Quick answer: import an individual PNG, keep the line art as the top layer, set it to Multiply and add colour on separate layers underneath. Preserve one untouched original and export only a copy of the finished page.
What you need
- An iPad, Android tablet or compatible drawing tablet.
- A drawing app that imports PNG images and supports layers.
- A stylus if you prefer one.
- The extracted PNG folder from your purchased ZIP.
If the ZIP is still unopened, use our download and extraction walkthrough.
Why use the PNG instead of the PDF?
The PDF is designed for printing. The PNG folder gives you one high-resolution image per page, which is usually more convenient in a drawing app. Each page is 2550 × 3300 pixels at 300 DPI with the complete composition and margins intact.
Procreate: a reliable layer setup
- In Procreate’s Gallery, import the selected PNG from Files.
- Rename the imported layer Line art.
- Duplicate it once as a safety copy, then hide the duplicate.
- Set the visible line-art layer to Multiply.
- Create a new layer and drag it below the line art.
- Add separate layers for sky, house, masonry, timber, planting and small details.
Adobe Fresco and other apps
The names vary, but the structure is the same: import the PNG, keep line art at the top, choose Multiply or a similar darkening mode, and paint on layers below. If your app has no blend modes, colour carefully on layers above or use its selection/transparency tools.
A useful layer order
| Top to bottom | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Line art | Original illustration, usually set to Multiply |
| Highlights and atmosphere | Window glow, moonlight, mist and accents |
| Small details | Doors, trim, railings and plants |
| House colours | Walls, stone, roof and timber |
| Sky and ground | Large background areas |
Keep fine lines crisp while zooming
Zooming does not damage the PNG. Quality is reduced when artwork is repeatedly resized or exported small and enlarged again. Keep an untouched original, avoid stretching the canvas, and save your layered work in the app’s native format.
- Use a medium brush for walls and roofs before texture.
- Turn on stabilisation for window frames and narrow trim.
- Use selections or clipping masks for complex areas.
- Zoom out regularly so the page works as a whole.
Build an architectural palette
Begin with five to eight colours: one wall colour, one roof colour, a dark structural tone, trim, two plant colours and an accent. Add warmer or cooler versions for light and shadow. Gothic pages suit slate, muted violet, charcoal, moss and amber; Georgian façades suit stone, brick, cream and deep door colours; Craftsman houses respond to earthy green, russet, ochre and timber.
Save, back up and export
- Keep the purchased ZIP in cloud storage or a backed-up folder.
- Keep the editable layered artwork in your app.
- Export PNG for a clear flat image or JPEG for a smaller sharing file.
- Do not overwrite the original purchased PNG.
The licence permits personal colouring and printing, but not sharing blank source files or reselling the artwork. See the personal-use licence.
Sources for the layer method
Choose a page with room to experiment.
Every collection includes 25 separate PNG files ready for a layer-based tablet workflow.
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