How to Make Stickers on Procreate: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Draw, print, and cut your own digital stickers
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Everyone loves a sticker—you can slap a cute or fun one on your daily planner, laptop, locker, water bottle…you name it, you can sticker it! Whether you want to make digital stickers for planning apps like GoodNotes or artistically printed sticker sheets, Procreate is the gold standard for sticker creation on your iPad or tablet. Follow the instructions below to turn your Procreate art into a sheet of stickers that you can print or distribute digitally!

How to Make Digital Stickers in Procreate

  1. Open a new canvas in Procreate.
  2. Sketch your sticker directly onto the canvas or open a saved image.
  3. Add new layers to draw color onto your design.
  4. Merge all layers down into a single layer.
  5. Create a new background layer and draw a white outline around your sticker.
  6. Fill in the outline with white.
  7. Save your sticker to your device before printing and cutting it by hand.
Section 1 of 4:

Drawing a Sticker in Procreate

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  1. Open Procreate and tap the + at the top-right of your screen to open a list of possible canvas sizes. [1] Choose a standard dimension size or create your own—you'll usually want to choose the size of the paper you're printing to. If you're printing to a full-size sheet of sticker paper, make your canvas 2550 x 3300 (8.5 x 11").
    • If you'll be cutting the stickers out with a Cricut cutter , your canvas can't be any larger than 9.25 by 6.75 inches (23.5 cm × 17.1 cm). [2]
    • Procreate will also prompt you to choose your color profile and resolution. If you want to print high-quality stickers, use CMYK as the color profile and 300 DPI as the resolution. [3]
    • If your stickers are going to be digital, choose RGB as the color profile. You can still use 300 DPI as the resolution, but you can also go lower (to about 150) if you are worried about file size.
  2. Tap on the brush symbol near the top-right corner of the screen to open up your Brush Library. Under the Sketching tab, choose your favorite drawing tool. If you want to adjust the size of your brush, use the sliding size adjustment tool on the left-hand side of your screen. [4] Then, you can start sketching!
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  3. Touch the layer icon (looks like overlapping squares) and the plus sign to create a new layer. Move this layer underneath your sketch layer by tapping and holding it before dragging it below Layer 1. Navigate to the Brush Library and choose your preferred tool. Tap the circle in the top right corner of your screen to open the Color Panel and choose a color. [5]
    • Drawing directly onto Layer 2, use your brush to add color into your sketch.
    • Depending on the complexity of your design, it may be useful to create a new layer for each color. This technique can help keep your color scheme uniform and simplify things if you need to make changes later.
  4. Once you’re satisfied with the color, layout, and design of your sketch, tap on the top layer and select Merge down . Repeat until you have a single layer of the sticker design. [6] Now that you’ve completed drawing your sticker, having the design in a single layer will make it easier to move around and resize as needed.
  5. Open a final layer and drag it underneath your other layer(s). With this new layer selected, navigate to the layers panel and uncheck the box labeled “Background” to create a transparent backdrop. Select white from your color palette and use a hard airbrush to draw a smooth line around your sketched image. [7]
    • Once you have an outline, fill in the white shape completely.
    • If you see any defined line on the outside of the white shape, drop more white into the shape and adjust your color threshold by keeping your pencil tip on the screen and sliding to the left or right.
    • Since this white layer is the bottom layer beneath your design, it will show up like a background.
  6. Tap on the layer with the basic white shapes, then choose the Selection Tool from the top toolbar. In the now-opened Selection Panel, choose Automatic and tap the background. Swipe three fingers down your screen to bring up the copy and paste options, then choose Cut and Paste .
    • This action will remove anything in your background and put it in a separate layer—delete that new, separate layer to be left with a completely clean image.
  7. Click the wrench icon to open the Action menu, then select Share . Choose PNG as the format and select a saving location on your iPad. [8]
  8. Now that you’ve created your first digital sticker in Procreate, the sky’s the limit! You can repeat all the above steps to create more stickers. Or, you can turn photos or designs that you’ve already drawn in Procreate into stickers by following the steps below:
    • Procreate Designs: Open the image → Tap Layers → Uncheck “Background” → Tap the wrench → Tap Share → Select “PNG” and a save destination.
    • Photos: Open the Photos app → Drag images from Photos to your canvas → Draw a white border around the image → Tap the wrench → Tap Share → Select “PNG” and a save destination.
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Section 2 of 4:

Creating a Sticker Sheet

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  1. Select a sticker with the Selection tool to move it and drag it anywhere on the sheet. Resize and arrange the stickers however you'd like, but make sure you leave enough room to cut the stickers out from the sticker sheet if you're printing them. [9]
    • If you're going to be distributing your stickers as a single sheet, change the sizes and orientations of some or all of the stickers to keep the sheet cohesive and fun.
  2. Open a new layer and drag it so it’s beneath your other layer(s). Select your new layer and navigate to the layers panel to uncheck the “Background” box—this will remove your background and make it transparent. Open up your color palette and select white, then use a hard airbrush to draw a smooth line around each sticker design. [10]
    • Once you complete your outlines, fill in each white shape completely.
    • You shouldn’t see a defined line between your outline and the interior of the shape. If you do, drop more white into the shape and keep your pencil tip on the screen. Adjust the color threshold by sliding your stylus to the left or right until you’re satisfied with the look.
    • Since this white layer is the bottom layer beneath the rest of your design, it will show up like a background to your stickers.
  3. Select the layer with your white background shapes. Tap on the Selection Tool from the top toolbar to open the Selection Panel. From there, choose Automatic and tap the background. Swipe three fingers down your screen to open the copy-and-paste options, then choose Cut and Paste .
    • Any stray items in your background will be removed and put in a separate layer.
    • Delete that new layer so that your sticker image is completely clean.
  4. Tap the wrench icon to open the action menu, then tap Share . Select PNG as the format and choose a saving location on your iPad. [11]
    • For digital stickers, you may want to crop each sticker out of the sheet to create individual files for each sticker. This step isn't required, as most e-planners (including GoodNotes) can separate stickers from sticker sheets.
    • If you're using a Cricut , you can import the file into Design Space. You'll have a chance to clean up the image and prepare it for printing right in the app.
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Section 3 of 4:

Printing & Cutting Stickers

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  1. Open your saved sticker file on your iPad—make sure it’s in a PNG format with the dimensions of a standard piece of printer paper (typically 8.5 by 11 inches (22 cm × 28 cm)). If you have an AirPrint-compatible printer, simply tap the Share icon on your file and select Print . [12] If you don’t have an AirPrint-compatible printer, download an app from your manufacturer (e.g., the Epson Smart Panel app) or transfer the image to your computer to print.
    • Once printed, cut out each of your stickers with a pair of scissors, leaving a thin border around the edge of each design if desired.
    • Tools & Materials: iPad + Procreate, printer with ink, Inkjet-printable sticker paper, scissors.
    • Pros: Inexpensive, size-adjustable, no limit on quantity, low setup time, opportunity to work with your hands.
    • Cons: Need access to a printer, requires good scissor skills, doesn’t use heavy-duty materials, not ideal for high volume.
  2. Open your saved sticker file in the Cricut Design Space and tap Print and Cut . Tap your design and tap Insert to open a new canvas with the artwork. Resize and reposition the artwork as needed, then select Make It . [13] If your design preview overflows off of a single page, tap Canvas to go back and shrink the image further.
    • Go to Print and choose your AirPrint-compatible printer. If you don’t have an AirPrint-compatible printer, send the file to your computer and print from there. The Cricut printer will automatically cut your sticker according to the guidelines that you’ve given.
    • Tools & Materials: iPad + Procreate, printer + ink, Inkjet-printable sticker paper, Cricut cutting machine + accessories.
    • Pros: Professional-looking, easy-to-use software, size-adjustable, makes many stickers quickly, great for experimentation.
    • Cons: Expensive, involves trial and error, time-consuming, limited print size, not ideal for high volume, requires AirPrint-compatible printer.
  3. Find a local company to print your stickers for you. Follow the instructions on their website to upload your artwork, choose the size, and add the order to your cart. In most cases, you’ll have to wait about a week to receive your customized stickers from the printing company.
    • Tools & Materials: iPad + Procreate.
    • Pros: Quick and easy, high-quality look, high amount of potential materials.
    • Cons: May have a minimum quantity, longer turnaround times, may require additional file setup.
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Section 4 of 4:

Glossary of Sticker-Related Terms

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  1. A dieline or cutline in the line along which a machine will cut the material that the sticker is printed on. Creating an outline around your sticker separates the image from the dieline, avoiding any accidental cuts into the artwork itself. [14]
  2. With a kiss cut sticker, the machine only cuts through the first layer of material and leaves the paper backing intact. Consequently, kiss cut stickers are easier to remove from their backing than die cut stickers. Most store-bought sticker sheets use kiss cut stickers rather than die cut stickers. [15]
  3. A die cut sticker is cut all the way through both the material and paper backing. The resulting sticker stands alone (i.e., it is not part of a sticker sheet) and can be in any customized shape. The sticker and paper backing will have the same exact size and shape. [16]
  4. A sticker sheet is a layout of several sticker designs on a single page. These sheets are usually printed as kiss cut stickers so each one can be individually peeled off of the backing. Sticker sheets are a good option for printing multiple designs at once.
  5. A full bleed refers to a graphic or design being printed over the entire surface of a paper with no borders or margins. Achieving this technique requires a borderless printer or printing a design slightly larger than necessary then trimming off the excess. [17]
  6. The material or stock of a sticker refers to the material used to manufacture the stickers. For example, stickers may be made on canvas, paper, vinyl, or cling film materials. Sticker stock can also be holographic, mirrored, or glittery and have a coating or sheen that’s glossy, matte, UV laminate, etc. [18]
    • Some materials can be used outdoors, such as those used for bumper stickers or floor stickers.
  7. Sticker material, stock, or paper is made of two layers: the top layer (where the design is printed) and the backing layer (including the sticker adhesive). The backing layer is a type of coated paper that’s designed to easily release the sticker when peeled off.
  8. A raster-based image is made up of pixels, such as a digital photo. When these images are enlarged, they lose quality and become pixelated. However, raster images can feature a lot of details without dramatically increasing the file size. [19]
    • Procreate is a raster-based app, so any sticker made in Procreate will be a raster image. Raster file formats include .jpg, .gif, .png, and .tiff.
  9. A vector-based image is made up of mathematical paths and shapes, allowing them to be enlarged to any size with no change in quality. However, vector images are usually not very detailed or textured, as this would drastically increase their file size. [20]
    • Vector images are often made using Adobe Illustrator and Affinity designer, resulting in file formats like .ai, .eps, and .svg.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://procreate.art/handbook/procreate/gallery/gallery-create/
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/y4nbZgtinEI?t=218
      3. ↑ https://help.fourthwall.com/hc/en-us/articles/13331281600667-Stickers-best-practices
      4. ↑ https://folio.procreate.com/discussions/4/10/15054
      5. ↑ https://help.procreate.com/procreate/handbook/colors/colors-interface
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/hkN1knt7ITE?t=69
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/WtPXc5w0MUc?t=96
      8. ↑ https://help.procreate.com/procreate/handbook/actions/actions-share
      9. ↑ https://help.fourthwall.com/hc/en-us/articles/13331281600667-Stickers-best-practices
      1. ↑ https://help.procreate.com/procreate/handbook/layers/layers-options
      2. ↑ https://help.procreate.com/procreate/handbook/actions/actions-share
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/8lLoK2cvYXw?t=24
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/y4nbZgtinEI?t=218
      5. ↑ https://blog.globalvision.co/proofreading/what-is-a-dieline-in-printing-and-packaging/
      6. ↑ https://www.prodigi.com/blog/kiss-cut-stickers-vs-die-cut-stickers/
      7. ↑ https://www.prodigi.com/blog/kiss-cut-stickers-vs-die-cut-stickers/
      8. ↑ https://dandreavisual.com/full-bleed-printing-what-it-is-why-you-need-it/
      9. ↑ https://estickers.com.au/guide-to-the-different-types-of-stickers/
      10. ↑ https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/file-types/image/comparison/raster-vs-vector.html
      11. ↑ https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/file-types/image/comparison/raster-vs-vector.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open a blank 300 DPI canvas.
      2. Design or place your stickers.
      3. Arrange the stickers on the sheet.
      4. Create borders around the stickers.
      5. Export as a PNG with a transparent background.

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