RindrawExport a transparent PNG from Procreate
A transparent background in Procreate takes two steps: hide the Background color layer, and share as PNG. When the PNG still comes out white, it's usually Photos or the way it was sent, not Procreate. Here's the fix for each, and for Save Image going missing.
For Procreate 5.4. From Procreate's Handbook and Community, where these threads have been read over 550,000 times. Checked November 2, 2026.
Export a transparent PNG
- Open Layers and untick the checkbox on Background color, the bottom layer. The canvas shows a gray checkerboard where it's now transparent.
- Tap Actions › Share and choose PNG.
- Choose where it goes: Save Image puts it in Photos, Save to Files in Files or iCloud Drive.
The format matters. Procreate's Handbook lists PNG as the image format that keeps transparency. JPEG has no transparency at all, so a JPEG of the same canvas gets a white (or background-colored) background, whatever the layers show. For one PNG per layer, use Share Layers › PNG Files; only visible layers are exported.
For animation, the Animated GIF, Animated PNG and HEVC exports each have a Transparent Background switch. MP4 can't be transparent: it's made of JPEG frames.
If the PNG turns white in Photos
It's a common report on Procreate's forum, and it's usually not Procreate.
- Optimize iPad Storage. Procreate's team traced cases to iCloud Photos: with Settings › Photos › Optimize iPad Storage on, Photos may keep a smaller JPEG copy of a large PNG, and JPEG fills transparency with white. Switch to Download and Keep Originals, then export again. It shows up more on big canvases than small ones.
- The viewer draws white. Photos and many apps show transparent areas as white or black, though the file is still transparent. Bring it back into Procreate (Gallery › Photo) and hide the Background color layer: if you see the checkerboard, the PNG is fine.
- Sending it compresses it. Messaging apps, email and social networks often convert images to JPEG as they send them, adding a background. Send it as a file (from Files, or zipped) to keep it as a PNG.
If Save Image is missing, or nothing arrives in Photos
- Pick an image format first. Save Image appears for JPEG, PNG, TIFF and PSD. It isn't offered for PDF or
.procreate, which can only go to Files and other apps. - Let Procreate add to Photos. In the iPad's Settings › Privacy & Security › Photos › Procreate, allow access. Procreate's team pointed people with this problem to that switch.
- Share from the Gallery instead. Swipe left on the artwork's thumbnail and tap Share; moderators suggest it when sharing from the canvas fails. A restart of the iPad has fixed it for others.
Remove a white background you painted
Hiding Background color only helps if the white is that layer. If you painted white onto a layer, or imported a picture on white, Procreate has no "make this color transparent" command; its team suggests selecting the white instead:
- Tap Selections › Automatic and tap the white. Slide left or right on the canvas to change how much it takes.
- Clear it: three-finger scrub on the canvas, or Layer options › Clear.
- Hide Background color to check, and export as PNG.
How Rindraw does it
We make Rindraw. A canvas can be transparent from the start: turn on Transparent Background when you make it, and there's no paper to hide later. PNG exports keep the transparency, and animation exports have a Transparent background switch of their own.
Questions
How do I export a Procreate drawing with a transparent background?
Open Layers, untick the Background color layer so the canvas shows a checkerboard, then tap Actions › Share › PNG and choose Save Image or Save to Files. PNG keeps transparency; JPEG doesn't.
Why does my transparent PNG have a white background in Photos?
Usually iCloud Photos' Optimize iPad Storage, which can keep a JPEG copy of large PNGs, and JPEG fills transparency with white. Choose Download and Keep Originals in Settings › Photos. Some apps also simply display transparent areas as white.
Why can't I save my Procreate art to Photos?
Save Image appears only for image formats: JPEG, PNG, TIFF and PSD, not PDF or .procreate. If it still fails, allow Procreate access in Settings › Privacy & Security › Photos, or share from the Gallery by swiping left on the artwork.
Can Procreate turn a white background transparent?
There's no color-to-transparent command. Select the white with Automatic Selection, clear it with a three-finger scrub or Layer options › Clear, and hide the Background color layer.
Sources
- Procreate Handbook (5.4), Share: Actions › Share; PNG is lossless and flattened, “preserving transparency”; JPEG is flattened; Share Layers saves visible layers as separate PNGs.
- Procreate Handbook, Sharing layers: Animated GIF, PNG and HEVC have a Transparent Background toggle; MP4 “cannot have a transparent background.”
- Procreate Community, Transparent background?: about 164,000 views; turn off the background layer and export as PNG.
- Procreate Community, Cannot save with transparent background: about 69,000 views; Procreate's team traced white backgrounds to Optimize iPad Storage converting PNGs to JPEG.
- Procreate Community, Deleting background colour: about 99,000 views; select white with Automatic Selection and clear it.
- Procreate Community, Making a white background transparent: about 48,000 views; there's no color-to-transparent feature.
- Procreate Community, Cannot export/save to camera roll: about 88,000 views; check Procreate's access to Photos in iPad Settings.
- Procreate Community, Can't save to photos/camera roll: about 53,000 views; Save Image is offered for JPEG, PNG, TIFF and PSD, not PDF or .procreate.
Related guides
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Procreate is a trademark of Savage Interactive Pty Ltd, and Apple Pencil, iPad and iCloud of Apple. Rindraw is made by Sawir Studio and isn't affiliated with Procreate or Savage Interactive.
