Introduction
Procreate is a popular digital illustration app for iOS devices. One of its standout features is the ability to extract color palettes from reference images, allowing artists to easily sample colors while painting. However, many users have reported issues with the auto-palette generation feature not working as expected. There are a few potential reasons why Procreate may fail to create a palette from an image.
Image Requirements
For Procreate to successfully sample an image palette, the reference image must meet certain requirements:
– The image needs to contain a good range of colors. Images with limited color variety or predominantly neutral tones may not generate a useful palette.
– Avoid images with complex textures, gradients, or photographic elements. Procreate analyzes flat, graphic artwork best.
– Stick to standard image formats like JPG, PNG or TIFF. Other formats like RAW photo files may not be compatible.
– Use high resolution images whenever possible. Images that are blurry or pixelated will not allow Procreate to pick up fine color variations.
If your reference image does not meet these standards, Procreate may struggle to extract an accurate color palette. Try sampling from simpler, graphic illustrations with bold, varied colors.
Image Size Requirements
In addition to image content, the physical dimensions of the reference image can also impact auto-palette generation. Procreate requires images to be:
– At least 500 x 500 pixels in size
– No larger than 4096 x 4096 pixels
Images outside of these size boundaries may fail to produce a palette. Try resizing your image to fit within a 500 x 500 to 4096 x 4096 pixel range. Very small or oversized images won’t work.
App Version
Certain versions of Procreate seem to have issues with the auto-palette tool. Users have reported the most success with Procreate version 5.2 and up. Older versions may be more prone to bugs and failures when sampling colors.
Make sure you have updated to the latest Procreate version. Also check that your iOS device is running the most current OS. Outdated app or iOS versions can contribute to auto-palette problems.
Resetting Procreate
Sometimes issues with Procreate’s tools can stem from corrupted app data or preferences. Resetting Procreate to factory default settings may resolve auto-palette problems:
– Open Procreate and go to the Actions menu
– Select the “Reset All Settings” option
– Tap through the pop-up prompt to confirm reset
Resetting will clear all preferences and restore Procreate to a fresh state. Test the auto-palette feature again after resetting to see if it fixes any problems.
Trying Different Image Sources
The source of your reference image can also impact the auto-palette tool. Some apps and websites compress image files in ways that may interfere with Procreate analyzing them.
If you are pulling images from an app, website, or social media, try saving the images directly to your device first. Then import those locally saved files into Procreate to sample colors. Avoid sampling colors directly from image previews in other apps.
Alternatively, capture screenshots on your device to use as color references. Photos taken directly with your device camera should also work well.
Manual Color Picking
If all else fails, you can build palettes in Procreate manually using the Color Picker tool:
– Activate the Color Picker from the Tools menu
– Use the eyedropper to sample colors directly from your reference image
– Tap the circular dots at the bottom to add sampled colors to your palette
– Rearrange and edit colors as needed after sampling
While not as quick as auto-generating,manual color picking gives you more control over the palette creation process.
Reporting App Issues
If you consistently have no luck generating palettes automatically, consider reporting the issue directly to Procreate support:
– Open Procreate and go to Settings > Get Support
– Choose the “Report an Issue” option
– Thoroughly describe the auto-palette problem in writing
– Include details like app version, iOS version, and image specs
The Procreate development team may be able to provide troubleshooting tips or identify any bugs causing auto-palette failures. Reporting issues can potentially lead to a fix in future Procreate updates.
Using Third-Party Palette Tools
While waiting for a fix, consider using third-party apps to extract color palettes from reference images instead. Some options include:
Adobe Capture
– Free app from Adobe
– Can generate five-color palettes from photos
– Outputs palette in a compatible format to import into Procreate
PicColors
– $2.99 iOS app
– Analyzes images via AI to create palettes
– Lets you customize palette sizes and color schemes
– Integrates with Procreate
Coolors
– Free web app/mobile site
– Uploads images to extract color palettes
– Saves palettes that can be imported into Procreate
These third-party tools may offer better auto-palette extraction than Procreate alone. Test them out as an alternative solution.
Conclusion
Procreate’s auto-palette generation is handy when it works, but can fail for various reasons. Issues like image specs, app versions, file sources, and app data can prevent it from extracting colors properly. Trying steps like resetting Procreate, reporting bugs, manual picking, or using third-party tools can help work around problems until an official fix arrives. With some tweaking, you should be able to build accurate palettes from reference images.
