In Procreate, changing the size of your reference image involves using the Reference Companion window and standard touch gestures.
Procreate provides a dedicated feature called the "Reference Companion" that allows you to keep a reference image visible while you work on your canvas. You can resize the window itself, and also scale or pan the image displayed within it.
Enabling the Reference Companion
To start using a reference image in Procreate:
- Open your canvas in Procreate.
- Tap the Actions menu (wrench icon) in the top-left corner.
- Tap on the Canvas tab.
- Toggle the switch next to Reference.
A small, movable window will appear on your canvas. Inside this window, you can choose between Canvas (showing your current artwork), Image (importing a separate image), or FacePaint (using your face as a reference). Select Image to import a reference picture.
Resizing the Reference Window
Once the Reference Companion window is open, you can easily change its overall size on the screen:
- Tap and drag the edges or corners of the Reference window to resize it.
- Tap and drag the top bar of the window to move its position on the canvas.
This resizes the container for your reference, but not necessarily the image within it relative to the canvas scale.
Scaling and Moving the Image Within the Window
To change the view of the image inside the Reference Companion window (zooming in/out or panning across it):
- Use a two-finger pinch gesture directly on the image displayed within the Reference window to zoom in or out.
- Use a one-finger drag gesture on the image within the Reference window to pan and move the image view around.
These gestures allow you to focus on specific details of your reference image regardless of the window's size.
Different Software, Different Methods: An Example
It's worth noting that the process for handling reference images can differ significantly between different digital art applications. For example, in some other software, the method might be more direct:
Using the ArtRage approach it's a simple matter when you want to resize or relocate the reference image. Simply touch the image and drag to move it or use two fingers to scale and move. Rotation is also accommodated.
While the concept of using touch gestures like dragging and two-finger scaling is common in many apps, the specific implementation (like whether you're scaling the window, the image within the window, or the image directly on the canvas relative to your artwork) varies. Procreate utilizes the dedicated Reference Companion window for this purpose.
