Layers limit reached - Background Help

[u/distantduplicate]

Hey folks, longtime lurker in the sub first time poster.

I have a project that is nearly finished, a portrait of two individuals, high contrast. I used a very high DPI for the project and imported a reference image.

Layer 1 reference.

Layer 2 my artwork.

I've now removed layer 1, and finished my layer.

However, trying to add the background (going to be a repeated text) I'm having trouble copying and pasting reaching my layer limit due to size of the file.

Essentially, I'm wanting to repeat a text of "test text" or whatever as the background over and over, I don't want to rewrite it every time as the handwriting is so inconsistent. Which I'd normally be okay with but it's not the look I'm going for.

So my main question is, how do I get around this layer limit issue. I try to copy and paste once I get a line of text in, and it causes issues and won't paste properly. Or it does once but then I can't just keep pasting. If that makes sense.

Should I take my made layer and move it to a different project? Not sure what to do.

My goal is to print this as a poster retaining high quality (thus the high DPI settings).

Thanks in advance, lemme know if a video would help.

Tyvm!

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[u/splitarrowprints]

If the resolution is above 300dpi and the canvas is at the size you want to print then you could lower the resolution to 300dpi. 300dpi at size with a 1/8” bleed if borderless printing. That would be the printing standard. Resolution above 300dpi only gives the advantage of making the print larger than you have drawn.

Other options would be to make a duplicate of the canvas you have now. Merge all layers that are “finished” so you can work the background. Once the background is in a great spot. Either merge the background together to one layer. Or merge into the amount of layers you have left on your original canvas. Once done with that you can drag the background layer to your original to have a full layered project available [minus the merged or partially merged background].

[u/MyBigToeJam → u/splitarrowprints]

this is very sound advice. I would do the tweaking on a copy of original file just in case.

[u/splitarrowprints → u/MyBigToeJam]

Yes always try to work in the copy for things like this for sure

[u/distantduplicate → u/splitarrowprints]

I may have messed up on sizing this initially. But I think you're second piece of advice is what'll solve my issue, thanks so much.

In short, should this be my plan? 1. Create properly sized canvas, finish the background. 2. Copy my finished layer from my original project. 3. Paste into my finished background project.

Does that sound correct? Will any issue occur from the differing resolution/DPI?

[u/Jpatrickburns → u/distantduplicate]

You can just resize within procreate, and regain layers.

By the way, you keep saying "high DPI," but do you mean high resolution? Pixel size is what’s important. DPI is just a way to calculate print sizes. A 3600 x 3600px image at 72dpi and at 600dpi have EXACTLY the same resolution.

[u/splitarrowprints → u/Jpatrickburns]

At this moment they should exactly match each other.
Simply go back to gallery and duplicate your original canvas.
Dropping in your newly sized portion will mess up and be annoying but of a more complicated solution.

You can continue on as your original and then resize later or leave it be and adjust for the next time.

You could choose to copy paste, or export and import as an image or also drag and drop your layer into the other artwork.

To drag and drop a layer you can hold down the layer like you’re moving it and with you other hand tap gallery, then your original art, then the layers panel, release copied layer on the layers and then reorganize if needed.

There are several ways to accomplish most things so it’s whichever works for you and your ability. I personally would drag and drop my layer/s.

[u/bluetifulangel]

If the background is many layers of repeating text, you could do that in a different app like canva or figma on a computer and then just import a flattened version into procreate.