To make animation on Procreate, you use the built-in Animation Assist feature to create frame-by-frame animations directly on your canvas.
How to make animation on Procreate with Animation Assist
Animation Assist is the dedicated feature that turns your Procreate workspace into an animation studio. To enable it, tap the Actions menu (wrench icon) in the top left of the interface, then navigate to the Canvas tab. Toggle on "Animation Assist." Enabling Animation Assist will display a dedicated timeline at the bottom of your screen, where you will manage all your frames.
Understanding layers as frames
The fundamental rule of animation in Procreate is that each layer in your artwork functions as a single frame in your animation. To create a new animation frame, simply add a new layer to your artwork. To add a new frame, simply tap on the '+' icon on the timeline. Grouped layers are treated as a single frame within the Animation Assist timeline, which is useful for keeping complex elements together. To rearrange layers, simply tap and hold on a layer in the Layers menu and drag it up or down to the desired position. Locking a layer prevents any changes from being made to its content. To lock a layer, swipe right on the layer in the Layers menu and tap the lock icon. Layer masks in Procreate enable you to selectively show or hide parts of a layer without permanently erasing any content. To add a layer mask, select the layer and tap on the 'Mask' icon in the Layers menu. Procreate offers a variety of blending modes that can be applied to individual layers. This direct relationship between layers and frames is a core part of how Procreate tools, layers and file management work for animation.
Using onion skinning for smooth motion
Onion skinning is an overlay tool that shows previous and next frames with adjustable opacity, helping you see where your drawing was and where it is going. This visual guide is essential for creating fluid transitions between frames. To enable onion skinning, tap on the wrench icon, go to 'Canvas', and toggle on the 'Animation Assist' option, then adjust onion skinning in the Animation Assist settings. You can adjust the opacity of the onion skin frames within the Animation Assist settings to find the perfect balance for your style.
Setting the speed and playback mode
Within the Animation Assist settings, you can adjust the Frames per second (FPS) to control the animation's speed. A higher FPS creates faster, smoother motion, while a lower FPS results in a slower, more stop-motion feel. Playback modes available in Animation Assist settings include Loop, Ping-pong, and One-shot. Loop plays the animation repeatedly from start to finish, Ping-pong plays forward then backward, and One-shot plays through once and stops.
Previewing your animation
To preview your animation, tap the Play button in the Animation Assist timeline. This will play your sequence of frames in real-time at the FPS you have set, allowing you to check the flow and timing before exporting.
Exporting your finished animation
When you are ready to share your work, tap the Actions menu (wrench icon), then Share. Under the Share Layers section, choose an animation format such as Animated GIF, Animated PNG, MP4, or HEVC (HEVC is available on iPad Procreate, not Procreate Pocket). You can add audio and export your animations as GIFs or high-quality videos. To save your animation periodically, tap on the wrench icon on the top right corner, selecting 'Animation' and then tapping 'Export' to save your animation as a GIF or MP4 file. Remember that only visible layers will be included when exporting your animation, so hide any layers you do not want in the final file.
Limitations and next steps
Procreate supports a maximum of 250 layers, which translates to a maximum of 250 frames for animation, though canvas size can affect this limit. It is also important to know that Procreate's animation feature is frame-by-frame; it does not use keyframe animation (tweening) like the separate app Procreate Dreams. For more complex, keyframe-based motion, you would need to use Procreate Dreams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add audio to my animation in Procreate?
Procreate Animation does not natively support importing audio. To add sound, export your animation as a video file (like MP4) and then use a separate video editing app to sync audio with your animation.
Why is my animation export missing some frames?
This usually happens because the missing frames are hidden. Only visible layers are included when exporting your animation. Check your Layers panel and make sure every frame you want to export has its visibility toggle turned on.
What is the difference between Procreate and Procreate Dreams for animation?
Procreate uses frame-by-frame animation where you draw each individual frame. Procreate Dreams uses keyframe animation (tweening), which automatically generates the frames between two key poses. Procreate is best for hand-drawn, traditional-style animation, while Procreate Dreams is better for puppet-style or motion graphics.
Can I rearrange the order of my frames?
Yes. In the Animation Assist timeline, you can tap and hold a frame thumbnail, then drag it left or right to a new position in the sequence. This allows you to change the order of your animation without redrawing.
Is Procreate Animation available on Android?
No, Procreate Animation is currently only available for iOS devices. It is compatible with iPad models running iOS 13 or later. Android users can explore alternative animation apps available on the Google Play Store.
