Getting Started with Clip Studio Paint for Pixel Art

As a pixel artist, I'm excited to share my journey of creating a pixel art comic using Clip Studio Paint, a multi-purpose digital illustration software. In this series, I'll be guiding you through my process of creating a comic called Gary's Galaxy, which follows the story of a cat named Gary who lives on a spaceship.

Gary's Galaxy Comic Concept

To give you an idea of what I'm working on, I'd like to share a rough sketch of the comic's first page. Gary detects an intruder on board, but I'll leave the last panel a mystery for now to avoid spoiling the reveal. This project will allow me to showcase my pixel art skills while exploring the features and capabilities of Clip Studio Paint.

Customizing the Workspace for Pixel Art

Before diving into the artwork, I wanted to customize the default workspace to cater to a pixel art workflow. I organized the windows as follows:

• Tools and tool property panels on the left side
• Color information at the top right corner, with HSB sliders instead of the default color wheel
• Information panel below the color information, displaying coordinates and sizing
• Layers and associated functions at the bottom right
• Navigator panel in the bottom right corner, providing a preview of the entire document and the active area of the current zoom

This setup allows me to easily access the tools and information I need while working on my pixel art comic.

Shortcut Customization

I've also customized the shortcut settings to suit my preferences. Clip Studio Paint allows you to edit and assign shortcuts to specific actions, making it easier to work efficiently.

Canvas Size and Resolution for Pixel Art Comic

I decided on a canvas size and resolution for my pixel art comic. I chose a B6 format page, which is 128 x 182 millimeters, and decided to use a pixel equivalent of 256 x 364 pixels to allow for more detailed illustrations and smaller lettering.

Starting the Comic

With my workspace set up and canvas size decided, I created a new illustration document in Clip Studio Paint with the chosen pixel values. I began by creating a rectangular area for the top panel, which will be an establishing shot of the ship flying through space. I filled the selection with a solid color to start building my pixel art scene.

Pixel Art Process

Creating a One-Pixel Frame

To create a clean one-pixel frame for the panel, I selected a rectangle and shrunk the selection by one pixel. Then, I deleted the interior to leave a clean frame. Alternatively, you can use the shape tool to drop down a rectangle outline and adjust it to your needs.

Defining the Main Body of the Ship

Using the shape tool, I created a circle outline for the ship's body. I cleaned up the shape using an eraser to create a natural curvature. Erasing parts of the outline helped me achieve a more rounded shape.

Using the Dot Pen Tool

The dot pen is a one-pixel brush found under the pen tool category. It provides quick and reliable results with good immediate feedback, making it perfect for one-pixel work, especially for those using a trackpad.

Creating Lines with the Dot Pen

To create lines, I placed the first pixel down, then held shift to create a guide for the angle. This technique allowed me to create a fillable shape for the jet trail of the ship.

Refining the Silhouette

Using a dithering brush set to the 50 option, I created a gradual fading effect to achieve a soft edge on the ship's silhouette. Dithering is a technique that achieves a similar effect to halftone printing in comics and manga, creating a gradual transition between colors.

Title Lettering

For the title lettering, I used the millipen tool to create custom, handmade-looking lettering. I altered the brush settings to achieve a size of 4 pixels and scribbled out the letters. Then, I fine-tuned the lettering with the dot pen and eraser, aiming for a balance between a handmade feel and readability.

Using Outlines

To achieve visual separation in a one-bit black and white style, I placed outlines around objects. Outlines help prevent objects from bleeding into the background, making it a stylistic choice often used in pixel art for clarity and contrast.

Pixel Art Workflow and Comic Book Page Design

Dithering Brush and Gradients

I used the 50 dithering brush to paint a portion of the panel, achieving a complex and gradual gradient look. The dithering brush is an add-on within the program, part of the Pixel Brushes Mega Pack, which can be downloaded for free from the Clip Studio home screen.

Panel Creation and Alignment

To help with alignment, I used a 10x10 pixel grid and enabled the snap to grid setting. This made it easy to create selections and shapes that grabbed onto the guides. I created a freeform series of panels using the selection, fill, and deletion of interior pixels, copying and pasting the panel around to visualize the alignment.

Character Design and Silhouette

For Gary's design, I used a combination of the circular shape tool and a larger pixel brush size to create a rough silhouette. I smoothed out the edges and curves to get smooth pixel curves, keeping track of segment lengths along the silhouette to achieve a clean arc. I decided to make Gary a black cat with a patch of white fur in the shape of a star on his forehead to convey his association with outer space. I used white to create line work within Gary's form to provide definition.

Graphic Design and Organization

To plan out the organization and graphic design of the panels, I used guides to indicate where the tops and bottoms of the existing panels are aligned. I dropped down guides to plan where the visual weight of the illustration should be placed across the panel, considering how to compose a logical flow to the series of illustrations and craft a small story out of it.

Color and Storytelling

Finally, I brought a pop of color to set off the intruder character and draw focus to it. I tried to convey Gary's characterization of the intruder on board, using a single color to achieve a pop. This added a new layer of depth to the story, making it more engaging and visually appealing.

In this post, we've covered the basics of getting started with Clip Studio Paint for pixel art, including customizing the workspace, creating a new document, and starting the comic. We've also explored the pixel art process, from creating one-pixel frames to refining the silhouette, and discussed comic book page design, including panel creation, character design, and graphic design. In the next post, we'll dive deeper into the world of Gary's Galaxy and explore more advanced techniques in Clip Studio Paint.