To make a folder in Procreate, you create a Stack, which is Procreate's term for a folder that groups artwork thumbnails in the Gallery view. Unlike folders inside a canvas, Stacks organize your projects on the main gallery screen, helping you keep related canvases together and speeding up your workflow.
How to make a folder in Procreate: Understanding stacks
Procreate calls folders "Stacks" for organizing artworks in the Gallery. Stacks help keep your artwork tidy and can speed up your workflow by grouping related canvases. You cannot create nested stacks; Procreate limits you to single folders of grouped artwork without the ability to embed stacks within one another.
Method 1: Create a stack using the select button
- Tap the Select button in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Tap on the canvases you want to group; selected canvases will be highlighted.
- Tap the Stack button at the top of the screen to instantly create a new stack.
You can customize the canvas orientation, choosing between portrait or landscape mode, and adjust the canvas DPI for optimal print quality. Procreate offers various color profiles such as RGB, CMYK, or the P3 color space to ensure accurate color representation for screen or print. To add new layers within a folder canvas, tap the layers icon, then tap the '+' icon to add a new layer. To add more pages to a folder canvas, tap the thumbnail of the folder canvas in the gallery view, then tap the '+' icon to add a new page. You can navigate between pages in a folder canvas by swiping left or right on the screen.
Method 2: Create a stack by dragging and dropping
- Drag one artwork thumbnail directly onto another thumbnail.
- Wait until the bottom artwork turns blue, indicating you can drop the top artwork.
- Release to form an instant Stack.
How to add artworks to an existing stack
- Drag a canvas from the gallery and drop it onto the target stack.
- When dragging an artwork onto an existing Stack, hold the thumbnail for a moment longer until the Stack flashes blue twice, then it will open, allowing you to drop the artwork inside.
- Drop the artwork inside.
How to remove artworks from a stack
- Pick up one or more artworks inside the stack.
- To move artwork out of a Stack, pick up one or more artworks, then tap the '< Stack' return button in the top left of the toolbar with another finger, and drop the items back in the Gallery.
- Drop the items back in the main Gallery.
Limitations and tips for organizing stacks
Procreate does not support nested stacks, so you cannot place a stack inside another stack. To keep your Gallery organized, name each stack clearly when you create it. Using stacks to group related projects, such as client work, personal sketches, or series illustrations, makes finding canvases faster and lets you focus on creating rather than searching. You can group similar artwork within a folder using the grouping feature to keep related artwork organized and easily accessible. Procreate offers the option to add tags and metadata to your artwork for detailed organization and easy searchability. Mastering Procreate Tools, Layers and File Management helps you maintain a clean workspace and avoid clutter as your portfolio grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a stack inside another stack?
No, Procreate does not allow nested stacks. You can only have one level of grouping, a stack contains individual canvases, not other stacks.
How do I rename a stack in Procreate?
Tap on the stack to open it, then tap the stack name at the top of the screen. Edit the name as desired and tap Done to save the new name.
Can I move multiple artworks into a stack at once?
Yes, use the Select button to highlight several canvases, then tap the Stack button to group them all together instantly.
What happens if I delete a stack?
Deleting a stack removes the grouping but does not delete the individual canvases inside it. The artworks return to the main Gallery.
Does a stack affect the canvas size or layers inside my artwork?
No, a stack is purely an organizational tool in the Gallery view. It does not change any canvas settings, layers, or content within your artworks.
To delete a folder, swipe left on the folder and tap the Delete button.
