Creating Horror Manga Pages with Clip Studio Paint
When it comes to creating horror manga pages, Clip Studio Paint is an excellent tool to help bring your terrifying tales to life. In this tutorial, we'll explore how to use eight different rulers and special rulers in Clip Studio Paint to create effects like surprise, fast movement, simple objects, symmetry, and perspective.
Creating Panels
To start, we'll focus on creating panels using two essential tools: line tools (or figure tools) for uniform lines and the curve ruler for creating custom panel shapes.
With the curve ruler, you can create a variety of panel shapes by selecting the straight line option and holding down the left mouse button while pressing shift to get a straight line. Release shift to create a curved line, and when you've drawn the last line, a dot will appear. Clicking on this dot will fuse the lines together to complete the shape. You can then use the pen tool to snap onto the panel line and adjust the line thickness for a more dynamic look.
Additionally, you can right-click on the ruler symbol and toggle "show ruler" on or off to see the results without the purple line or to freehand on the same layer.
Adding Content to Panels
Once you've created your panels, you can start adding content using the linear ruler. This tool allows you to create reference lines to simulate a window frame, providing more interesting lighting and composition to the panel.
To use the linear ruler, simply click and drag to create multiple lines on the canvas. Then, use the pen tool to trace along these lines. Note that all lines are disconnected from each other, and the pen will only trace as far as the line goes and will only snap onto one line at a time, depending on which line is nearest to the pen.
Customizing Brushes and Traditional Mediums
Before we dive deeper into creating our horror manga page, it's essential to learn how to create and customize brushes in Clip Studio Paint. Check out the Clip City Paint tutorial playlist for a comprehensive guide on imitating traditional mediums. Don't forget to subscribe to the channel for future tutorials and fun/creepy videos!
Creating a Dramatic Effect in the Fourth Panel
In the fourth panel, we'll use the radial line option in the special ruler tab to create a convergence effect, typical in mangas. Select the radial line option and click on the center of attention to create a guide. Add lines until the effect looks nice, keeping in mind that less is more.
Creating a Reflective Glass Effect in the Second Panel
To create a reflective glass effect in the second panel, we'll use the parallel line option in the special ruler settings. Drag the curve on a new layer, holding down the left mouse button until the angle is right, and release to generate a guide. Add lines and reduce opacity to achieve the desired effect.
Creating a Close-Up of the Cup in the Final Panel
In the final panel, we'll use the figure tool menu to drag a circle inside the panel. However, this will only give a uniform line. To create a more natural, hand-drawn look, we'll use the figure ruler option in the rulers menu. This tool allows us to create various shapes, including circles, rectangles, and polygons with customizable sides. We can use these shapes to draw objects of all kinds, including the cup in this example.
Creating the Cup Border
To create the cup border, select the circle option and drag it to fit the sketch of the cup border. Create three circles and trace over them with the pen tool. Erase unnecessary parts to create the desired shape.
Creating the Cup Body and Handle
Use the curved ruler to draw the curved body of the cup. Switch from the straight line option to the spline option and repeat the process for the cup handle.
Creating the Liquid Inside the Cup
To create the liquid inside the cup, use the figure ruler to draw the shape. Apply regular transformations to modify the shape or size of the figure ruler if needed.
Inking and Shading
Next, ink the ends and remaining details, and then draw all the shading.
Adding a Ripple Effect to the Liquid
To add a ripple effect to the liquid, go to the rulers menu and select the special ruler option. Choose the concentric circle option from the drop-down menu. Left-click and drag the circle from the center of the cup to the edge of the liquid. Left-click again to validate the position. Draw lines on the surface to simulate ripples on water, leaving space between the lines for a better effect. Reduce the opacity if desired, duplicate the layer, and blur it to add shine to the water.
Restoring Opacity to Speech Bubbles
Finally, restore the opacity of the speech bubbles.
Creating the Second Page
To create the second page, ink the first panel, repeating the concept and tools used earlier. Use the parallel option in the special ruler tool to create movement in the panel, and add a spiky speech bubble with an exclamation and interrogation point.
Using the Perspective Ruler
To create a sense of depth and perspective, select the perspective ruler tool and start drawing lines for the walls and window. Use the perspective ruler to create a sense of scale and environment.
Using One Point Perspective Ruler
To use the one point perspective ruler, click and drag the mouse to create two lines that converge at a point, forming an "X" on the screen. The point where the two lines cross is the center, and the wider the angle between the lines, the more intense the perspective will be. Keep in mind that the lines will always converge towards the center when working with one point perspective.
Composition and Scale
In the context of a room, use one point perspective to create a sense of scale and environment. Show part of the ceiling and the size of the room to allow the viewer to understand the scale of the creature. In this scenario, the creature is much bigger than the main character, so emphasize this by using the one point perspective ruler.
With these tools and techniques, you'll be well on your way to creating a terrifying horror manga page that will leave your readers on the edge of their seats. Happy creating!