How to Keep Procreate Color Drops Contained
Have you tried dropping color into a design in Procreate, only to watch it spill across the entire canvas? It’s a common issue, but one with a straightforward fix.
Procreate’s color fill feature, called Color Drop, works by detecting boundaries. When you drag and drop a color onto your canvas, it spreads until it hits a defined edge—like an outline or a change in color. If your color unexpectedly covers the entire canvas, it’s likely due to gaps in your outlines.
Here’s how to avoid this issue and keep your color fills precise:
Ensure Your Outlines Are Closed: Procreate needs a fully enclosed boundary to contain the color fill. Check your sketch for any gaps in the outline. Even a tiny break can cause the color to flood the entire canvas.
Zoom in closely to inspect your lines.
Adjust Color Threshold: When you drop the color onto your design, don’t immediately release your finger. Instead, slide it to the left or right to adjust the Color Threshold.
Sliding to the right increases the threshold, allowing the color to fill larger areas.
Sliding to the left lowers the threshold, helping contain the fill to tighter spaces.
Use the Reference Layer Feature: If your outlines are on one layer and you’re coloring on another, set the outline layer as a Reference Layer.
Tap the layer thumbnail and select Reference.
Now, when you drop color on a different layer, Procreate will still recognize the outlines.
Double-Check for Layer Gaps: Sometimes gaps aren’t visible due to transparency or layer blending. Make sure all relevant layers are visible and properly aligned.
By closing gaps in your outlines, you can fill shapes with ease.