clip studio book: Clip Studio Paint Tutorial: Exporting Comic Book Templates with Bleed Zones

clip studio book: Learn how to export custom comic book templates in Clip Studio Paint with bleed zones, including color-coding, file export options, and tips for printing.

October 21, 2024 at 11:03

Clip Studio Paint Tutorial: Exporting Comic Book Template with Bleed Zone

Overview

In this tutorial, we will explore how to export a custom comic book template in Clip Studio Paint while ignoring whitespace beyond the bleed zone.

Previous Tutorial Reference

If you need a refresher on creating a custom comic book template, please check out our previous tutorial (link provided in the description).

Comic Book Dimensions

For this tutorial, we will use a comic book size of 6 inches x 9 inches, with a bleed width of 0.125 inches. Since Clip Studio Paint has a two-decimal place limitation, we will round the bleed width up to 0.13 inches.

Inside Border Dimensions

The inside border is set to 0.25 inches from the 6-inch and 9-inch edges. To account for the left and right sides, as well as the top and bottom edges, we need to multiply this dimension by 2.

Canvas Size

We will set the canvas size to 11 inches x 15 inches, providing extra space for notes, color palettes, testing brushes, and other work.

Setup

After setting the canvas size to 11 inches x 15 inches, click the OK button to confirm.

Color-Coding and File Export for Comic Book Printing

Color-Coding Explanation

Let's break down the color-coding system:

  • Red: Bleed area, where the printer will cut, and anything in this area will be lost
  • Green: Trim area, where the printer will cut, and anything in this area is not guaranteed to be printed
  • Blue: Safe area, where all artwork, text, and explosion lettering should be kept to ensure they are safely printed

File Export for Comic Book Printing

When exporting your file for printing, keep the following in mind:

  • File Format: TIFF (most on-demand printers require TIFF or PDF, but Clip Studio Paint cannot export in PDF)
  • Alternative: Convert TIFF file to PDF online if needed
  • Important Note: Most on-demand printers do not accept JPEG or PNG files
  • Color Mode: Use CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) color mode for color comics when sending to printers
  • Default Setting: Check if the default setting is RGB, and change it to CMYK if necessary

Color Modes and File Export Options for Comic Books

Color Modes

Choose the right color mode for your comic book:

  • RGB: For online comic books, use RGB color mode
  • Grayscale: For black-and-white comics, use Grayscale (a gradient from black to white)
  • CMYK: For color comics, use CMYK color mode, especially when sending to printers

File Export Options

When exporting your file, consider the following options:

  • Rasterize All Layers: Combine all layers into one, recommended when sending to printers
  • Preferred Quality: Select this option when sending to printers to ensure high-quality output
  • Fast: This option is for personal use only, as it may result in mistakes in the file when Clip Studio compresses the layers

Exporting Files

When exporting your file:

  • TIFF File: A TIFF file will be created
  • Cropping: Make sure to crop the file to remove excess white space, as some printers may not accept files with extra space
  • Exporting Page Content Only: Use the blue lines as a guide to export only the comic book page content, excluding any notes or extra elements

Exporting a Single Layer TIFF File for Comic Book Printing

To export a single layer TIFF file:

  • Go to File > Export and select Single Layer TIFF
  • Enter a name for your file, e.g., "ComicBookPage"
  • In the Output Range section, select Crop Marks and set the Offset to crop outside the bleed zone
  • Leave the Ratio at 100%, since you should have scaled your drawing or template to the proper dimensions
  • If your comic book is in color, select CMYK for color mode

Result

The exported TIFF file will have no extra whitespace, exactly what the printer needs to print your comic book.

Exporting Multiple Pages

If you have multiple pages, you can use the Batch Export feature. However, Batch Export does not provide the option to crop outside the bleed zone, so you may need to export each page individually.

Tips and Reminders

  • You can create your comic book page canvas larger than the actual page size for various purposes
  • Exporting your page to the actual proper size ensures it's ready for printing
  • If you found this tutorial helpful, give it a thumbs up and share it with others who might find it useful!