Setting up a Document in Clip Studio Paint for Comic Book Printing
Welcome to Page 1 Comics, a channel that provides tips, tutorials, and resources for comic book artists, writers, and publishers. In this tutorial, we'll guide you through the process of setting up a document in Clip Studio Paint for printing a comic book.
Template Size and Resolution
When creating a comic book, it's essential to use the right template size and resolution. The recommended template size is 6.88 inches by 10.50 inches, which is the standard size for print on demand and major comic book companies like DC. The resolution is set to 600 dpi, which is the recommended resolution for printing. Working at 100% of the actual size, the comic book will be printed at 600 dpi.
DPI vs PPI
You might have heard of both DPI and PPI. DPI (dots per inch) is an older term, but it's still widely used. PPI (pixels per inch) is a more modern term, as it's actually pixels, not dots.
Creating a New Document in Clip Studio Paint
To create a new document in Clip Studio Paint, go to File > New and select Comic from the presets. Click on Show all Comic Settings or the blue button to access advanced settings. Choose the unit of measurement as Inches and turn off Extra Comic Settings at the bottom of the window.
Using an Image Template
You can use an image template in the background to help you set up your document correctly for printing. You can download the single-page template or the double-page spread template from the link in the description box. These templates are designed to help you set up your document correctly for printing.
Setting up a Comic Book Art Template
To set up a comic book art template, create a new document with the following settings:
- Width: 6.88 inches
- Height: 10.5 inches
- Resolution: 600 dpi
- Color: Color (not grayscale)
Save this setup as a preset by clicking on the download icon and naming it (e.g. "Comic Book Art Template"). In the preset settings, select the following options:
- Resolution: 600 dpi
- Paper Color: Delete (or set to white if desired)
Importing an Image into the Template
To import an image into the template, go to File > Import > Image and select a JPEG image. The image will be imported into the document and can be resized and positioned as desired. To embed the image into the document, right-click on the layer and select "Convert to Image Material Layer". This will allow the image to be treated as part of the artwork, rather than an attached image.
Working with the Imported Image
To work with the imported image, position it in the center of the canvas. Right-click on the layer and select "Convert to Image Material Layer" to embed the image into the document. To make the image black and white, click on the blue icon in the layer menu. To adjust the transparency of the image, use the opacity slider. To lock the layer, right-click on the layer and select "Lock Layer". To hide the paper layer, click on the eye icon in the layer menu.
Working with High-Resolution Files in a Digital Comic Book Template
Deleting the Background Layer to Save File Size
To delete the background layer, highlight it and click the trash icon on the far right. This will remove the paper background, allowing you to work on your artboard. If you want to restore the paper background, go to File > New Layer > Paper and select the desired paper color.
Working at 600 DPI and 6.88 x 10.5 Inches
The document size is set to 6.88 x 10.5 inches, which is the size of a printed comic book before trimming. The resolution is set to 600 DPI, which is twice the output resolution of most printers (300 DPI). Working at a higher resolution allows for crisper and cleaner artwork when reduced to 300 DPI for printing, and the ability to scale up the artwork for other media (e.g. posters, banners, merchandise) without losing detail.
Benefits of Working at High Resolution
Working at 600 DPI allows for more detail and crispness in the artwork. Reducing the resolution to 300 DPI for printing makes the artwork appear more detailed and cleaner. Scaling up the artwork to larger sizes (e.g. for merchandise) is possible without losing quality.
Traditional Art Comparison
In traditional art, artists work on a physical board at twice the size of the comic book (10 x 15 inches). This allows for more detail and crispness in the artwork when reduced to the final size. The same principle is applied digitally, working at a higher resolution to achieve similar results.
Saving the Document
To save the document, go to File > Save and save the document with a desired name (e.g. "Single Page Comic Book Template"). It's recommended to save the document regularly to avoid losing work.