Unlocking the Full Potential of Clip Studio Paint: 50 More Tips and Tricks
Clip Studio Paint is a powerful digital painting and comic illustration tool that offers a wide range of features and tools to help artists create stunning works of art. However, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to navigate and master. In this article, we'll explore 50 more tips and tricks to help you unlock the full potential of Clip Studio Paint and take your art to the next level.
Automating Colorization
Did you know that Clip Studio Paint can automatically color an image using the "Colorize" feature? To access this feature, go to Edit > Colorize > Technology Preview > Colorize All. You can improve the results by providing a reference layer and hint image, making it a useful tool to automate certain parts of the coloring process.
Clip Studio Modeler
As a Clip Studio Paint owner, you also have access to Clip Studio Modeler, a 3D software that allows you to create 3D materials and textures that can be used in Clip Studio Paint. This can be a useful workflow to understand, especially for 2D artists looking to add depth and dimension to their work.
Customizing Clip Studio Paint
Clip Studio Paint is highly customizable, and one of the ways you can tailor it to your needs is by changing the interface color. To do this, go to File > Preferences > Interface and select your desired color scheme.
Outlines
Clip Studio Paint allows for a single outline around drawn objects and text. However, did you know that you can add a double outline by using the border effect and adding another outline to a folder? This allows for stacking multiple outlines without flattening the layer.
Sub Tool Icons
You can change the sub tool icons in Clip Studio Paint by right-clicking on the tool and going into Sub Tool Settings. This can help communicate the purpose of the tool and clear up space on the toolbar.
Grid and Measurement
The grid feature in Clip Studio Paint can be turned on to help with precise measurements. You can adjust the size of the grid to fit the specific needs of your project, and even set up shortcuts to quickly turn the grid on and off.
Pen Snapping
The three buttons at the top of the screen control whether the pen snaps to the grid, ruler, or perspective ruler. These settings can also be controlled through the View menu.
Selecting Multiple Layers
You can select multiple layers in Clip Studio Paint by choosing a layer and ticking the boxes next to additional layers. Alternatively, you can select layers by dragging or using standard window shortcuts (Shift and Control).
Transparent Brushes
Did you know that you can use transparent brushes in Clip Studio Paint? To do this, select the transparent color by clicking on the transparent color button or using the shortcut "C". This allows brushes to be used as textured erasers, adding more functionality to the brush tools.
Liquify Tool
Clip Studio Paint has a Liquify tool that can be accessed through the Blends tool. The Liquify tool can be used to create interesting and dynamic effects, and is particularly useful for correcting mistakes in post-processing without having to use the lasso tool and drag things around.
Brightness to Opacity Tool
The Brightness to Opacity tool in Clip Studio Paint can be used to scan in artwork done with a white piece of paper and black pen or pencil. It automatically turns scanned artwork into transparent digital line art, making it easy to add color and other elements.
Auto Recovery
It's a good idea to have your artwork automatically backed up, especially for projects that require a lot of time. You can enable auto recovery by going into File > Preferences > File > Canvas Recovery.
Purchasing Clip Studio Paint
If you're thinking of purchasing Clip Studio Paint, did you know that you can often find it on sale? It's a good idea to buy the cheaper version (Pro) and then upgrade to the more expensive version (Ex) when it's also on sale. Upgrading from Pro to Ex only requires paying the difference in sale prices.
Brush Size
You can quickly change the brush size in Clip Studio Paint by holding down Alt and Control and dragging on the canvas. This shows the exact brush size on the canvas.
Bucket Fill Tool
The Bucket Fill tool in Clip Studio Paint can be used to fill in multiple areas quickly by dragging across the page. It's particularly useful for detailed artworks with many segments.
Panorama Tools
Clip Studio Paint has a range of panorama tools that allow for easy creation of 3D backgrounds for comics and animation. These tools can be accessed through Materials > 3D, and even include pre-built spheres that can be used or downloaded from the Clip Studio Paint store.
Quick Access Palettes
You can set up quick access palettes in Clip Studio Paint to access a ton of different shortcuts. This is particularly useful for those without shortcut keys on their tablets.
Eyedropper Tool
The Eyedropper tool in Clip Studio Paint has many options in the Tool Properties, including picking from or excluding certain parts of the image. You can choose a radius to pick from and create an average color.
Fill Tool
The Fill tool in Clip Studio Paint can be used to precisely fill in line art with minimal room for mistakes. Options include target color, tolerance, and close gap.
Tool Properties
The Tool Properties in Clip Studio Paint reveal a ton of options for every tool, allowing for customization to fit specific needs.
Auto Actions
You can download auto actions from the Clip Studio Asset Store or create them manually by recording a series of actions. This allows for easy repetition of lengthy processes with a single click.
Smartphone Remote Control
Clip Studio Paint allows for use of a smartphone as a remote control, requiring a Samsung Galaxy phone and a subscription to the mobile version of Clip Studio Paint. However, note that the functionality is limited due to the requirements.
Selection Outline
The Selection Outline tool in Clip Studio Paint can be used to create an outline of any shape or selection. It can be accessed through Edit > Outline Selection.
Selection Center Point
The cross in the middle of a selection in Clip Studio Paint defines the center point of the selection. You can move it to change the center point of rotation.
Character Spacing
The Character Spacing tool in Clip Studio Paint allows for increasing or decreasing the space between characters. It can be accessed through Tool Properties, and is particularly useful for formatting text without having to flatten the layer and move individual letters.
Hidden Features in Clip Studio Paint
Recent Documents
You can open recent documents quickly by going to File > Recent to access your 10 most recent files.
Exporting Multiple File Types
You can export files in multiple formats, including PDF, by going to File > Export > Multiple Files > PDF.
Changing Paper Color
You can change the paper color to any color you want by double-clicking the paper icon.
History Tab
You can access the history of every movement made in your project by going to Window > History. This allows you to easily jump back multiple steps if you make a mistake.
Managing Multiple Canvases
You can organize your workspace by going to Window > Canvas > Tiled View. This allows you to see all your canvases at the same time.
Information Tab
You can access extra information about your project, including position on the screen and system usage, by going to Window > Information.
Shortcuts
Clip Studio Paint has a range of shortcuts that can save you time, including:
- Ctrl + U: Open the Hue Saturation Luminosity tab
- Ctrl + Z: Undo
- Ctrl + Y: Redo
- Ctrl + X: Cut
- Ctrl + V: Paste
- Ctrl + C: Copy
- Ctrl + A: Select All
- Ctrl + I: Invert
Fixing Tab Width
You can fix the width of tabs by going to Window > Palettes > Dock and then setting the width to a fixed value.
Navigator
You can use the navigator to move around the canvas by going to Window > Navigator. This can be especially useful for jumping around to different parts of the canvas quickly.
Primitive Shapes
You can use primitive shapes to create 3D scenes and get a sense of perspective by going to Window > 3D > Primitive Shapes.
Color History
You can access a history of previously selected colors by going to Window > Color History. This allows you to easily go back to colors you've used before.
Hiding and Showing Tabs
You can press Tab to hide or show all tabs and windows.
Click and Drag
You can click and drag to select layers, hide or show huge chunks of layers at once, and make your life easier.
Creating Transparent Animations
You can create transparent animations by going to File > Export > Movie and selecting AVI with Enable Transparency checked. You can then use these animations in video editing software like OBS or Vegas Pro.
Using Transparent Animations in Vegas Pro
When using transparent animations in Vegas Pro, make sure to set the alpha channel to Straight Unmatted in the media properties to ensure transparency is maintained.
Working with Thirds Composition
You can create a file or copy an existing one to save as a thirds composition material. This allows for quick access to the thirds composition material.
Creating Custom Brushes
You can create custom brushes in Clip Studio Paint by designing a brush tip and saving it as a material. You can then use the brush tip to create unique effects and textures.
Ribbon Brushes
You can create ribbon brushes in Clip Studio Paint by designing a brush tip and using it as a stamp or decoration. This allows you to add dynamic textures and patterns to your work.
Organizing Image Materials
You can organize your image materials in Clip Studio Paint by creating folders and adding materials to them. This makes it easy to find and access the materials you need.
Creating Backup Brushes
You can create backup brushes in Clip Studio Paint by going to the three lines at the top of the screen and selecting "Add from Default". This creates a new tab with customizable brushes, without overwriting existing ones.
Gradient Options
Clip Studio Paint has a range of gradient options that can be used to add soft transitions between colors and elements. You can customize and play with the options to automate and improve your workflow.
Item Bank
You can access the item bank in Clip Studio Paint by going to Window > Item Bank. This allows you to drag and drop files into the item bank and use them as references that can be pulled out whenever needed.
3D Models and Focal Length
You can use the mouse wheel to change the focal length of 3D models in Clip Studio Paint. This can create extreme perspectives and dynamic scenes, and is particularly useful for creating cool effects and scenes.
Clip Studio Button
You can press the hidden Clip Studio button at the top of the screen to access recent files or the Clip Studio asset store quickly. This is a convenient way to access Clip Studio features.
By mastering these 50 tips and tricks, you'll be well on your way to unlocking the full potential of Clip Studio Paint and taking your art to the next level. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, there's always something new to learn and discover in this powerful digital painting and comic illustration tool.