Exporting images

Tips for exporting and sharing images including managing orientation, size, and layers when moving between devices

Jump to Mobile

Export sketches to share with others or to back them up‍ elsewhere. Import images‍ into Sketchbook to continue working on them.


Exporting in Sketchbook Pro for desktop

You can export your images from Sketchbook Pro to the following formats:


When you export an image, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is the limitations of the file type. 

  • TIFF is Sketchbook's native file format, and will reopen in any Sketchbook app with layers and data intact. However only Sketchbook reads layers in TIFF, so this file opened in a different software package will be flat
  • PSD will preserve layers and most data, but there are some Sketchbook features that will not be preserved
  • PNG and and BMP will be flattened, compressed files in a lossless format
  • JPEG will be a flattened file with some lossiness


Another thing to consider is the capacity of the device you will import to. On mobile devices, the number of layers supported will be dependent upon the device's available memory‍.


Exporting Sketchbook Pro images to a device

When you export an image with layers and/or a large canvas size from Sketchbook Pro on desktop to a device, if the device cannot support the file, a warning appears. The warning will let you know what the issue is.

  • If the version of Sketchbook you're bringing the file into doesn't have layer grouping, then the layers come in ungrouped.


With older devices and older versions of Sketchbook, there may be more limitations. For example, when you export an image with 8 layers from Sketchbook Pro to an older device running an older version of Sketchbook, layers may be missing.


Exporting in Sketchbook for mobile devices

Use Share when you want to send a drawing directly to another app on your device. The Share workflow brings up the device's sharesheet, a window showing options to send via text message or to select from a list of apps. Sketchbook does not control the contents of the sharesheet, that is defined by your device. 

Use Export when you want to save a file to your device's Files app. Similar to the sharesheet, the files window is controlled by your device, and will include options for local or cloud folders that you have set up in your Files app.


To export a single canvas:

  1. Tap Share/Export  from the menu
  2. Choose Export to Files if you want to save a file, or Share if you want to send it to another app
  3. Choose the file type
    • Sketchbook TIFF is Sketchbook's native file format and contains all your layer data. This choice is best if you plan to open the file in Sketchbook or Sketchbook Pro on another device. Only Sketchbook will open a Sketchbook TIFF with layers, other apps will flatten the image.
    • PSD is the best choice for moving a layered file to another image editor. Note that there are some features that will not be preserved‍ when Sketchbook files are saved to PSD.
    • PNG
    • JPG
    • PDF (requires the Premium Bundle)‍ 
  4. Export to Files will open your file browser, where you can edit the name of the file and where it will be saved. This name is only applied to the export and is not assigned to your piece in Sketchbook. 


  1. In the Gallery‍, pinch-zoom out or tap  to enter small thumbnail view
  2. Tap Share/Export  from the menu
  3. Choose Export to Files if you want to save a file, or Share if you want to send it to another app
  4. Choose the file type and follow the same steps as above for a single image export.
    Note: PSD is not available for batch export, due to the processing required to convert the files


Exporting PDFs

Exporting a single image or entire Gallery Album as a PDF is available as part of the Premium Bundle. 

See Exporting PDF files for more details.


TIPS:

  • When saving to folders in Files, duplicate file names are not allowed, so if the name exists, you will be prompted if you want to ‘Replace’, ‘Keep Both’, or ‘Stop.’ 
  • If you want to repeatedly export to Files and use the same name to replace (update) the file, it may be easier to save it and name it in the Gallery first. This will allow the export to use the same name automatically
  • If you do not re-name your file, you are given the option to ‘Replace’, ‘Keep Both’, or ‘Stop.’ If ‘Replace’ is tapped, it writes over the original image, and it cannot be recovered



Delete

Warning

The iOS Photos app is known to convert PNG files to JPG, with the most obvious result being the loss of a transparent background. It is more common for files over 4k and under 360px, but it can happen to any file. The only workaround if this is happening on your device is to save your PNGs to Files instead of to Photos.