In Clip Studio Paint’s user guide File Object is defined as “layers used to load files such as images and movies into Clip Studio Paint. Unlike standard layers, the file remains in its original state when referred to as a layer by Clip Studio Paint.”

 

In other words, the File Object you’re using in your canvas is still linked to the original.

For example, you have used Tree.png file in two Clip Studio files. In Standard.clip, the Tree.png was imported as image and in FileObject.clip as File Object.

When you changed the tree in Tree.png into a pine tree, the tree in Standard.clip stays the same while the one in FileObject.clip can be updated into pine trees because it’s still linked to the original Tree.png file.

Just by using “Update file object” option, the trees will be updated in one or two clicks.

 

By the way, you can tell if a layer is an File Object layer by looking at the icon next to the layer preview (circled in red).

Let’s learn how to import, make and use this feature!

Import Image File as File Object

To import an image file as File Object, go to File>Import>Create file object.

An Open menu will appear. Find the file you want to use as File Object and then click OK. As you can see, CSP support a lot of image file formats to be used as File Object.

If this is your first time creating a File Object, this will pop up.

The File Object layer will appear on your canvas, ready to use!

Import Video as File Object

You can also import videos as File Object into your work. You can even play the video in CSP, but you can only do it if there’s timeline.

 

First, if you haven’t have the Timeline window visible, go to Window menu and click Timeline.

After the Timeline window appear, click the icon (#1) to create a new timeline. A menu (#2) will appear. Fill it according to your need. If you just testing out the import video feature, you can click OK.

This is what it’ll look like after you added a new timeline.

To import the video, go to File>Import>Movie.

Then choose the video. This is the clip I’m going to use. Since I don’t usually make animation, please pardon the low quality.

The video will be automatically inserted into the timeline. At the Layer list, you can see the video layer has an File Object icon. You can press the Play icon (just above the frame number 1 on Timeline) to watch the video inside your canvas.

You can adjust the video just like any other materials in Clip Studio.

Or use the video as a part of your art, in this case as an animated sticker in a messaging app.

Making File Object from Scratch

Prepare the image/work/animation you want to make into a File Object. In this case, pixel town assets.

Let’s make the whole canvas into a File Object. Right click on the layer or folder you want and choose File Object>Convert layer to file object.

And then this menu will appear.

You can choose to “Keep original layer” if you want. “Copy paper settings” will make the Paper layer you have in the original file copied. It means your File Object will have a background instead of transparent.

After you click OK, you then will be prompted to make a new Clip Studio Format file. The new file will be the reference for the File Object we’re creating.

 

Find your new File Object (Town) on the very top of your Layer list!

Let’s compare the original file (#1) and the reference/new file (#2). Because of Canvas Size option when making the File Object, the reference file includes the empty area the original file has.

This time, let’s choose Drawing Area instead.

The reference/new file automatically cuts off the empty space.

Alternatively, you can make a part of the assets as a File Object instead. For example, if you only want this house as a File Object, use selection tool to block the house.

And then—you know the drill by now—right click the layer>File Object>Convert layer to file object. You’ll find out that you’ve just unlocked a hidden option!

Choose “Selection area” and save the file. The reference file only contains the house.

Since I want to use the assets one by one, I used the “Selection area” option and made a bunch of reference files I lumped into a folder.

And used them for this! I had redrawn the reference files a few times and didn’t have to worry about manually replacing the files thanks to the update feature.

——Tips: Space or no space——

 

CSP registers the empty space between the selection and the illustration, and you can use the feature when you want some gap in your tiled assets. This also holds true when you register Materials.

 

See the difference when there’s no gap between the tree and the canvas border (left) and when there’s one pixel gap at both sides of the tree (right) and how it’ll look like when they’re tiled horizontally.

File Object Tool Property

If you’re on a File Object layer when using Object Tool, you can access this Tool Property.

The Tool Property has the usual tools you can find when working with other kind of layers, especially Material layers. I’ll explain number 1-4 which is exclusive to File Object layer.

 

1. The information of the reference file. The status is usually empty, but if you move the reference file to other folder the status will tell you “Unable to find file.”

 

2. From left to right:

• Change file: use this if you want to change the reference file to another one. An Open menu will pop up and you can choose the file you want, click “Open” and the File Object will change automatically

• Open file: opening the reference file in Clip Studio.

• Open folder: using your file explorer to open the folder where the reference file is located.

• Update file: if you make any changes to the reference and want the File Object to reflect the change, you might want to use this option.

 

Alternatively, you can also access these four options by right clicking the File Object layer > File Object.

There’s an extra option “Update all file objects” you can only access here. If you made changes on a bunch of reference files and want to make sure all your File Object layers are updated, this option is your friend.

3. Rendering Setting. This option will only be on when you use layered files as reference, for example Clip Studio File or PSD. There are three options you can use in this setting.

 

I have never found a use to “Fit resolution to canvas” option, if you ever used it I’d like to know how!

 

For the second option, “Draw paper,” if the reference file has a Paper layer (white background in the example) and you want the background to be transparent instead, you can remove the Paper layer in one click without having to alter the reference file.

The third option will turn tone into gray. It’ll only work for layers that has Tone icon (circled in red below). This change only happen in the File Object, the reference file remain unaltered.

4. This part will display information when you’re making an animation with File Object.

Working with File Object

What makes File Object feature useful is that it saves you a lot of time and hassle. It can do everything Material layers can do, but better.

 

Other than updating the files in one or two clicks, the whole transforming and changing the settings of the File Object will stay—making it possible to change things last minute without taking a lot of time.

Alternatively, I switched the reference files with other images using “Change file” option.

 

It has to be done one by one, but it still saved me time because I don’t have to transform and fit the images to the billboards again. I did this in less than two minutes!

It’s recommended to use reference files that has similar sizes and aspect ratio when switching reference files. If you use bigger or smaller files or different aspect ratio, you’d have to adjust them.

That's it for now. I hope this tutorial helps!