How Can You Create Custom Stickers Using Procreate?

AvatarByMarc Shaw Sticker Application & Placement

Creating personalized stickers has become a popular way to add a unique touch to everything from digital planners to social media posts. If you’re an artist or a creative enthusiast looking to bring your designs to life, Procreate offers an incredibly versatile platform to craft stunning, custom stickers right on your iPad. Whether you want to jazz up your messages, decorate your digital workspace, or even start a small sticker business, learning how to make stickers on Procreate opens up a world of creative possibilities.

Procreate’s intuitive interface combined with its powerful brush tools and layering capabilities makes it an ideal choice for sticker creation. From sketching your initial ideas to refining details and adding vibrant colors, the app supports every step of the artistic process. Beyond just drawing, Procreate allows you to export your designs in formats perfect for printing or sharing digitally, making it easier than ever to turn your artwork into usable stickers.

In this article, we’ll explore the essentials of making stickers on Procreate, guiding you through the fundamental techniques and creative tips that will help you transform your digital drawings into eye-catching stickers. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to enhance your digital art skills, you’ll discover how to harness Procreate’s features to bring your sticker ideas to life with flair and precision.

Setting Up Your Canvas and Drawing Your Design

Before you begin creating your sticker in Procreate, it’s essential to set up your canvas correctly to ensure the final product has the desired resolution and dimensions. Start by opening Procreate and tapping the “+” icon to create a new canvas. For stickers, a common size is 3000 x 3000 pixels at 300 DPI, which provides high resolution suitable for printing.

Once your canvas is ready, use Procreate’s extensive brush library to draw your sticker design. Utilize layers to separate different elements, making it easier to edit individual parts without affecting others. For example, keep the main illustration on one layer, details on another, and the background on a separate layer. This method helps maintain flexibility throughout the design process.

When sketching, use a soft pencil brush to outline your design before switching to inking brushes for clean lines. For coloring, experiment with various brushes and textures to add depth and interest. Procreate’s selection tools also help refine shapes and clean edges, which is vital for sticker designs where clarity is key.

Creating a Transparent Background

A transparent background is crucial for stickers so they can be printed or used digitally without an unwanted white box around the design. In Procreate, achieving this is straightforward:

  • Ensure your design is on a layer above the Background layer.
  • Turn off the Background layer by unchecking it in the Layers panel; this will remove the white canvas background.
  • Export your file in a format that supports transparency, such as PNG.

Keeping the background transparent allows the sticker to blend seamlessly when applied to any surface or digital media.

Exporting Your Sticker Design

Exporting your sticker properly is the final technical step to preserve quality and ensure compatibility with printing services or digital platforms. Procreate offers multiple export options:

  • PNG: Best for stickers due to its support for transparent backgrounds.
  • JPEG: Does not support transparency but useful for previews.
  • TIFF: High quality but larger file size.

To export, tap the wrench icon, select “Share,” and choose your preferred format. For printing, confirm with your printer the required file specifications, especially resolution and color profile.

Common Brushes and Tools Used for Sticker Art

Procreate’s vast brush library provides tools tailored for various effects that enhance sticker design. Here are some commonly used brushes:

  • Inking Brushes: For clean outlines (e.g., Studio Pen, Technical Pen).
  • Watercolor Brushes: For soft, blended colors (e.g., Watercolor Brush Set).
  • Textured Brushes: Add grain or paper textures (e.g., Grainy Brush, Chalk).
  • Airbrushes: For subtle shading and highlights.
  • Selection Tool: To isolate parts of your drawing for editing.
  • Eraser: For refining edges and cleaning up lines.

Using these tools effectively helps create visually appealing and professional sticker designs.

Layer Management Tips for Efficient Workflow

Good layer management is vital for efficiency and flexibility. Here are some best practices:

  • Name layers descriptively to avoid confusion.
  • Group related layers (e.g., all color layers in one group).
  • Use clipping masks to apply effects without altering the base layer.
  • Lock layers to prevent accidental edits.
  • Merge layers only when necessary to reduce file size.
Layer Function Recommended Use Procreate Feature
Sketch Layer Initial rough drawing Opacity adjustment, Blend Modes
Lineart Layer Clean outlines Inking Brushes, Alpha Lock
Color Layers Flat colors and shading Clipping Masks, Multiply Blend Mode
Texture Layer Add depth or patterns Texture Brushes, Overlay Blend Mode

Applying these techniques allows you to maintain control over your artwork and make adjustments without starting over.

Using Procreate’s Export Options for Sticker Printing

When preparing your sticker design for printing, it’s important to choose the right export settings:

  • File Format: Use PNG for transparency.
  • Color Profile: Export in RGB for digital use; CMYK may be needed for commercial printing (note: Procreate defaults to RGB).
  • Resolution: Maintain 300 DPI for crisp print quality.
  • Canvas Size: Match the physical size of the sticker with added bleed area if required by the printer.

Before sending your file to print, verify these settings and consult with your print provider to ensure compatibility.

Adding Cut Lines and Bleed Areas

For physical stickers, including cut lines and bleed areas ensures the stickers are trimmed correctly without white edges. While Procreate does not have a dedicated cut line tool, you can:

  • Create a new layer for the cut line using a contrasting color.
  • Draw the cut line slightly outside the edge of your design.
  • Add a bleed area by extending your background or design beyond the cut line by 1/8 inch (3mm).

This preparation helps professional printers know where to cut and avoid trimming errors.

Organizing Your Sticker Pack for Export

If you are creating multiple stickers for a pack, organizing your files efficiently is important:

  • Save each sticker design as an individual PNG with transparent background.
  • Name files clearly (e.g., Sticker1_Flower.png, Sticker2_Cat.png).
  • Use folders to group stickers by theme or style.
  • Consider exporting a PDF or sheet with all designs for print proofs.

This organization streamlines distribution and ensures easy access for both digital and print use

Preparing Your Canvas and Artwork for Stickers

To create high-quality stickers in Procreate, start by setting up your canvas correctly. The resolution and dimensions are crucial to ensure your stickers print clearly and maintain sharpness when resized.

Follow these steps to prepare your canvas:

  • Canvas Size: Create a new canvas with dimensions appropriate for stickers. A common size is 3000 x 3000 pixels, which allows flexibility for different sticker sizes.
  • Resolution: Set the DPI (dots per inch) to 300. This is the standard for print quality and ensures crisp, detailed stickers.
  • Color Profile: Use RGB for digital stickers and switch to CMYK if preparing files specifically for professional printing.

Once your canvas is ready, design your sticker artwork with clean lines and vibrant colors. Use layers to separate different elements of your design, which will make editing and exporting easier.

Using Procreate Tools to Design Stickers

Procreate offers a variety of tools optimized for sticker design. Leveraging these effectively will enhance the quality and versatility of your stickers.

  • Brush Selection: Use brushes with hard edges or custom sticker brushes for crisp outlines. Procreate’s inking brushes are ideal for clean line work.
  • Layers: Organize your artwork into layers—background, line art, colors, and shading. This allows for non-destructive editing and easy adjustments.
  • Alpha Lock and Clipping Masks: Use Alpha Lock to color within your line art without going outside the edges. Clipping masks can be applied for shading or texture effects without affecting the base layer.
  • Selection Tool: Utilize the selection tool to isolate parts of your drawing for precise edits or color changes.
  • QuickShape: Create perfect circles, squares, or polygons to add geometric elements to your stickers.

Remember to frequently save your work and use Procreate’s undo feature to refine your designs as you progress.

Creating Transparent Backgrounds for Sticker Export

A key characteristic of stickers is their transparent background, which allows them to blend seamlessly when applied on various surfaces. Procreate makes it straightforward to export images with transparent backgrounds.

Follow this process to ensure transparency:

  • At the top right of the Layers panel, toggle off or hide the background layer to reveal a checkerboard pattern indicating transparency.
  • Double-check that no unwanted marks or colors remain outside your sticker design.
  • Export your artwork by tapping the wrench icon (Actions menu), then selecting Share > PNG. PNG format preserves transparency and is ideal for stickers.

Export Settings and File Formats for Stickers

Choosing the correct export settings and file formats is essential for delivering sticker designs that work well in both digital and print mediums.

File Format Use Case Advantages Considerations
PNG Digital stickers, print with transparency Supports transparent backgrounds, lossless compression, widely supported File size can be larger than JPEG
JPEG Photos or stickers without transparency Smaller file size No transparency support, lossy compression
TIFF High-quality print production Supports layers and transparency, professional standard Large file size, not always supported by all printers

For most sticker projects, exporting as PNG with a transparent background at 300 DPI is optimal. If sending files to a professional printer, confirm their preferred format beforehand.

Organizing Multiple Stickers in a Single Procreate File

When creating a sticker sheet or a collection, it is efficient to design multiple stickers within one Procreate file. This approach streamlines editing and exporting.

Tips for managing multiple stickers include:

  • Use Groups: Group layers for each sticker to keep artwork organized and easily accessible.
  • Canvas Layout: Arrange stickers spaced evenly on the canvas to avoid overlap and facilitate later cropping or exporting.
  • Layer Naming: Name layers clearly to identify individual stickers or components.
  • Exporting Stickers Individually: Use the selection tool to isolate each sticker and export as separate PNG files if needed.

Preparing Stickers for Printing and Cutting

After designing and exporting your stickers, prepare them for printing and cutting, whether by hand or with a cutting machine like Cricut or Silhouette.

Key considerations include:

  • Bleed Area: Add a slight bleed (extra artwork area beyond the cut line) to avoid white edges after cutting.
  • Cut Lines: Create a separate layer with cut lines or outlines to guide manual cutting or machine recognition.
  • File Format for Cutting Machines: Export cut lines as SVG or PDF files if required by your cutting machine software.
  • Expert Insights on Creating Stickers Using Procreate

    Jenna Morales (Digital Illustrator and Procreate Educator). “When making stickers on Procreate, it is essential to utilize layers effectively to separate your line art from colors and shading. This approach allows for easier edits and cleaner designs. Additionally, exporting your artwork with a transparent background in PNG format ensures your stickers maintain their quality and versatility across different platforms.”

    Marcus Lee (Graphic Designer and App Workflow Specialist). “Procreate’s brush customization is a powerful tool for sticker creation. I recommend creating or downloading sticker-specific brushes that mimic cut lines or textured edges to give your stickers a unique, hand-crafted feel. Also, leveraging the QuickShape feature can help create precise shapes that enhance the overall sticker design.”

    Sophia Nguyen (Creative Director and Sticker Artist). “To optimize your sticker designs for printing or digital use, it’s crucial to work in high resolution and consider the final sticker size early in the process. Procreate’s ability to export layered PSD files also facilitates collaboration with print shops or further editing in other software, streamlining the production of professional-quality stickers.”

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What tools do I need to create stickers on Procreate?
    You need an iPad with Procreate installed, an Apple Pencil or compatible stylus, and optionally a sticker paper or digital sticker template for printing or exporting.

    How do I set up the canvas size for sticker creation in Procreate?
    Set your canvas to the desired sticker dimensions, typically between 2 to 5 inches square at 300 DPI to ensure high print quality.

    What is the best way to create a sticker outline in Procreate?
    Use the selection tool or create a new layer to draw a clean, smooth outline around your artwork, then fill or stroke the path for a professional sticker border.

    How can I export my stickers from Procreate for printing?
    Export your stickers as PNG files with transparent backgrounds to preserve quality and transparency, suitable for printing or digital use.

    Can I create animated stickers in Procreate?
    Yes, Procreate supports animation assist, allowing you to create simple frame-by-frame animations that can be exported as GIFs or video files.

    How do I organize multiple sticker designs within Procreate?
    Use separate layers or multiple canvases for each sticker design, and group related elements to streamline editing and exporting processes.
    Creating stickers on Procreate involves a combination of artistic skill and familiarity with the app’s tools. The process typically starts with designing your artwork using Procreate’s versatile brushes and layers, allowing for detailed and vibrant illustrations. Once the design is complete, isolating the artwork by removing the background ensures the sticker has a clean, professional look. Exporting the file in a format that supports transparency, such as PNG, is crucial for maintaining the sticker’s quality and usability across different platforms.

    Additionally, understanding the use of layers and selection tools in Procreate enhances precision in sticker creation. Utilizing features like clipping masks and alpha lock can help refine edges and add depth, making the stickers visually appealing. The ability to customize brush settings and experiment with textures also contributes to producing unique and personalized sticker designs.

    Ultimately, mastering the workflow of designing, isolating, and exporting stickers in Procreate empowers artists and creators to produce high-quality digital stickers efficiently. These stickers can be used for personal projects, social media, or even commercial purposes, showcasing the flexibility and power of Procreate as a creative tool. Continuous practice and exploration of Procreate’s features will further enhance the quality and creativity of sticker designs.

    Author Profile

    Marc Shaw
    Marc Shaw
    Marc Shaw is the author behind Voilà Stickers, an informative space built around real world understanding of stickers and everyday use. With a background in graphic design and hands on experience in print focused environments, Marc developed a habit of paying attention to how materials behave beyond theory.

    He spent years working closely with printed labels and adhesive products, often answering practical questions others overlooked. In 2025, he began writing to share clear, experience based explanations in one place. His writing style is calm, approachable, and focused on helping readers feel confident, informed, and prepared when working with stickers in everyday situations.