Restoring a drawing in Procreate typically involves re-importing a previously saved file or recovering from a device backup. The specific method depends on how the drawing was lost or deleted and whether you had saved backups.
Methods for Restoring Procreate Artwork
Losing artwork can be frustrating, but several potential recovery paths exist. Your best chance of restoring a drawing depends heavily on whether you had a backup strategy in place.
Here are the primary ways you might be able to restore a lost Procreate drawing:
1. Restoring from a Manual Backup File
If you regularly export your Procreate artwork, this is the most straightforward way to restore a drawing. Procreate allows you to export files in various formats, such as:
- .procreate (maintains layers, history, etc.)
- .psd (Photoshop format, generally preserves layers)
- .jpg
- .png
- .tif
- .mp4 (time-lapse video)
Steps to Restore from a Manual Backup:
- Locate the backup file on your iPad, in a cloud storage service (like Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive), or on a connected computer.
- Open the file location (e.g., the Files app on your iPad).
- Tap on the Procreate file (
.procreateor.psd) you wish to restore. - The file should automatically open and import into your Procreate gallery.
Keeping regular manual backups, especially of important projects, is the most reliable way to ensure you can restore your work.
2. Restoring from an iPad Backup (iCloud or Computer)
If you did not manually export or back up your Procreate files individually, you might still be able to recover lost artwork by restoring your entire iPad from a previous backup. This method essentially reverts your iPad's data and settings to a point in time when the drawing still existed on the device.
Restoring from an iCloud Backup:
According to reference information, if you haven't manually backed up your Procreate files, you can try to restore your iPad from an iCloud Backup. Your iPad often has automatic iCloud backups activated by default when connected to Wi-Fi, power, and locked. If you restore one of these backups from a time before the artwork was lost, you may be able to recover the lost artwork.
- Important Note: Restoring from an iCloud or computer backup will replace all current data on your iPad with the data from the backup. Any work created after the backup date will be lost. Only consider this option if the lost artwork is more valuable than any recent changes on your iPad.
Steps to Restore from iCloud Backup:
- Ensure you have a recent iCloud backup from before the artwork was lost.
- Go to iPad Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to erase your iPad.
- During the setup process after erasing, choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and select the relevant backup.
Restoring from a Computer Backup (Mac or PC):
Similarly, if you back up your iPad to a computer using Finder (on macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (on macOS Mojave or earlier, or Windows PC), you can restore from one of those backups. The process is similar to iCloud backup but involves connecting your iPad to the computer.
- Risk: Just like iCloud, restoring from a computer backup will overwrite all current data with data from the backup point.
3. Checking the Procreate Gallery
While Procreate doesn't have a "recently deleted" folder like some file systems, it's always worth double-checking your gallery. Sometimes drawings might be unexpectedly moved into stacks or appear missing due to sorting changes.
- Scroll through your entire gallery carefully.
- Check inside any stacks you may have created.
- Ensure you haven't accidentally sorted the gallery by name instead of date, which might make older drawings appear in unexpected places.
Summary Table of Restoration Methods:
| Method | Requires Manual Backup? | Data Risk (Current Data) | Best For... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import Manual Backup File | Yes | None | Re-importing specific lost/deleted files |
| Restore iPad from iCloud | No (if auto backup on) | High (overwrites all) | Recovering when no manual backup exists |
| Restore iPad from Computer | No | High (overwrites all) | Recovering when no manual backup exists |
| Check Procreate Gallery | N/A | None | Finding potentially misplaced artwork |
Ultimately, the most reliable way to avoid losing your Procreate drawings is to implement a consistent manual backup routine by regularly exporting your work.
