Converting an Image to a Brush Tip in Clip Studio Paint

When it comes to creating unique and personalized digital brushes, Clip Studio Paint offers a range of tools and features that can help you achieve professional-looking results. One of the most powerful tools at your disposal is the ability to convert high-resolution images into custom brush tips. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of converting an image into a brush tip in Clip Studio Paint.

Starting with a High-Quality Image

The first step in converting an image to a brush tip is to start with a high-quality image. This can be a photo or a scan of the image you want to convert. If you don't have a scanner, you can use your phone's camera to take a high-resolution photo. The key is to ensure that the image is clear, detailed, and free from any distortions or defects.

Importing the Image into Clip Studio Paint

Once you have your high-quality image, open it in Clip Studio Paint. This will allow you to access the range of tools and features that the software has to offer.

Cleaning Up the Edges with the Soft Eraser Tool

The next step is to clean up the edges of the image using the Soft Eraser tool. To do this, select the Eraser tool and choose the Soft Eraser sub-tool. Use the Soft Eraser to remove any unwanted areas around the edges of the image. This will help to create a smooth, seamless edge that will translate well into a brush tip.

Preparing the Image for Brush Conversion

With the edges cleaned up, it's time to prepare the image for conversion into a brush tip. To do this, go to the Edit menu and select Change Canvas. This will prepare the image for conversion to a brush tip.

Cropping and Preparing an Image in CSP for Brush Tip Registration

Before you can convert your image into a brush tip, you need to crop it to the desired size and remove any excess pixel data. To crop the image, drag the handles to form a tight crop around the image. It doesn't have to be a perfect square, but try to get as close as possible. Click "OK" to apply the crop.

However, cropping in CSP does not automatically remove pixel data outside of the canvas, which can cause problems when registering a brush tip. To fix this, press Ctrl + A to select the whole canvas, then go to the Edit menu and choose Delete Outside Selection. Finally, press Ctrl + D to deselect.

Next, go to the Edit menu and select Change Image Resolution. For a brush tip, you want the image resolution to be between 500 pixels and 2,000 pixels. If your image is larger than 2,000 pixels, you may need to resize it to an acceptable range.

Image Preparation Steps

Before you can convert your image into a brush tip, you need to complete a few final preparation steps.

Resize Image (if necessary)

If your image is larger than 2,000 pixels, you'll need to resize it to an acceptable range. Click "OK" if the image is already within the right range.

Tonal Correction

Go to the "Edit" menu and select "Tonal Correction". Adjust the "Brightness" and "Contrast" settings until the background is white and the image is nice and dark. Click "OK" to apply the changes.

Convert Brightness to Opacity

Go to the "Edit" menu and click "Convert Brightness to Opacity". This step removes all color data and converts values to degrees of transparency. White becomes completely see-through, while black becomes completely opaque. Make sure to set the "Express" option (this refers to the Express Tone option, which allows you to adjust the tone of the image).

Turning an Image into a Clip Studio Brush

With your image prepared, it's time to turn it into a Clip Studio brush. To do this, create a new layer and set its color to gray. This step is crucial because the gray color will allow the brush to pick up the color you have selected.

If you need a more detailed guide, check out the custom brush tips video (link above or in the description).

After completing the process, you can test your new brush and see it in action. Because the expression color was set to gray, the brush will use the color you have picked.

For more Quick Clip Studio paint brush tips, check out the playlist. Let the creator know in the comments if there's anything else you'd like to see covered in future videos.