How to Change the Background in Procreate Animation Assist?

To change the background in Procreate's Animation Assist, you designate the leftmost frame in your timeline as a permanent background layer. This frame's content will then be visible behind all subsequent animation frames.

Setting Your Background in Animation Assist

Procreate's Animation Assist makes handling backgrounds straightforward by allowing you to dedicate a specific frame to this purpose. According to the reference, with Animation Assist turned on:

• Tap the leftmost frame in your animation timeline.
• This action toggles on a permanent background for that frame.
• This designated background Frame will be present across your entire animation.

Effectively, any artwork you place or create within this leftmost frame will serve as your static background throughout the entire animation sequence.

Steps to Change or Modify the Background

Once you have designated a frame as the background, changing or modifying it is simple:

1. Ensure Animation Assist is active.
2. Locate and select the leftmost frame in the timeline.
3. Edit the contents of this frame just like you would any other Procreate layer. You can:
   • Draw or paint directly on it.
   • Import images.
   • Adjust colors or apply effects.
   • Clear the layer to start fresh.
4. Any changes made to this leftmost frame will instantly update and appear behind all other frames in your animation preview.

This method provides a simple and efficient way to manage a consistent background element for your animated projects in Procreate.

Understanding the Background Layer

The background frame in Animation Assist functions differently from standard animation frames. While standard frames represent individual moments or drawings in your sequence, the background frame is static and underlies the entire animation duration. This is ideal for elements that don't move, such as:

• Scenery (sky, ground, furniture)
• Logos
• Consistent textures or colors

Using this feature ensures your background remains stable while your animation frames change above it, simplifying the animation process and saving time.