Hello.This tutorial will be showing how you can create a cool circuit effect using the rulers and special rulers in Clip Studio Paint. This can be used to create interesting backgrounds, wallpapers, or special effects in your artworks or comics.

 

 

Design

This circuit effect is based on the design of a Printed Circuit. This is an electrical circuit in which the connections are electrical and made by thin lines of metals instead of wires. These thin lines of metals, referred to as traces, are etched in a pattern onto an insulating sheet known as the 'Printed Circuit Board'. These traces are used to connect other components to the printed circuit board.

Although a real life printed circuit and its components on a printed circuit board may be complicated, you are free to make your design as abstract as you want. However, to make the impression of a printed circuit more prominent, some elements and principles should be considered. Thankfully, I will be sharing some of these with you and also how to draw them in Clip Studio Paint.

My first tip is to sketch out your design before actually drawing it in Clip Studio Paint as you can waste less time, hence you will finish it faster. I recommend using a graph paper or paper with lines resembling a grid to do your sketch on. But before you can start your sketch, here are a few thing you should consider.

 

 

 

Traces and their movements

The traces generally look like a line with a circle at both ends. The circle can be hallow circle or a filled circle.

They either move vertically, horizontally or diagonally at 45 degrees. Below are some examples.

Other Components

As mentioned earlier, there are other components along with the traces that are etched into the printed circuit board.

 

If you want your design to be simple with just the traces alone, that is fine. But adding other components makes your design look more appealing as the traces alone can look quite boring and hard to look at depending on your layout.

Below are some other components you'll see on a printed circuit board.

You can come up with your own designs of traces and other components to be included in your effect. Below are some that I made.

Drawing Traces in Clip Studio Paint

First thing to draw are the lines of the traces. These are either horizontal, vertical or diagonal (45 degrees). Thankfully, the straight line tool in Clip Studio Paint can draw all three of these line.

 

Click + Shift while dragging downwards draws a vertical straight line.

Click + Shift while dragging sideways draws a horizontal straight line.

Click + Shift while dragging diagonally draws a 45 degrees diagonal straight line.

Or Click + Shift + Alt while dragging draws a 45 degrees diagonal straight line.

 

This method is beat when you don't have a sketch and is going freestyle.

However, you may simply use two Perspective ruler to draw all the lines. One will be constructed using straight vertical and horizontal lines. Then the layer with this ruler will be duplicated and rotated at 45 degrees using the transform function.

 

To draw these perspective rulers, first go to the ruler tool, then select the perspective ruler sub tool.

Then create a new layer for your ruler. Afterwards, click then hold down shift to draw a vertical and then a horizontal line.

This will allow you to draw both vertical and horizontal straight lines when the visibility of its layer is turned on.

 

Make sure to set the showing area to show in all layers for the layer.

 

Then, duplicate this layer by clicking it, go to layer heading at top of the window then click duplicate layer from the drop down menu. Turn off the visibility of the previous ruler as to not confuse yourself. While on this duplicate layer, press Ctrl + T to activate the transformation feature. Then, while holding Shift rotate the ruler so that it snaps at forty five degrees. Then press OK to apply the transformation. This ruler will make you draw straight diagonal lines.

Then you name your rulers so they are easily identified.

 

This method is best for when you have a sketch where you can draw all the vertical and horizontal lines first, then draw all the diagonal lines after since you already know where the traces will be from your sketch.

 

• When using the perspective ruler make sure you are drawing a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line and not one that is coming from the vanishing point.

 

The second thing to draw are the circles at the ends of the traces. For the filled circles, you can just used the G-Pen to draw those in with just one click.

 

For the hallow circle, I created a brush for this. I created a new clip studio paint file with the basic color expression set to grey. Then I used the concentric circle, which is a special ruler, while holding down Shift to create a circular ruler allowing me to draw a hollow circle. Then I save this image as a image material to be used as a brush tip. Afterwards, I duplicated the G-Pen, renamed it an change the brush tip with this image with the circle on it. Then, I just use this brush to draw the hallow circles with one click. I named this brush circle brush. The steps are below.

Another way to draw the hallow circle is to use the G-Pen to draw the dots on a layer. Then create a selection from the dots then press the delete button to delete the dots except for the selection. Then create a border from the selection that will be on this layer. You can choose the thickness of this border. You may even adjust the thickness of the boarder further by using the 'Correct line' filter. Steps are shown below.

Drawing Other components in Clip Studio Paint

Using the many different rulers one can create lots of interesting designs. I personally like the circular ones as they look really cool and are easy to do. I used the G-Pen which has a circular brush tip and a brush I made which has a rectangular brush tip to draw these. Below compares the stroke of each brush.

Notice the brush tip shape is rectangular and the ribbon option is selected. I named this brush 'Slice'. Below, the stroke of the G-Pen is to the left, while the stroke of the Slice brush is to the left. Notice their edges.

Using these two brushes along with rulers and special rulers, you can create some cool designs. You may even use other brushes apart from the two mentioned above.

Sketch

Below are some of my sketches done on blue graph paper that I scanned.

Demonstration using rulers and special rulers in CSP.

I have went ahead and draw my sketch in clip studio paint using just two perspective rulers and my custom made circle tip brush.

Now, I am going to show you how you can bring your circuit effect to life using the picture above as an example.

For this effect, a dark background works best. Because I drew my traces in black, I am going to change them to a lighter color to contrast with the dark background color and stand out.

 

You are free to draw your traces in any color you want. I did mines in black because it was easier to trace off my scanned sketch with being that the background color of the paper was mostly white.

 

To change the color of my traces, I simply right click on the layer they are on, chose New Correction Layer then choose Gradient Map from the pop-up menu. Then, with the specified color option selected, I click the rectangle beneath it.

A color settings window will pop up. You can click on the color palette to choose a color or you can use the eyedropper tool to pick color from any where on the screen. Then press OK.

Afterwards, I merge the correction layer with the traces layer below it. Then I gave it a dark background color.

Now, it's time to add the other components. I will be doing the circular ones using the rulers and the G-Pen and my custom made Slice brush.

 

Within the circular component, there are different types of designs that I will be calling Circular Designs. I will demonstrate how you can make various types using the rulers.

Circular Design #1

Select the Concentric Circle ruler which is available under the special ruler. Go to the the tool property and ensure the 'keep aspect ratio' box is checked. This makes you draw a circle and not an oval. Additionally, I find the circular guide that is shown with the Concentric Ruler to be very helpful.

 

Create a concentric ruler on a new layer. You can use the move tool to move the ruler if you desire so. Remember to set the showing area to show in all layers.

 

Create a new layer to draw on. Be careful to draw on this layer and not the layer with the ruler. I personally like to keep the layer I draw on and the layer with the ruler separate. You can lock the layer with the ruler to prevent yourself from drawing on it.

Then draw a circle using the g-pen of a certain width using the color of your choice.

Then create another layer and draw a thicker circle.

 

Then crate a new layer and create a Radial Line ruler on it. You may want to move it close to the concentric ruler so all the rulers are near each other, making them easier to find. As always, set the showing area to 'show in all layers'. Then use the move tool to move the Radial Circle ruler so that it's center lines up with the center of the Concentric Circle ruler.

Then turn the visibility of the Concentric Circle ruler layer off. Select the layer with the thicker circle drawn on it and select the opaque pixels by clicking to the Layer heading above, and click 'Selection from layer' then click 'Create Selection'.

With the selection still active and the Radial Line ruler visible, create a new layer and draw pair of lines with varying distance between them. Then use the bucket tool to fill between the pairs.

Then deselect by pressing Ctrl + D. This is one cool design out of many to come.

Circular Design #2

With the Concentric Circle ruler layer visible, create a new layer and draw some random lines with a smaller thickness than the line we already have. Then create another layer below this one, and decrease the opacity. Draw more random lines but increase the thickness of the brush a little. Below, I used my custom made Slice brush.

You may use the G-Pen which has a circular tip instead of a square to do this also. You would get another cool design to add to your collection.

Circular Design #3

This one is similar to the previous but the strokes are jumbled this time. With the Concentric Circle ruler still visible, create a new layer and make strokes using the Slice brush with some attached to other strokes. Do this again on another new layer, but with the opacity lowered and brush size slightly bigger.

Like the previous, you may use the G-Pen to this one also.

Circular Design #4

Select the G-Pen brush and make the brush size small to create a thin line.

Create a new layer. With the visibility of the Concentric Circle ruler on, draw various lines of various lengths.

Then turn the visibility of the layer with the Concentric Circle ruler off. Then turn the visibility of the layer with the Radial Line ruler on. Draw various circles, some full and some incomplete.

Turn the visibility of this ruler off, then duplicate the layer with the lines on it. You will notice that the lines got brighter. On the copy, use a soft eraser to erase some parts so the other parts remain bright.

Now, it's time to add some finishing touches. Create a new layer with the blending mode set to Add. Then use the air brush to add some shine to some areas.

Circular Design #5

Create a circle using the Concentric Circle ruler. Then create a new layer and create a Symmetrical ruler on it with the desired number of lines. Use the move tool and line up the centers of both rulers. Then turn the visibility of the Concentric Circle ruler off. Draw lines coming from the circle that was previously drawn.

Circular Design #6

Ensure the Concentric Circle ruler is visible. Create a new layer and create rectangles of various sizes by simply using the custom slice brush. Turn visibility of ruler off. Then select the squares by going to 'Layer' then 'Selection from layer' then click' Create Selection'. Your rectangles should have a selection border around them. Then press the delete button to delete everything on this layer with the rectangles except for the selection. With selection still active, go to 'Edit' then 'Outline selection'. Choose the 'draw inside' option and select a suitable line width. You then delete the layer with the squares and keep your rectangular outline effect. You may make additional ones in different colors as well.

Circular Design #7

Use the G-Pen with the Concentric Circle ruler visible to draw circular broken lines. Then draw a bigger set of circular broken lines. This design looks best with thick lines.

Circular Design #8

With the Concentric Circle ruler visible, on a new layer use the slice brush to make rectangles of of similar height but varying width. Then add more rectangles attached to the previous rectangles but with a smaller height. Continue this until the entire circle is complete. Then go to 'Layer', then 'Selection from layer' and click 'Create selection'. Press delete button to delete everything except for the selection. With selection still active, go to 'Edit' then click 'Outline selection'. Choose a width for the outline. I think a small width looks good with this design. Afterwards, delete the lower outline and leave the top.

You may create another layer of this or just duplicate and rotate this one.

Circular Design #9

Create a circle on a new layer using the Concentric Circle ruler. Then turn the visibility of the ruler off. Then erase some parts of the circle. Use the G-Pen to add dots of various sizes at some of the edges and on the line. Then, to add hallow circle to the rest, first create dots of various sizes to the remaining edges with the G-Pen on a new layer. Then go to 'Layer', then 'Selection from layer' then click 'Create selection'. Then press the delete button to delete all that is on the layer except for the selection. On a new layer with the selection still active, go to 'Edit' and and choose 'Outline selection'. Choose the width of the outline, preferably similar to the width of the circle.

Now to add some traces and shine.

Circular Design #10

Create a new layer. Select the Symmetrical ruler and make sure the 'create at editing layer' option is selected but the 'line of symmetry option' is not selected. Set the number of lines to the number of strokes you want. Use the move tool to line its center up with that of the Concentric Circle ruler. Ensure the showing area is set to 'show in all layers' for all rulers. Then ensure that the visibility of the layers that the Concentric Circle ruler and the Symmetrical ruler are on are both on. Then use the Slice brush to make a line with enough space left between the ends of the lines.

Circular Design #11

Use the Concentric Circle ruler to draw two circle with reasonable space between them on a new layer. Turn the visibility of the Concentric Circle ruler layer off. Then create a new symmetrical ruler on a new layer with the number of lines set to 16. Ensure the showing area is set to 'show in all layers' .Use the move tool to line up its center with that of the Concentric Circle ruler. Then duplicate the layer this symmetrical ruler is on and press CTRL+T to active the transformation feature. Then rotate this ruler so that equal spaces are between all symmetrical lines. Then turn the visibility of the Radial Line ruler on along with the symmetrical rulers. On the layer with the two circle, draw a line between the circles and you should end up with sixteen lines. Use the rotated symmetrical ruler to draw additional lines totaling thirty two lines in all.

Circular Design #12

Create a new layer. With the Radial Line ruler and both sixteen line Symmetrical Rulers layer visibility turned on. Use the slice brush of reasonable thickness to draw a line which should result in multiple lines being drawn.

Circular Design #13

With the Symmetry ruler layer and Concentric Circle ruler layer visibility turned on, draw a line so that copies are made with reasonable space between the lines on a new layer. Create another layer and turn the visibility of the Concentric Circle ruler layer off leaving the Symmetrical ruler visible. Draw a slanted straight line going from one of the edges of the previously drawn lines. To draw a straight line, click on where you want the line to start, hold down shift then click on where you want the line to end. You should end up with many of this line. Turn the visibility of the Symmetrical ruler layer off. Duplicate this layer with the slanted lines on the press Ctrl + T to activate the transformation feature. In the tool property box, click the Flip horizontal or Flip vertical option. Then rotate the image so that the lower edges of the lines connect with the remaining edges of the previously drawn lines. Then turn the visibility of both the Symmetrical Ruler layer and the Concentric Circle ruler on and connect the upper edges of the slanted lines.

Time to add some other components.

Well that's it for my tutorial. Hope you found this helpful. Here is my Instagram account. I don't have much art yet but you can look around.