Clip Studio Paint Tutorial and Tips

After a 5-6 year hiatus, I'm excited to share my knowledge of Clip Studio Paint with you through a series of tutorials and tips. As a digital artist, I've learned many techniques and features that can make creation easier, and I'm eager to pass them on to you. Throughout this tutorial, I'll be sharing short videos that demonstrate various techniques and features in Clip Studio Paint.

Using Photoshop Features in Clip Studio Paint

As I work on a project, I often have Photoshop open alongside Clip Studio Paint. One feature in Photoshop that I find particularly useful is the ability to hold down the Shift key while drawing a line. This allows me to create straight lines with ease, which is especially helpful when creating horizontal and vertical lines. Additionally, holding down Shift joins up individual lines, making it a versatile feature.

While Clip Studio Paint doesn't have an identical feature, it does have a similar functionality. By pressing the Shift key while using the pencil tool, I can draw straight lines with some limitations. However, this method may not always provide the desired result, and it doesn't allow for snapping to completely horizontal or vertical lines.

Perspective Rulers in Clip Studio Paint

One way to overcome the limitations of the Shift key method is by using perspective rulers. Perspective rulers can help achieve precise horizontal or vertical lines, which are essential for establishing perspective and creating straight lines. I'll be explaining how to use perspective rulers in more detail later in this tutorial.

Clip Studio Paint Tutorial: Using Perspective Ruler

Creating a One-Point Perspective Ruler

To create a new one-point perspective ruler on a new layer, go to Layer > Ruler > Frame > Create Perspective Ruler and click OK to confirm.

Working with the Perspective Ruler

To move the perspective ruler around the canvas, select the Object Tool (represented by a 3D box with a cursor icon). Note that the perspective doesn't matter when drawing horizontal and vertical lines, as the vanishing point won't affect the outcome.

Important Feature to Note

When using perspective rulers, be aware of the diamond icon on the receding lines. This icon is crucial, as accidentally turning it off can disable the perspective ruler functionality. Make sure to keep this icon active to ensure the perspective ruler works as intended.

Snapping to Perspective Ruler in Drawing Tools

The little diamond on the perspective ruler lines indicates the vanishing point and center point for the perspective. The little diamond and green lines on the perspective ruler allow for snapping to vertical and horizontal lines. To enable snapping, lock the layer with the perspective ruler on it. Then, select the pencil tool again and ensure "snap to special" (or "snap to ruler" in some versions) is turned on. With "snap to special" enabled, the pencil tool will snap to the perspective ruler, allowing for precise drawing of vertical and horizontal lines. This technique also works with the pen tool.

This feature is particularly useful for solving the problem of snapping to completely vertical or horizontal lines when using drawing tools. By following these steps, you can achieve precise lines and enhance your digital art creation experience in Clip Studio Paint.