How to Add a Grid on Procreate in 4 Quick Steps

To add a grid on Procreate, open the Actions menu (wrench icon) in the top-left corner of your canvas and toggle the Drawing Guide switch on. This activates the 2D Grid overlay, which helps you build precise two-dimensional shapes, layouts, and proportions for your artwork.

How to add grid on Procreate with the drawing guide

Tap the wrench icon to open the Actions menu, then navigate to the Canvas tab. Toggle the Drawing Guide switch to the on position. The grid will immediately appear on your canvas as a visual reference.

Step 2: Open grid settings

With the Drawing Guide enabled, tap Edit Drawing Guide. The Drawing Guides screen automatically zooms to display your entire artwork, letting you see the full effect of your chosen guide as you make adjustments.

Step 3: Choose the 2D grid type

Procreate offers four types of drawing guides: 2D Grid, Isometric, Perspective, and Symmetry. Select the 2D Grid option from the guide type choices at the bottom of the screen. The 2D Grid is ideal for building two-dimensional shapes, layouts, and maintaining proportion, making it the best choice for precise drawing and layout work.

Step 4: Customize your grid

Use the Grid Size slider to adjust the scale of the grid squares. The grid size should be chosen based on the viewing experience of your audience; if artwork will be primarily viewed on smaller screens like mobile devices, a larger grid size can ensure details are visible and legible. You can adjust grid spacing using the Grid Spacing slider to increase or decrease the spacing between grid lines. You can also change the grid's appearance by adjusting its Color, Opacity, and Thickness using the sliders provided. For precise placement, use the blue Positional node to move the grid and the green Rotational node to rotate it. To return the grid to its default position, tap one of the nodes and then tap Reset.

Using drawing assist with your grid

Drawing Assist can be toggled on to automatically adjust your brush strokes to align with the guide lines. Enable it from the Drawing Guide menu or from the layer options panel. This snapping feature ensures your lines follow the grid perfectly, which is especially useful when working with Procreate tools, layers and file management for clean, precise compositions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove the grid from my canvas?

Return to the Actions menu, go to the Canvas tab, and toggle the Drawing Guide switch off. This removes the grid overlay entirely from your canvas.

Can I change the grid color or make it less visible?

Yes. In the Edit Drawing Guide screen, use the Color slider to pick any color and the Opacity slider to make the grid more transparent. You can also adjust the Thickness slider to make grid lines thinner or thicker. If the grid feels too prominent and interferes with your artwork, you can adjust its opacity by selecting the grid layer and adjusting the opacity slider.

Why would I use a grid in digital art?

A grid helps you maintain proportion, perspective, and alignment in your artwork. It is a valuable guide for sketching, creating precise compositions, and ensuring objects are correctly sized and positioned relative to one another.

Does the grid affect my brush strokes?

Only if you enable Drawing Assist. Without Drawing Assist, the grid is purely a visual guide and does not affect your brush strokes. With Drawing Assist on, strokes snap to the grid lines for perfect alignment.

Can I use a perspective or isometric grid instead?

Yes. In the Edit Drawing Guide screen, select Perspective or Isometric from the guide type options. Each guide type has its own customization settings for size, color, opacity, and thickness.