How To Select Multiple Layers In Procreate | iPad Tutorial

• January 14, 2022
• Nick Saporito
• no comments

Using Procreate as someone who comes from a background of desktop design applications comes with a modest learning curve. Functions that typically work the same across various design apps — such as selecting multiple layers at a time — are fundamentally different in a mobile environment. In this tutorial we’ll be unlocking one of those mysteries by going over how you can select multiple layers at a time in Procreate.

In short, you can select multiple layers in Procreate by simply sliding them to the right with your finger or the stylus. Each layer that you slide will be highlighted in blue, indicating that it is selected.

This is the same process that we used in a previous tutorial where we went over how to group layers in Procreate. Let’s do a quick demonstration.

How To Select Multiple Layers In Procreate

The following video tutorial will walk you through the process in less than 1 minute:

Continue on for the written tutorial.

Select Multiple Layers In Procreate

Let’s first go over how to select multiple layers, then we’ll address deselecting them (spoiler: the process is the same for both!)

Step 1: Open the Layers Menu

The first step to selecting multiple layers, obviously, would be to open the Layers menu — located towards the top-right portion of your screen:

The Layers menu, located in the top-right corner of the screen.

By default, one of the layers should already be selected. This will be indicated by a blue highlight.

Step 2: Slide layers to the right to select them

With the Layers menu opened, all you have to do to select additional layers at the same time is simply tap and drag the layer to the right:

Layers that are selected are highlighted in blue.

As depicted in the screenshot above, layers that you have selected will be highlighted in blue. However, a toned down shade of blue is used for the additional selected layers. The original primary layer remains its same shade of blue.

And that’s it! You have selected multiple layers and can now do with them whatever you please.

How To Deselect Layers

Now let’s unlock the great mystery of deselecting layers in Procreate.

Slide the layer to the right again to deselect it

If for whatever reason you’d like to deselect layers, all you have to do is simply slide them to the right again. This will deselect any layers you currently have selected.

Conclusion

Selecting multiple layers in Procreate is as simple a process as it gets. However, it can be a bit perplexing at first — especially if you’re approaching this as someone with a background in desktop design software. The more you use Procreate though, the more it all starts to make sense.

If you have any questions or need clarification on anything outlined in this lesson, simply leave a comment below.

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