Pairing Adobe Illustrator with Procreate allows you to create a great drawing and then make it a vector to which you can also add color. Here’s how.
Can You Create Vectors in Procreate?
The short answer is no, you cannot natively create vectors. This is because Procreate is a raster-based program that uses pixels rather than mathematical equations like vector graphics. If you’re confused, we’ve written a detailed guide to explain the differences between raster and vector images. Luckily, you’re about to learn how you can create vectors from your Procreate drawings.
If you want to create vectors natively in similar software, check out this guide on raster vs. pixel vs. live brushes in Adobe Fresco. Adobe Fresco is a tablet-based app similar to Procreate, only it is an Adobe product and not an independently owned company like Procreate.
How to Convert Procreate Drawings to Vectors Using Illustrator
If you haven’t already, make sure you download Procreate ($9.99) on your iPad. You’ll also need to get an Adobe Illustrator subscription. You can use the desktop app or the tablet app, and there’s a 7-day free trial for new users if you don’t want to pay just yet.
Step 1: Draw on Procreate
Using your Apple Pencil, draw your drawing on Procreate. For this technique to work, your drawing should be black or monocolored and drawn with a smooth-lined brush such as Monoline. Using a textured brush will be difficult to turn into a vector because the pixels themselves are what give the brush texture and opacity, which cannot be replicated easily in vector format.
Since your drawing is to be in one color, it is recommended to only draw the outline. Too many fine details might get lost when converting to vector. You will be able to add color fill or multiple colors once you’ve created the vector in Illustrator.
Step 2: Share the Procreate Canvas
You’ll need to export your black outline from Procreate to Adobe Illustrator. The best way to do this is by tapping Actions (wrench) > Share > Share Image > PNG or TIFF. Both PNG and TIFF formats allow for transparency, meaning your file will keep only the outline.
If your drawing involves multiple layers, you should either merge the layers together before sharing or you can export the layers separately to vectorize them individually. To do this, choose Actions > Share > Share Layers > PNG Files.
Save your shared PNG or TIFF file in the iPad’s photos or files. If you’re using an Apple computer, you can easily move your file from the iPad to your Computer via AirDrop. If your desktop is a PC or another OS, you may have to e-mail it to yourself, use Bluetooth, or any other technique for sharing files.
Step 3: Open the File in Illustrator
With your file moved to your computer, open it directly in Illustrator. Do not resize the image because that will add to quality loss from it being a raster.
Quality loss may affect how the tracing works. If the image becomes over-pixelated, the tracing will follow the pixelation rather than the original line work.
Step 4: Image Trace
Select the Selection Tool (V) and select your image by clicking it. Then you can use the Image Trace function.
Select the Properties window (Window > Properties) and scroll to Quick Actions > Image Trace. On the dropdown options, choose Sketched Art. This step vectorizes the drawing.
Step 5: Expand Your Traced Image
Even though Image Trace provides a transparent background to your black line art, it still retains the selection border from the original image. Expanding your traced image will remove the larger selection area from the line art.
Select the black line art and go to Properties > Quick Actions > Expand. This leaves you with plain black vectorized line art with a transparent background. Blue paths will outline all of your black line work and the selection border will be tight against the outer edges.
Step 6: Tidy Up With the Pencil Tool
Depending on the detail of your original drawing, Image Trace may change line shapes or thicknesses. You can fix or edit your line work using the Pencil tool.
Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), select your line work. Switch to the Pencil tool (N) and double-click the Pencil tool icon on the toolbar. Check the box for Fill new pencil strokes, then select OK.
This setting allows you to add to your drawing. Using the Pencil tool, click and drag from one anchor point and join the pencil back to another anchor point.
To remove parts of your line work, open the Pencil tool settings again and uncheck the Fill new pencil strokes box. Then draw from one anchor point into your line work, connecting to another anchor point. The shape you draw will be removed from the path.
Use this technique to tidy up lines, add or remove thickness, or add or remove elements in your artwork.
You can also use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select individual anchor points to drag, delete, or add curves to them in order to change the shape of your line work.
How to Colorize Your Vector in Illustrator
Firstly, set the color channels to ensure you can add the range of colors you want. If you plan to use this vector for print design, you’ll need CMYK, but if you’re only using it for screen design then choose RGB. Go to Edit > Edit Colors > Convert to RGB or Convert to CMYK.
To add color, the vector needs to be turned into a Live Paint object. Select the line work then go to Object > Live Paint > Make. Press K or hoose the Live Paint Bucket icon on the toolbar.
Choose your desired color in the Background color swatch then hover the cursor over the space you want to add color to until the inner line turns red. Then select it with the Live Paint Bucket tool to add color.
If the space is not a closed loop, you won’t be able to add color using Live Paint Bucket. There is a way around that though: use the Pencil, Brush, or Pen tools to draw a line to close the gap. Select the line, then set the Stroke and the Fill to transparent.
Using the Selection tool, click and drag your cursor over the drawing to select it all—including the transparent line—and make it a Live Paint object again. You can do this as many times as you need.
Once you’ve edited the line work and added color however you want, your vector drawing is complete.
Save it as a PNG to ensure a transparent background or save it as an AI file to edit again in the future. Here’s how to save different file types in Illustrator if you need more help.
You can vectorize an image in Illustrator rather than Procreate line work, and you can also vectorize an image in CorelDRAW if you don’t have access to Adobe Illustrator.
Convert Your Procreate Drawings From Raster to Vector
If you stick to these steps, you’ll see how simple it is to create a vector from your Procreate drawing using Illustrator. You can also tidy up or edit edges and easily colorize your vector drawing.
With this technique, you can create logos, illustrations, or scalable drawings using your favorite program, with only a little help from Illustrator.
