To copy and paste in Procreate using gestures, swipe three fingers down the screen to reveal the Copy Paste menu.
Here's a breakdown of how this works:
-
The Three-Finger Swipe: This is the universal gesture in Procreate for accessing copy and paste functions (along with cut). When you swipe three fingers downwards on your canvas, a menu pops up at the top of the screen, offering several options.
-
Copy & Paste Options: The menu presented after the three-finger swipe typically includes the following:
- Cut: Removes the selected content and places it on the clipboard.
- Copy: Duplicates the selected content onto the clipboard, leaving the original intact.
- Copy All: Copies all visible layers of your artwork.
- Paste: Inserts the content from your clipboard onto the canvas. This will generally create a new layer containing the pasted elements.
Steps for Copying and Pasting:
- Selection: First, you need to select the area you wish to copy. Use the Selection tool (represented by an "S" icon) at the top left of the screen to choose a selection method (Freehand, Rectangle, Ellipse, or Automatic).
- Make your Selection: Carefully draw or tap to define the area you want to copy.
- Three-Finger Swipe: Swipe down the screen with three fingers.
- Choose 'Copy': Tap the "Copy" option from the menu.
- Three-Finger Swipe (again): Swipe down with three fingers again.
- Choose 'Paste': Tap the "Paste" option. The copied selection will appear on a new layer.
Important Considerations:
- The pasted content will appear on a new layer by default.
- Make sure you have content selected before attempting to copy. If nothing is selected, the "Copy" option might be greyed out or inactive.
- If you're having trouble with the gesture, make sure your iPad's Multi-Touch Gestures are enabled in Settings > General > Gestures. Also, ensure Procreate has the necessary permissions.
