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Procreate and digital design

What to export from Procreate for tattoo design files

Keep a master, client preview, stencil file and archive copy so you do not send the wrong tattoo design file.

Updated: 22/08/2026 2 min
Contents

Short answer: do not make one file do every job. Keep a master, a client preview, a stencil file and an archive copy so you always know what you are sending, printing or editing.

Versioning sounds boring until the wrong file gets sent. Then it becomes the most important part of the workflow.

The four outputs

A tattoo design usually needs four outputs:

  • Master file: the editable Procreate file you keep.
  • Client preview: a clean image without technical clutter.
  • Stencil file: simplified black linework for transfer preparation.
  • Archive copy: a final record for your studio files or portfolio.

Each one has a different job. Mixing them creates confusion.

Save by use, not by panic

Before export, duplicate the file or save a separate version. The master should stay editable. The preview should be easy for the client to understand. The stencil should be technical and clean.

Do not prepare the stencil directly over the only approved design file. That is how good layers disappear.

A simple naming system

Use names you will understand in six months: client or project, placement, date and output type.

Example:

  • rose-forearm-2026-08-22-master
  • rose-forearm-2026-08-22-preview
  • rose-forearm-2026-08-22-stencil
  • rose-forearm-2026-08-22-archive

The name does not need to be pretty. It needs to stop you from opening ten files to find the right one.

Export formats by use

Use .procreate for your full working file. Use PSD when someone needs layers in another app. Use PNG for a clean flattened image, especially when transparency matters. Use PDF for a tidy print or document flow. Use JPG for a quick preview where file size matters.

For stencil output, keep the line solid, hide unnecessary layers and test at the intended physical size.

Checklist before sending

  • Correct version selected.
  • File name makes sense.
  • No private references visible.
  • No discarded sketch visible in the preview.
  • Stencil line is separate from client presentation.
  • Master file backed up before flattening.

Open the exported file before sending it. Do not trust the thumbnail.

Delivery control

Look at the exported file as if you were the client. If it needs a long explanation, it may not be the right preview.

Look at the stencil version as if you were about to prepare the transfer. If a line is missing or too grey, it is not the right stencil file.

Mistakes that cost time

The expensive mistakes are predictable: sending a technical layer to the client, flattening the master by accident, naming files final-final-new, or printing a stencil from the wrong version.

A calm export routine prevents those problems before the pressure of the appointment arrives.

Official references checked

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Use this as a decision guide, not a substitute for supervised training

Follow the product manufacturer's instructions, your studio protocols and the rules that apply where you work.