Canvas size is the most-asked setup question in Procreate, and the one with the most confused answers online. Bigger isn't better: giant canvases shrink your layer count and can make texture brushes look tiny; small canvases make printing impossible and turn brushes blobby. Here are working numbers and the logic behind them.

The only formula you need

Pixels = inches × DPI. Everything else follows:

  • Screen-only art (social media): size doesn't formally matter, 2048–3000 px on the long edge at 72–150 DPI is plenty
  • Print art: 300 DPI minimum at final physical size (an 8×10" print = 2400×3000 px)
  • Premium/large print: 4000–6000 px long edge at 300–450 DPI, if your iPad's layer budget allows

Recommended starting canvases

| Work | Canvas | DPI | Why | |---|---|---|---| | Portrait / character illustration | 3000×3000 or 3400×3400 px | 300 | Rich texture scale, healthy layer count | | Print illustration (A4/8×10") | 2480×3508 px | 300 | Print-true, still fast | | Line-art-heavy / manga pages | 3500×5000 px | 400–600 | Keeps ink tapers razor sharp at print | | Social posts | 2500×2500 px | 150 | Fast, no texture loss on screen |

Why canvas size changes how brushes behave

Procreate brushes are authored at a scale. A pore-texture brush prints 3 px dots: on a 4000 px face they read as pores; on a 1200 px canvas they read as polka dots. This is the hidden reason "the brushes don't look like the previews", the fix is usually the canvas, not the brush. Kits like the Portrait Mastery Kit are tuned for the 3000–4000 px range that professional portrait work actually happens at.

Layer count vs iPad model

Procreate caps layers by canvas pixels and device RAM. Rough guide for modern iPads (Air/Pro, M-chips): a 3000×3000 px canvas offers ~60+ layers; a 6000×6000 px canvas might offer under 20. If your workflow loves layers (and professional pipelines do), favor moderate canvases over monster ones.

When to break the rules

  • Sketching & thumbnails: go small (1600–2000 px), speed over detail, and freer, bigger-feeling drawing
  • Detailed ink-only work: go big, line art is resolution-hungry, which is why the Master Line-Art Vault leans crisp
  • Client print work: ask for the final size first; match it at 300 DPI exactly

FAQ

Is 300 DPI required for digital art?

Only for print. Screen art ignores DPI entirely, pixel dimensions rule. DigiKitPro covers and previews, for example, are screen-targeted.

Why does Procreate say "Maximum layers: 8"?

Your canvas is huge relative to your iPad's RAM. Duplicate-and-merge finished sections, or start the next piece one size smaller.

Can I resize mid-project without losing quality?

Downsizing is safe; upsizing softens texture and crisp edges. Best practice: paint large, deliver small, always.