Using Rulers in Clip Studio Paint: A Comprehensive Guide to Three-Point Perspective Drawing
In this tutorial, we'll delve into the world of rulers in Clip Studio Paint, focusing on their application in three-point perspective drawing. By the end of this guide, you'll be well-versed in creating and editing rulers, adding vanishing points, and utilizing snapping options to enhance your drawing experience.
Accessing the Ruler Tool
To begin, locate the Ruler tool in the Tools menu at the bottom of the screen, represented by a small triangle icon. From the Ruler menu, select the Perspective Ruler to get started.
Creating a Ruler
To create a new ruler, go to the Layer menu and click on "New Layer." Make sure to tick the "Create at editing layer" checkbox to ensure the ruler is created on the desired layer. Click and hold on the canvas to create a new ruler, starting from the horizon line. The ruler will be created on the selected layer, with the crosshairs indicating the starting point.
Adding Vanishing Points
To add a vanishing point, click and hold on the canvas, which will create a line radiating out from the starting point. The ruler will now be tied to the vanishing point, allowing for accurate perspective drawing.
Editing the Ruler
To edit the ruler, simply use the Pen tool to draw on the canvas. The ruler will clip and radiate out from the starting point, and will also clip to vertical and horizontal lines if drawn in those directions.
Toggling the Ruler On and Off
To toggle the ruler on and off, go to the Layer menu and click on the ruler icon next to the layer. Holding Shift and clicking on the icon will toggle the ruler off, indicated by a small "x" over the ruler icon. Clicking on the icon again will toggle the ruler back on.
Rulers in the Layer Menu
Rulers can be set to only apply to the same layer by default. When creating a new empty layer, the ruler disappears because it's not applying to anything else but the layer it's on. However, this behavior can be changed by using the drop-down menu in the top of the layer menu. Options include:
- Show in all layers in the same folder
- Only want to edit in the target (only applies to the layer it's on)
Using the Ruler
To move around and use the ruler, go to the Operation tool in the top menu and keep it set to "Object" in the menu. Clicking on the ruler brings up various points and options, including:
- Moving the whole ruler around on its own using the largest button with directional arrows
- Moving a selection of operation tools around using the group of three buttons
- Turning off the entire ruler using the small button with an "x" inside a diamond
- When the ruler is turned off, lines will not snap to it, and the lines on the ruler will turn green
- Other diamond-shaped buttons on the ruler allow for more specific control over snapping, such as turning off vertical or horizontal snapping.
Perspective and Snapping
In three-point perspective drawing, radiating lines and horizontal lines are used to create a perspective. When drawing a vertical line, it will snap to the radiating lines unless the vertical snapping is turned off. Turning off vertical snapping allows for free drawing of vertical lines.
Snapping Controls
- The "Object" button can be clicked to turn snapping on or off
- When snapping is turned off, a slice appears through the button
- Turning snapping back on removes the slice and allows for snapping to vertical and horizontal lines
- The bottom line turns purple when turned off, indicating that horizontal snapping is disabled
- Turning off both horizontal and vertical snapping allows for free drawing of lines without snapping
Mixing and Matching Snapping Options
Snapping options can be mixed and matched to suit the user's needs. Checking the colors of the lines indicates which snapping options are turned on:
- Green: vertical and radiating lines are turned on
- Darker purple: horizontal line is turned off
- Turning off individual snapping options allows for more control over drawing lines
Angle Radiating Lines
Angle radiating lines can make the workspace look busy. Moving these lines around can help to line up planes and boxes more easily. Middle points inside the lines can be moved to keep them out of the way. Clicking the diamond icon on these lines turns them green and turns them off, preventing snapping to these lines.
Additional Snapping Options
Small blue dots on the lines can be used to control snapping. These dots can be moved around to adjust the snapping behavior. The effect of these dots on snapping will be explored further.
Adjusting the Horizon Line
The ruler tool allows you to keep a static point while moving the horizon line around. This is useful when dealing with vanishing points that are far off the screen. You can tweak the horizon line instead of zooming out and pulling it around.
Tilt and Twist
The ruler tool also allows you to tilt and twist the horizon line. You can shift the vertical (purple) and horizontal (blue) lines around. Holding the Shift button while adjusting the horizon line will snap it to vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.
Snap to Angle
Holding the Shift button while drawing the ruler initially will help you get it perfectly horizontal or vertical. You can also hold Shift while adjusting the ruler to snap to 90, 45, or other degrees.
Moving the Horizon Line
You can move the horizon line around by using the two buttons at the top. This is an alternative to tweaking the ruler adjustments. You can move the entire horizon line around as needed.
Using Multiple Rulers
You can use multiple rulers to block out a scene. Each ruler can be adjusted independently. You can split the rulers into different layers for organization.
Clip File Example
A time-lapse clip shows the process of blocking out a scene with multiple rulers, demonstrating the versatility and power of the ruler tool in Clip Studio Paint.
By mastering the ruler tool and its various features, you'll be able to create stunning three-point perspective drawings with ease and precision. Experiment with different snapping options, vanishing points, and ruler adjustments to unlock the full potential of Clip Studio Paint. Happy drawing!