Flipping your canvas horizontally in Procreate is a quick way to view your artwork from a different perspective. This simple technique, often demonstrated in Procreate resources, helps you spot potential issues with symmetry, composition, or flow that you might not notice when looking at the image from its original angle. Just like checking to see how "everything's reading" from one perspective and then flipping it back, this feature is a valuable tool for artists.
Here’s how to flip your image horizontally in Procreate:
Steps to Flip Your Canvas Horizontally
Flipping your canvas is done through the Actions menu, which is your central hub for many canvas-wide adjustments and settings.
- Open the Actions Menu: Locate the wrench icon (⚙️) in the top-left corner of your Procreate interface. Tap this icon to open the Actions menu.
- Navigate to the Canvas Tab: Within the Actions menu, you'll see several tabs. Tap on the Canvas tab. This tab contains options related to the overall canvas properties and view.
- Flip the Canvas: Under the Canvas options, you will find various toggles and buttons. Tap the toggle next to Flip Canvas Horizontally.
Your entire canvas will instantly flip horizontally.
Checking Your Artwork
As mentioned in guides and videos about using Procreate's features, flipping your canvas provides a fresh perspective. This is particularly useful for:
- Spotting Mistakes: You might notice anatomical errors, wonky lines, or unbalanced elements that were previously hidden.
- Composition Review: See how your composition holds up when mirrored. Do the elements still lead the eye effectively?
- Symmetry Checks: Quickly assess if symmetrical elements are truly balanced.
To return your canvas to its original orientation, simply follow the same steps and tap the Flip Canvas Horizontally toggle again.
This feature only changes the canvas orientation on your screen; it does not permanently alter your layers or artwork data until you flatten or export in certain ways, making it a safe tool for iterative review.
