10 Things I Love About Clip Studio Paint

10 Things I Love About Clip Studio Paint

Introduction

Hello! My name is Brad and I have a deep-seated love for art and design software. Today, I'm going to discuss a piece of software that I use the most and love deeply: Clip Studio Paint. This article inaugurates a new series where I share the more specific reasons why I love the software that I do. So let’s dive into the 10 things I love about Clip Studio Paint.

1. Designed for Comics and Manga

At first glance, Clip Studio Paint looks very similar to Photoshop. You've got your palettes, settings, layers, colors, and tools on one side and drop-down menus on the other. But what sets Clip Studio Paint apart is its original intent and design focused on sequential art. It was initially named Manga Studio, specifically created for comics and manga, unlike Photoshop, which was mostly intended for photo editing.

2. Frame-Making Tool

Clip Studio Paint provides a frame-making tool on the left-hand side, making comic book panels or frames effortlessly simple. This tool isn't just about creating rectangular shapes; you can also create custom polygon frames. The frames act as masks, restricting any drawings to within the frame boundaries. Additionally, you can divide these frames into panels, adjust the width of space between gutters, the stroke width of the lines, or even remove the lines entirely.

3. Reference Layers

Reference layers are an incredible feature in Clip Studio Paint. These layers allow you to paint on a separate layer whilst referencing your line art. This means your colors and line work can remain on separate layers, making your job much easier. The Paint Bucket tool, in conjunction with the 'Close Gap' setting, helps fill in areas even if the lines aren't closed properly.

4. Crazy Coloring Tool

One of the most unique features is Clip Studio Paint’s AI-based colorization tool. You can find this under Edit > Colorize > Technology Preview. While it may not be perfect for everyone’s art style, it's an innovative way to add color to your work. You can even use a hint image to guide the AI, improving its colorization results.

5. Multi-Platform

Clip Studio Paint works seamlessly across multiple platforms, including Mac, PC, Android, and iPad. Unlike some other applications that strip down features on mobile versions, Clip Studio Paint offers the full desktop experience on tablets, making it incredibly versatile and accessible.

6. It's Super Customizable

Clip Studio Paint is incredibly customizable, especially on Android and iPad where customization options are often limited. You can sync a Bluetooth keyboard and have a professional-level drawing app that’s almost limitless in capabilities.

7. 3D Objects

Clip Studio Paint provides a library of 3D materials, including characters. These can be dragged onto your canvas and manipulated in 3D space, providing an excellent reference for your drawings. You can even adjust the positions of limbs and other body parts to match your intended pose.

8. Vectors

Though not as extensive as Adobe Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint incorporates the best elements of vector drawing. You can create a special vector layer to draw lines, and use vector-specific eraser tools to remove excess lines seamlessly. This hidden complexity offers the flexibility of vector art within a raster-like environment.

9. Animation

Clip Studio Paint supports animation, accessible through the Animation drop-down menu and the Timeline window. While the Pro version limits you to 24 frames, the EX version offers more expansive animation capabilities, making it a significant tool for animators.

10. Perspective Grids

Clip Studio Paint makes working with perspective grids intuitive and time-efficient. By using the Ruler tool, you can set up vanishing points and create lines that conform to your grid. This feature significantly speeds up the process of creating accurately proportioned and perspective-aligned drawings.

Keywords

• Clip Studio Paint
• Comics
• Manga
• Frame-Making Tool
• Reference Layers
• AI Coloring Tool
• Multi-Platform
• Customizable
• 3D Objects
• Vector Drawing
• Animation
• Perspective Grids

FAQs

Q1: What sets Clip Studio Paint apart from Photoshop? A1: Clip Studio Paint is specifically designed for comics and manga, with features that cater to sequential art, unlike Photoshop which was originally intended for photo editing.

Q2: What is the Frame-Making Tool? A2: This tool allows users to create comic panels and customize them easily, including dividing frames into panels and adjusting settings like gutter space and stroke width.

Q3: Can I color my line art on a separate layer? A3: Yes, by using reference layers, you can paint colors on a different layer while referencing your line art, ensuring they remain distinct.

Q4: How does the AI-based colorization tool work? A4: The tool uses AI to colorize your artwork, either by analyzing the image itself or by using a 'hint' image you provide as a reference for colors.

Q5: Is Clip Studio Paint available on multiple platforms? A5: Yes, it offers a consistent user experience across Mac, PC, Android, and iPad, maintaining all essential features across these devices.

Q6: Can you use 3D models as drawing references in Clip Studio Paint? A6: Yes, you can use 3D materials within the software as references, manipulating them in 3D space to match your desired poses.

Q7: What are the benefits of vector layers in Clip Studio Paint? A7: Vector layers allow flexible editing of lines, including erasing excess lines precisely and maintaining a high level of control over your artwork.

Q8: Does Clip Studio Paint support animation? A8: Yes, the software includes an animation toolset, with the Pro version offering 24 frames and the EX version providing advanced animation capabilities.

Q9: How can Clip Studio Paint assist with perspective drawing? A9: The Perspective Grid tool allows you to set vanishing points and easily draw lines that align with the perspective, making the process significantly faster and more accurate.

Conclusion

Clip Studio Paint is a powerhouse designed for comic and manga artists, packed with features that cater to both novice and professional illustrators. From customizable frames and reference layers to advanced 3D models and perspective grids, it offers a well-rounded and robust set of tools that make it a favorite among artists. If there's other software you would like me to review, let me know in the comments!

Thank you for reading, and I’ll catch you in a couple of days!