Introduction

Welcome! I will share tips on how I draw a fantasy galactic background in Clip Studio Paint.

 

Creating a background painting is a challenging process. Hence, I recommend watching and reading materials about painting backgrounds and searching for photo references to enhance your imagination and strengthen your skills.

 

Moreover, applying the knowledge you learn and constantly practicing will further improve your proficiency in background painting.

 

 

I hope you enjoy your drawing and painting process.

 

 

Search for inspiration

Search for inspiration to help you visualize the ideal background according to your preference.

 

The beauty of the galaxy is fascinating. I choose the galactic landscape as my inspiration for creating a fantasy galaxy background.

 

You may look for reference photos from your gallery or on a search engine platform. If you use reference photos, don't forget to credit the owner of the pictures.

 

Searching for a reference is optional.

 

 

Choose a color palette

To assist you in choosing the perfect colors, I suggest searching the galaxy color palette for your drawing.

 

 

For my drawing, I used the following color palettes from color-hex.com.

Copy the HEX color number from the source and input it in the color settings dialog box.

Drawing silhouettes

I click the new layer folder icon and name it castle silhouettes.

Then, I click the New Raster layer and placed it under the castle silhouettes folder.

I begin drawing the silhouettes of the castle using the Figure (U) tool.

Under the sub-tool figure, I choose the rectangle and polygon in drawing towers and buildings of a castle.

Under the tool property polygon, I clicked the wrench icon below the box to show the sub-tool detail dialog box.

Under the Sub-tool detail, I change the number of corners to three to draw a triangle.

Tip: You may click the wrench icon and change the number of corners, roundness, Line/fill, aspect type, and more in the Sub Tool Detail to create various shapes of polygons. Explore and navigate the properties in the Sub tool detail for your study.

Under the quick access pane, I used the scale and rotate and free transform tool to size, move and transform the shape of an object.

Tip: You may use the scale and rotate tool to move, rotate, reduce, and increase the size of your drawing.

I click the duplicate layer to create a copy of a layer.

Tip: You may use the duplicate layer to create a copy of your drawing or figure. It is useful for creating shadows and more in your drawing.

I use merge selected layers to combine the layers into one.

Tip: You may use the merge selected layers to combine all layers into one. It really helps in reducing the number of layers in the folders, makes it easier to find layers, and is more convenient in the coloring process.

Coloring the silhouettes

I click the lock transparent pixels to color or recolor the drawing. You will notice the appearance of the icon on the selected layer when you click the lock transparent pixels.

Note: The Lock transparent pixels make the coloring process easier. Changing the color of your drawing is more convenient using it.

I also add a new raster layer, select the new layer, and click the clip to the layer below the icon to clip the layer above the castle silhouette layer to color the drawing.

Tip: You may use the Clip to the layer below to create more details or to color within your drawing hiding the excess colors beyond the border of your drawing.

Coloring the background

The process I did to color the background, first I added separate folders and layers before beginning to color the background.

I add a new layer folder and new raster layer and place it below the castle silhouettes.

I use the Fill tool to fill the entire background with darker blue color (HEX #: 000222).

 

I also change the color of the paper. I click the top box icon on top of the delete layer icon to change the color of the paper.

 

 

I pick a blue color (HEX #:0011ff) from my color palette. Then, I began coloring the background on the new layer with blue to create a gradient and slightly illuminate the area behind the castle.

 

There are two ways I did to add a gradient on the background one is by using the gradient tool.

two is using the airbrush.

Using an airbrush, I color the background with a lighter blue color (HEX #: 011ff).

 

I use the blend tool to blur the excess colors.

Note: The blend tool allows you to blur, blend, and choose your desired blending method like the fingertip, painterly blender, textured, wet bleed blender, and copy stamp.

You will find the blur under the sub-tool blend.

Using the gradient tool, I choose colors. I fill the boxes with a light blue color (HEX #: 0011ff) and darker color (HEX #: 000222) in the tool property custom gradient.

Note: The gradient tool is helpful in creating gradients with different colors, various shapes, angles, and more.

I can navigate the colors of the gradient by manipulating the arrow below

Tip: You may navigate the tool property [custom gradient] to customize your desired gradient.

I draw a line from the bottom to the top. In the sample picture, the lighter color appears from the initial point of the line while the darker color is at the opposite point. Remember the gradient may vary because a customized gradient is possible with the tool property.

To add a glow behind the castle, I duplicate the castle silhouette layer. I place the copy below the original layer. I click the lock transparent pixel and color it with a lighter blue color (HEX #: 0091ff).

I click the filter on the command menu, blur, and Gaussian Blur.

Note: The gaussian blur allows you to blur the sides and the corners of your drawing easily.

Then, I enhance the strength of the blur by navigating the arrow and increasing the amount of strength.

Note: Increasing the strength is to increase the blur. Hence, fading the color and making the color soft.

I duplicated another layer of the castle, repeat the process and paint it white to enhance glow.

Below are the sample pictures for comparison.

Castle without glow

Castle with glow

Castle with white glow

Painting clouds

I add a new raster layer and name it clouds.

I click the decoration tool.

Under the sub-tool decoration-background, I choose cloud.

I choose the lighter blue color (HEX #: 0091ff) and paint the clouds on the canvas.

To darken some areas beneath the clouds, I add a new raster layer and use a dark blue color (HEX#: 1b1564) using the decoration tool. I place the layer on top of the light blue clouds layer.

I add a new raster layer and paint purple colors (HEX #: 8a2be2) and (HEX #: 4b0082) on the sky. I place the purple colors layer below the light blue clouds layer.

I use the blend tool to blur the colors.

To lighten the clouds, I use white color (HEX #: FFFFF) to paint. I add a new raster layer and place it above the light blue clouds layer but below the dark clouds. I change the blending mode of the layer to add glow.

 

 

 

Drawing the stars

After creating the clouds I draw the stars.

I add a new layer folder, a new raster layer, and name it stars. I place it below the clouds.

I create the stars using the decoration tool.

Under the sub-tool decoration, I choose sparkle.

Note: The sub-tool decoration provides a variety of effects, designs, and customized tools that allows you to easily create details for the background and more.

Under the tool property sparkle, I reduce and increase the particle size to create multiple stars in different sizes.

Tip: Explore and navigate the tool properties [Sparkle] like changing the particle density to create your desired stars.

Here is the sample picture with stars.

Drawing the meteors

After creating stars, I add new layer folders and new raster layers to draw meteors and the moon. I placed the stars below.

On the meteors folder and layer, I draw the meteors using the figure U tool- sub-tool figure-straight line.

I color the line white and blur it using Gaussian blur. I change the blending mode to glow dodge.

 

Note: The glow dodge blending mode intensifies the light in your drawing and highlights. It makes the light color strong.

I draw another line overlapping the line and color it light blue (HEX #: 0091ff) and blur it using Gaussian blur. I change the blending mode to Add glow.

To add a gleaming effect, I use an airbrush with white color (HEX #: FFFFFF). I change the blending mode to add glow.

 

Tip: Experiment with the colors and blending mode to intensify the glow of the meteors.

Here is the picture of a galaxy with meteors.

Drawing the moon

After creating the meteors, I draw the moon using the figure U tool-sub-tool figure-ellipse on the moon folder and layer.

 

To draw a symmetrical circle, I click create fill icon, check the box of the aspect type, and choose the specified ratio.

Then, I use white color to draw a circle behind the castle.

I duplicate the circle and place it above the original, color it dark blue (HEX #: 1b1564) using lock transparent pixels.

I move and make it smaller using scale and rotate tool

and blur it using Gaussian blur.

Here is the galaxy with a dark moon.

I add glow on the moon by duplicating the white circle and placing it below the original. I blur it using Gaussian blur and change the blending mode to add glow.

 

Here is a picture of the galaxy with glowing a moon.

Finalizing

I add more glow to the background, clean some areas of the clouds, and add more color to improve the clouds and the sky.

Last Message

I hope you learn something from my tips and tutorials. Keep painting and drawing. Explore drawing and experiment with colors. Enjoy creating art.

 

Thank you for reading and watching!