Clip Studio Paint Tutorial: Creating Panel Borders and Organizing Frames
When creating comics, setting up pages and creating borders can be a daunting task. However, Clip Studio Paint makes it easy to set up pages and create borders with precision and consistency. In this tutorial, we will cover the basics of setting up a page, creating panel borders, and organizing frames in Clip Studio Paint.
Basic Page Setup
To start, set up your page with the following settings:
- Width and height: 7 x 10.75 inches
- Resolution: 1280 PPI (working at 600 DPI, but same amount of pixels as 300 DPI)
- Binding finish size: 6.63 x 10.25 inches (standard American comics size, but Clip Studio Paint doesn't allow for exact decimal points)
- Bleed: 0.13 inches (would prefer 0.15 inches, but Clip Studio Paint doesn't allow for it)
Crop Marks and Bleed
Crop marks are the two guides on the page, and the bleed is the area outside the crop marks where the artwork can extend. Understanding these concepts is essential for creating professional-looking comics.
Default Inner Border Size
To create a special ruler for snapping borders to, set up a default inner border size. This will help you create consistent borders across pages. To do this, go to Edit > Preferences > Layer/Frame Area and set the horizontal and vertical spacing to the same value for consistency.
Creating a New Page
To create a new page, go to File > New Page and cancel the automatic page creation to start with a blank page.
Creating Panel Borders
To create a panel border, use the Create Frame tool (or press the 'F' key) and select the Rectangle Frame option. Draw a border around the panel, create a raster layer, and fill the frame. Set the brush size to 24 (thickness of the border). To snap the border to the ruler, select the border and the special ruler (or view > snap to ruler/special ruler), and click and drag the corner of the border to the corner of the ruler.
Creating Multiple Panels
To create multiple panels, use the Frame Border tool to divide the page into smaller sections. Adjust the horizontal and vertical spacing of the frame borders in the preferences to achieve the desired layout. You can experiment with different spacing values to find what works best for your comic.
Using the Frame Border Tool
To create new panel borders, select the Frame Border tool and the Straight Line tool (located on the far left of the toolbar). Click and drag to create a new panel border. Hold the Shift key to snap the border to 90 and 45-degree angles. Continue creating new panel borders by clicking and dragging.
Creating Equidistant Panels
To create equidistant panels, go to Layer > Ruler Frame > Divide Frame Border Equally. Change the vertical and horizontal number of divisions to the desired value (e.g., 3x3 for a 9-panel grid). This will automatically create the desired number of panels with equal spacing.
Tips and Variations
You can adjust the frame border settings in the preferences to suit your needs. Experiment with different horizontal and vertical spacing values to create unique panel layouts. Use the Divide Frame Border Equally feature to create complex panel grids with ease.
Creating Panels without Borders
To create panels without borders, go to the Create Frame tool and turn off the "Draw Border" option. This will allow you to fill the background with color and leave the gutters (space between panels) white, without any black borders.
Working with the Purple Line (Special Ruler)
The Purple Line is a special ruler that appears when you turn off the "Draw Border" option. You can turn the Purple Line on and off by holding the Shift key and clicking on it. The Purple Line helps you preview what the panel borders will look like.
Changing the Frame Background Color
To change the frame background color, double-click on the frame background and select a new color. This allows you to see how the panel borders will look with a different background color.
Working on One Layer for Everything
If you want to work on one layer for everything, you can use the Create Frame tool without the "Draw Border" option selected. This will allow you to draw panel borders using a brush or tool of your choice. You can then use the Cut Frame Border tool to edit the vector border without creating a new border.
Editing the Vector Border
To edit the vector border, select the frame border and use the Cut Frame Border tool. This will allow you to edit the vector border without creating a new border. You can then use a brush or tool of your choice to draw on the vector border.
Using a Brush or Tool on a New Layer
If you want to use a specific brush or tool for panel borders, you can create a new layer above the folder and use that tool. You can adjust the brush size and settings to get the desired effect.
Creating Textured Borders
Use the Pencil tool to draw a border with a nice texture. Use the Snap to Rulers feature to create straight lines and perfect panel borders. Adjust the brush size to achieve the desired border width and texture.
Dividing Frames and Organizing Panels
Create a frame and divide it into multiple panels using the Divide Frame tool. Use folders to organize and group panels. Use the Undo feature to correct mistakes.
Moving and Resizing Panels
Use the Object tool to move panels around and resize them. Turn off the "Work with other frame borders" feature to move a panel behind others. Use the arrows to snap a panel to the next available point. Resize panels by dragging them while holding the Object tool.
Tips and Tricks
Use the "Work with other frame borders" feature to move multiple panels together. Hold the Object tool and slide a panel to move it behind others. Use the arrows to snap panels to specific points. Organize panels using folders and layers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Clip Studio Paint makes it easy to set up pages and create borders with precision and consistency. With these tips and tricks, you'll be well on your way to creating professional-looking comics.