image you want to duplicate. The layers menu will disappear.
- To paste, click on the top left wrench icon, scroll down and tap paste.
How to copy and paste in Procreate
Video tutorial
To see a detailed written guide, please scroll down.
1. Select the layer that you want to copy
Firstly, you start with making sure you’re on the layer you would like to copy and paste – You can do this by navigating to the top right of the screen.
2. Access the layer options & copy
After the layer is selected you should tap on it once. Some settings will appear on the left with an option to copy, when you tap ‘Copy‘ the menu should disappear – this means it has worked.
3. Access the ‘Actions’ menu & paste
Now you need to locate the wrench icon in the top left so that you can access the ‘Actions‘ menu. When accessed, select ‘Add‘ then scroll down to the bottom of the list and tap on ‘Paste‘.
4. The image is now duplicated!
Your pasted image will appear in a separate layer labelled ‘Inserted Image’.
Done!
Congrats! You’ve duplicated your image, that’s how easy it is to do. You are free to move the pasted image around and transform it as much as you like. If you want to check out more and learn more about Procreate, please check our Procreate tutorials
Why copy and pasting is useful in Procreate
In my personal experience, I’ve always found duplicating images in Procreate incredibly useful. It gives me the freedom to experiment and gives me opportunities to improve my artwork and skills because of these experiments.
It’s less worrying when duplicating because you’re generally not worried about ‘ruining’ your work because you can just delete the inserted image if you’re not pleased with it – It’s liberating and stress relieving!
Who knew one of the most simple skills with working in Procreate and programs alike can take such a weight off your shoulders.
20 Top Tips for Procreate users
FAQ
How do you duplicate part of a drawing in Procreate?
- Use 3 fingers & swipe down on your screen over the selected layer
- A menu will pop up with a few options – Cut, Copy, Copy All, Paste, Cut & Paste, and Copy & Paste. Select one of them.
- Hold out 3 fingers again and swipe down to paste
Does Procreate have a clone tool?
Yes! It does and here is how you find it:
- Select the layer that you are going to clone from
- Go to the “Adjustments” tab (the magic sparkly wand) in the top-left
- Select “Clone“
- Move the circle that appears on your canvas onto the part you want to clone
- Now begin drawing on the canvas and it will clone what the circle is on
How do you select and duplicate in Procreate?
- Tap on the “Selection” tool and create a selection around the area you want to duplicate
- Go to the “Actions” menu and tap “Copy“
- Create a new layer in the “Layers” menu
- Then tap “Paste” to duplicate your selection
