Branches
In Abstract, new work starts by creating a Branch. You can think of a Branch as your working copy of the Master—what we call the files that act as the source of truth for a Project’s finalized designs. A Branch is where you can privately explore and edit designs in a Project before sharing them with your team by committing.

How to create a Branch
You can create a Branch from the Master file or from another Branch. When you create a Branch from another Branch, we call the original Branch the “parent branch” and the new Branch the “child Branch”. You may choose to branch from a parent Branch if you’d like to pick up where someone else left off in their Branch.
💡Abstract tip: Creating a Branch does not affect the Master. You’ll commit your changes and go through a review process before you merge any changes to Master.
How to create a Branch from Master
To create a Branch from Master:
- Open the Abstract desktop app.
- Select the Project you’d like to edit.
- Select Master from the left side pane.
- Select the .SKETCH file you’d like to edit.
- Select EDIT IN SKETCH in the top right.
- Select CREATE A BRANCH.
- Enter a Branch name that describes the edits you’re planning to make in that Branch (e.g. Green version of iOS logo).
- Note: If your Branch focus changes, you can edit the Branch name.
- Select CREATE BRANCH.
Your new Branch will open in Sketch. You can make edits right away.
How to create a Branch from another Branch
To create a child Branch from a parent Branch:
- Open the Abstract desktop app.
- Select the Project you’d like to edit.
- Select Branches from the left side pane.
- Select the Branch you’d like to branch from.
- Click NEW BRANCH in the top right corner.
- Enter a Branch name that describes the edits you’re planning to make in that Branch (e.g. Green version of iOS logo).
- Note: If your Branch focus changes, you can edit the Branch name.
- Select CREATE BRANCH.
Your new Branch will open in Sketch. You can make edits right away.