How to Use an SVG Logo in Procreate
Procreate is a raster app, so an SVG logo must be converted to a high-resolution transparent PNG before you place it. Here is the workflow and how to check the result.
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The short answer
Procreate works with pixels, not vector paths, so you cannot bring an SVG logo in as editable vector artwork. The dependable workflow is to rasterize the SVG first: export it from a vector app as a PNG with a transparent background, at a pixel size at least as large as the logo will appear on your Procreate canvas. Then place that PNG with Insert a file or Insert a photo. Inside Procreate, the logo becomes a pixel layer. Keep the original SVG as your master file.
Terms used in this guide
- Vector artwork: a graphic defined by mathematical paths, points and curves. It can be scaled to any size without losing edge sharpness.
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics): an XML-based file format that usually stores vector paths. It can also embed raster images, so the .svg extension alone does not prove a file is pure vector.
- Raster artwork: a graphic made of a fixed grid of pixels. Enlarging it beyond its pixel dimensions softens or blurs edges.
- Rasterize: convert vector paths into pixels at a specific pixel size.
- Transparent background: an alpha channel that leaves the area around the logo empty instead of filled with white. PNG supports this; JPEG does not.
Why an SVG does not stay vector in Procreate
Procreate is a raster painting app. Its canvas, layers and brushes all work in pixels. Anything you place on the canvas, including a logo that began as an SVG, becomes pixels at the canvas resolution. SVG is not a standard Procreate import format. If you try to open one directly, expect it to fail or to come in as a flat image rather than as editable paths. Procreate's import options change between versions, so check the current Procreate Handbook if you need to confirm which formats your installed version accepts.
Step-by-step: getting the logo into Procreate
- 1. Decide how large the logo will be in the finished artwork, measured in pixels on your Procreate canvas. Check the canvas size first, because the export depends on it.
- 2. Open the SVG in a vector editor, such as Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Inkscape or an iPad vector app.
- 3. Confirm the artwork is what you expect. Look for hidden or stray objects, embedded raster images, and fonts that have not been converted to outlines. A missing font can change how the type renders.
- 4. Export as PNG with a transparent background. Set the pixel dimensions to match or exceed the size the logo will occupy on the canvas.
- 5. Save the PNG to the Files app, or to Photos if you prefer.
- 6. In Procreate, open your canvas and tap Actions (the wrench icon) > Add > Insert a file, or Insert a photo if you saved to Photos. The logo arrives on its own layer with the Transform tool active.
- 7. Position the logo. Use Uniform scaling so the proportions stay correct. Scaling down is safe; scaling up past the PNG's pixel size will soften the edges.
- 8. Rename the layer so it is easy to find later. Consider locking it so you do not paint on it by accident.
Verifying the result
- Zoom in on curves, thin strokes and small type to check edge sharpness. Blurry or jagged edges mean the PNG was too small for the size you placed it at. Re-export it larger instead of scaling it up in Procreate.
- Hide the background layer to confirm the transparency is intact and the logo has no white box around it.
- Compare the colors against the original SVG or the brand specification. Color can shift during export and between apps.
- Check that letterforms match the original, especially if the SVG contained live text rather than outlines.
Working with the logo once it is placed
You can recolor a single-color logo by turning on Alpha Lock for its layer and filling it. Alpha Lock limits changes to the existing pixels, so the shape stays the same. Any change you make this way is a pixel edit, not a path edit. If the logo's shape, spacing or type needs to change, make that change in the SVG with a vector editor, export a fresh PNG, and replace the layer.
What Procreate exports and when to use a different tool
Procreate exports raster formats, such as PNG, JPEG, TIFF and PSD. A PDF exported from Procreate also contains raster content. None of these exports gives you a vector logo again. Procreate is a good fit for illustrations, mockups or social graphics that include a logo. It is not a good fit for producing logo files for print vendors, signage or other uses that need scalable artwork. For those deliverables, send the original vector file. If your final piece needs both painted artwork and a sharp vector logo, one option is to paint in Procreate and then add the SVG logo in a vector or layout app.
Permissions
Having an SVG of a logo does not mean you have permission to reuse it. Before placing a brand's mark in your artwork, confirm you are authorized to use it, and follow any brand guidelines about clear space, color and minimum size.
Gaps in this guide
No confirmed figures were available for this topic. This guide therefore gives no recommended pixel dimensions, resolution values or Procreate version numbers. The right export size depends on your canvas and output. For print work, get the resolution and size requirements from your printer, and confirm the current import and export options in Procreate's own documentation.