The shortest way to turn a Procreate drawing into a 3D model is to export the drawing as PNG or JPEG and upload it to Figmee in your iPad's browser. With no app to install, you can go from a figurine-style 3D image to a 3D model (GLB / 3MF) on your iPad alone. If you then want to repaint that model in Procreate's 3D Painting, there's one extra step: Procreate can't open GLB, so you'll convert it to USDZ in Blender on a computer.
This guide is for artists who draw on iPad. It walks through the export settings, the steps to a saved 3D model, the conversion for repainting in Procreate, and the points where a computer is needed. Everything about Procreate here was checked against the official Procreate Handbook on November 7, 2026.
Note: Figmee currently provides figurine-style images made from your illustrations, 3D model data (GLB / 3MF), and turntable videos of your 3D models. Ordering physical 3D prints is Coming Soon. Photos of real people, animals, objects or scenery, and images that look like photos, can't be turned into 3D.
What do you need to turn a Procreate drawing into 3D?
All you need is one drawing exported from Procreate and your iPad's browser (Safari or similar). Figmee is a web service with nothing to install, and it accepts PNG, JPEG and WebP images up to 20 MB each. A Procreate file (.procreate) or a PSD can't be used directly, so export the drawing as an image first.
| What you need | Details |
|---|---|
| A drawing | One drawing made in Procreate. A full-body view of the character works best |
| Export format | PNG or JPEG (Figmee accepts PNG, JPEG and WebP; GIF isn't supported) |
| File size | Up to 20 MB per image |
| Device | Your iPad's browser. Figmee runs in the browser and also works on computers and smartphones |
| Tokens | 1–3 for a 3D image, 5 for a 3D model. The first 3D model on each account is free |
You don't have to build a 3D shape in Procreate from scratch. Figmee makes the model from one drawing, with AI filling in the sides you can't see. That also means the back and sides you didn't draw are guesses and won't always match your drawing.
How do you turn a drawing into 3D on iPad alone?
On iPad alone, you can go from export to upload, 3D image, 3D model and download. The hands-on part takes about 15 minutes in total; how long generation takes depends on how busy the service is.
- Export the drawing from Procreate (about 3 minutes): Open the artwork from the Gallery, then tap Actions → Share and choose PNG or JPEG. Save the image to Photos or Files.
- Open Figmee in your iPad's browser and upload the drawing (about 2 minutes): Choose the image on the generation screen. First-time users need to sign up, and you receive 5 tokens as a sign-up bonus (valid for 3 months after signing up).
- Make a 3D image (figurine-style image) (about 2 minutes of hands-on time): Pick a quality level and generate. It uses 1 token for Standard, 2 for Pro and 3 for Max. Check here whether your art style has held up, and regenerate if it hasn't.
- Make the 3D model (about 1 minute of hands-on time): Generate it from the 3D image you like. It costs 5 tokens, and the first model on each account is free.
- Check it in the viewer and download (about 5 minutes): Drag with your finger to spin it 360°; you can also tilt it up and down and zoom in close to the face. On the work page, tap "Save" and choose the GLB 3D model or the 3MF file for 3D printing. Downloading costs no extra tokens.
If a generation fails, the tokens you used come back automatically. If an image is judged to be a photo, generation also stops and the tokens are returned. For the full process of turning an illustration into 3D, see How to Turn an Illustration into 3D.
What export settings should you use?
Use PNG by default, and switch to JPEG if the file goes over 20 MB. A plain background makes it easier to tell where the character ends.
According to the official Procreate Handbook, PNG is a lossless format that flattens your layers on export and keeps transparency, while JPEG uses lossy compression, trading some quality for a smaller file (source: Procreate Handbook, "Share", checked November 7, 2026).
| Setting | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Format | PNG; JPEG if it's over 20 MB | Figmee's limit is 20 MB per image. PNG keeps full quality |
| Background | Plain, or a color that clearly stands apart from the character | Patterns or props in the background may be read as part of the shape |
| Composition | One main character, full body, facing mostly forward | Parts cut off by the frame or hidden behind other parts have to be guessed |
| Hide before exporting | Sketch, guide and text layers | Layers are flattened into one image on export, so everything visible becomes part of the drawing |
If you hide the background layer before exporting a PNG, the background comes out transparent. If you're not sure, export with a plain white background; that makes the result easier to compare against your drawing.
If you want to export only the line art, before any color goes in, and turn that into 3D, Can You Make a 3D Model from Line Art? explains how the colors get decided and which line drawings work well.
Can you repaint the 3D model in Procreate?
Yes, but not as a GLB. Procreate's 3D Painting imports two formats, USDZ and OBJ, and any model you paint on needs a UV map (the model's surface unfolded flat) (source: Procreate Handbook, "Import" (3D Painting), checked November 7, 2026). Figmee's GLB stores its colors as texture images, so it already includes a UV map.
To turn the GLB into USDZ, use Blender, the free 3D software. Blender's USD exporter saves a USDZ file when you set the output file extension to ".usdz", packing the USD and its texture images into one archive (source: Blender Manual, "Universal Scene Description", checked November 7, 2026).
- Send the GLB to your computer (about 2 minutes): Move the GLB you saved from Figmee to your computer with AirDrop or cloud storage.
- Import the GLB into Blender (about 2 minutes): Use File > Import > glTF 2.0 (.glb/.gltf). For the detailed import steps and what to check when colors don't show, see Prototype in Figmee, Refine in Blender.
- Lower the metallic value if needed (about 3 minutes): Freshly generated GLBs have a fairly high metallic setting, so in other software the edges can look shiny like metal. If that bothers you, set Metallic on the material (Principled BSDF) to 0. If an image is connected to Metallic, remove that link first.
- Export as USDZ (about 2 minutes): Choose File > Export > Universal Scene Description and give the file a ".usdz" extension. The export settings also include an option to cap texture size (USDZ Texture Downsampling).
- Send it to your iPad and open it in Procreate (about 2 minutes): Send the USDZ to your iPad and either tap Import at the top right of the Procreate Gallery, or accept it via AirDrop and choose Procreate. It opens in 3D Painting.
You can also go the OBJ route. Procreate can import an OBJ together with the texture maps in the same folder (Color, Roughness, Metallic, Ambient Occlusion and Normal) by importing the whole folder. But you'd have to export the texture images and gather them in that folder yourself, so USDZ takes fewer steps.
When you've finished painting, Procreate's Share menu can export the model as USDZ, as OBJ (a folder with the model and textures), as texture PNGs, or as animated GIF, PNG or MP4 of the model turning (source: Procreate Handbook, "Share" (3D Painting), checked November 7, 2026). GLB isn't on that list, so if you need a GLB again, re-export it through Blender.
If you'd rather repaint inside Figmee, subscribers get the 3D Model Coloring feature that lets you paint colors on a 3D model in the browser and save the result as a separate version while keeping the original. You start it with the "Color this model" button. For more on the GLB format itself, see What Is a GLB File?.
Where do you need a computer for the conversion?
You mainly need a computer to convert the GLB into a format Procreate can open and to change the shape itself. Blender's official download page lists Windows, macOS and Linux, with no iPad version (checked November 7, 2026; source: blender.org, "Download"). The table below also covers other cases, such as exporting a turntable video.
| What you want to do | iPad alone? | If you need a computer |
|---|---|---|
| Export the drawing from Procreate | Yes | — |
| Make a 3D image and 3D model on Figmee | Yes (in the browser) | — |
| Rotate the 3D model 360° to check it | Yes | — |
| Download the GLB and 3MF | Yes | — |
| Export a turntable video | May not work in Safari on iPad | Export in Chrome or Edge on a computer |
| Paint the model in Procreate 3D Painting | Procreate can't open GLB | Convert to USDZ in Blender |
| Fix the shape or split it into parts | Not inside Figmee | Edit the GLB in Blender or similar software |
| Use the 3D printing file | You can download the 3MF | Slicer software usually runs on a computer. Ordering 3D prints through Figmee is Coming Soon |
Turntable videos are recorded with a feature built into the browser. Figmee Help says Chrome and Edge on computers and Chrome on Android support it, and that it may not work in Safari (including on iPhone and iPad) or Firefox (Figmee Help, "Export a turntable video of your 3D model").
What if something goes wrong?
The most common problems are a file that's too large, extra things in the drawing, and Procreate not opening GLB. Find the symptom and pick the fix.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The upload doesn't go through | Over 20 MB, or an unsupported format such as GIF | Export as JPEG. If the canvas is very large, shrink it before exporting |
| Generation stopped because it was judged to be a photo | The image was judged to be a photo or to look like one | Use a drawing. Painting styles close to photorealism may be judged as photos |
| The background or text became part of the shape | Background patterns, text or a signature were read as part of the drawing | Use a plain background and hide unneeded layers, then export again |
| The back or sides don't match your design | The AI guesses at sides you didn't draw | Add the cues you want to see, like the tips of the back hair, to the front drawing and upload it again as a new work (each work gets one 3D model). For color only, subscribers can repaint with 3D Model Coloring; fix the shape in Blender. More in What Happens to the Back Side When AI Works from a Single Image? |
| Procreate won't open the GLB | Procreate opens only USDZ and OBJ | Convert to USDZ in Blender before importing |
| The edges look metallic in Procreate | Freshly generated GLBs have a high metallic value | Set Metallic to 0 in Blender, then export to USDZ |
| The turntable video won't export | Safari on iPad may not support the recording feature | Export in Chrome or Edge on a computer |
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload a Procreate file (.procreate) to Figmee as is?
No. Figmee accepts PNG, JPEG and WebP images up to 20 MB each. In Procreate, go to Actions → Share and export as PNG or JPEG.
Can I get all the way to Procreate 3D Painting with just an iPad?
As of November 7, 2026, you need a computer once. Figmee saves GLB and 3MF files, and Procreate 3D Painting opens USDZ and OBJ, so a conversion in Blender sits in between. Blender is available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and its official download page has no iPad version.
Can I bring a model I painted in Procreate back into Figmee?
No. Figmee accepts only images as uploads and can't import 3D model data. Use the painted model as a USDZ or OBJ exported from Procreate, or as a GLB re-exported from Blender.
Summary
Export your Procreate drawing as PNG or JPEG and upload it to Figmee, and you can go from a 3D image to a saved 3D model (GLB / 3MF) entirely in your iPad's browser. When exporting, aim for one main character, full body, on a plain background, under 20 MB.
To repaint that model in Procreate 3D Painting, convert the GLB to USDZ in Blender on a computer, because Procreate opens only USDZ and OBJ. That conversion and changing the shape itself are the main steps that need a computer; exporting a turntable video may also need one, since Safari on iPad may not support the recording feature.
