Hi there! This tutorial will explain how to use Clip Studio Paint’s text tools combined with other tools & features to create beautiful decorative writing. I will also provide some tips & tricks and ideas for designing!
This kind of text-typography can then be used for a large array of things like:
Stickers
Books, webtoons, or comic titles
Logos for your brand, small business, youtube channel, etc.
Decorating your art
Greeting cards
Business cards
And anything else that requires text!
Before we start, I’d like to detail everything you need to know about how the text tool in Clip Studio Paint works.
If you think “Well, I already know this”, you can skip ahead to the next category. But I suggest looking through it in case you learn something new! :)
For this tutorial, I am using Clip Studio Paint EX version 3.0.4 on PC.
Please be aware that some things in this tutorial may differ between software versions or devices!
Text Tool Basics 🔎
This is what my basic text tools properties look like. Yours may vary, as you can toggle on and off many different settings.
Apply to: If set to “new only”, any changes to the text tool properties will only be applied the next time you create a new text layer. When “selected text” is set, any changes will apply to currently selected text and new ones.
Drag: You can choose to create a text box or select text when dragging or clicking on the canvas with the text tool.
Selection mode:
New selection: This deselects the selected text and selects new text. It’s similar to the Object Select tool.
Add to collection: This adds text to the existing selection.
Toggle selection: This will select or deselect multiple selections (text layers). It is useful for moving many layers at once!
Font: The font currently in use. Change it by dropping down the menu and selecting a different one.
Most devices have plenty of pre-installed fonts to use. But if you don’t have any you like, you can find websites that have free font downloads.
I would recommend google fonts!
Please be aware of a font’s license and commercial use if you plan to make products to sell!
Size: Adjust the text’s size. You can highlight sections to resize individually or highlight the whole text to resize at once.
Style: Change the style of the text to bold, italic, underline, or strikeout.
Alignment Align the text to the left, right or center of the selection.
Text direction: Choose whether the text reads horizontal or vertical. Vertical is used mostly for eastern languages. I don’t recommend using the vertical setting for most western languages, as it doesn’t seem to understand how to execute it properly…
But if you are writing in Japanese for example, it works as intended!
Anti-aliasing: If this is on, the text will appear smoother around the edges with minimal pixilation. It does produce a small blur to smooth it, which may be unwanted in some cases where it could make editing difficult.
Text color: Change the color of the text here. Main color or sub color will use what is currently in use. User color allows you to set a specific color to use for text. Alternately, you can also change the color in the layer properties of the text layer at any time.
Mode: This is used to set the mode for scaling operations.
Scale/Rotate: Scale the size of the text and rotate freely.
Scale: Scale the size of the text without rotating it.
Rotate: Rotate without altering the scale of the text.
Skew: Distort the text by sliding the edges for an angled effect.
And finally…
Scale/Rotate/Skew: All of the above options are available at once.
While the “Keep aspect ratio” box is checked, the text’s ratio will remain the same when scaling. You cannot stretch text horizontally or vertically while this is on.
If you are confused about anything, you can click on the little wrench in the bottom right of the text sub tool properties.
This opens a “Sub Tool Detail” window. If you hover over all of the options the program will describe what they do near the bottom of the window, after the (!). It’s super helpful to understanding how to use all of this!
But the sub tool detail window is not just for learning, it’s also where you can toggle on or off various settings and features. You may not need or use every text feature available, so you can declutter your workspace this way. It’s also where you can find some more advanced features added in version 3.0!
Which brings us to…
✨Advanced Text Features✨
These are just a handful of things added in version 3.0 of Clip Studio Paint. If you have the correct software version, but don’t see them in your text tool property, you may need to toggle them on in the “Sub Tool Detail” window I mentioned above.
These features are going to be particularly useful in designing logos and titles.
Kerning: You can manually adjust the spacing of each letter or section using the slider.
Wrap text at frame: Text will stay in the frame created. Resizing the frame will allow more text to fit. If it isn’t on, the frame can be adjusted with the text.
Character spacing: Adjusts the space between letters.
Style > Outline: Can create a text that is only outlined.
Circular text: Text will be placed around a circle. There is only space for one line of text per layer. Radius adjusts the size of the circle. You can change the direction from clockwise to counterclockwise and adjust the spacing to be even around the circle or not.
Arranging Text to Create Logos or Stickers🎀
A good logo design is important for drawing attention to your brand. Whether you run a small business, make videos, or write books, chances are that you will need to design a logo or title for something eventually.
This is also a great format for stickers, as you can write silly phrases and add images for an especially unique and creative design.
Here are 3 things to keep in mind when creating text for this type of project:
Arrangement of words, lettering style, and colors used.
For now, let’s break it down to three arrangement shapes:
One-line types, stacked types, or circle types.
One-line composition has the words placed straight on one line.
You can arrange them horizontally or vertically.
Again, vertical text is much more common in eastern languages. But you CAN write vertically in any language as long you convert the text to vector and re-arrange each letter one-by-one.
You can use the alignment and distribute tools to assure they are arranged properly! It’s a feature that was released in ver. 2.0.
Although it requires a lot of setting up layers to use for the best results, it’s extremely useful whether you are lining up individual characters or whole words!
You can check out the official TIPS on how to use them here:
If you don’t have these features, you can align them by drawing a straight line as a guide to set the letters on.
Stacked Composition
Stacked types are great for when you need to fit text into a specific composition. Especially when you have long phrases!
It’s also useful for placing emphasis on particular words. By changing the size and arrangement, you can draw focus to the important points of the text.
Circle Composition
With circle types, the words curve around in a circular shape. This is great for adding to images!
Creating circle designs
Since circle text might be a bit more complex than the others, I’ve prepared 2 step-by-step examples.
Here is how I made this simple bakery sign.
You can easily create your own once you know how too!
With circular text selected, type the word “fresh” in clockwise direction, rotate slightly to the left.
Create a new circle text layer and line it up exactly with the one reading “fresh”. Type “baked” this time in counterclockwise direction. Rotate it down to the bottom of the circle.
Now create a new layer, vector or raster is fine.
Using the figure ruler, create a circle that matches the radius of the circle text. This will make it easy to keep the circular composition.
Decorate the circle frame with a vegetation or flowery brush, keeping the circular shape.
To color the inside of the circle, you can re-use the circle ruler you made previously on a new layer by dragging that ruler to a new layer. Use it to draw a circle of color, then fill it in.
Finish decorating by adding an image of freshly baked bread, changing colors, & adding outlines.
The pizza sign was a little more complex.
Repeat the same initial steps from the bakery sign to create the text inside a circle. Remember to line up the two circles the best you can.
Using the figure ruler again, create a circle the fits the same radius as the text and fill it in.
Next, use the symmetry ruler (I used 10 lines here) to draw lines dividing the slices of pizza.
If it didn’t already line up, rotate the divisions to fit the “A” in “PIZZA”.
Convert the text layers to vector layers.
I want to change the “A” to look like it is a slice of the pizza. Resize and transform the “A” to fit into the slice.
Now proceed to change the colors and finish the details of the pizza!
I think this is a great way of incorporating an image with text for a fun design that instantly tells you what it says visually without being complicated or too boring.
I hope this gives you some ideas on how to use this kind of composition for your own project!
Lettering style
Vintage, modern, cute, clean… This is just a few examples of styles. What kind of theme or feel does the design call for?
If it’s a cute sticker, you may want to use a cute-styled font. Or if your business has a vintage theme to it, find a font that really matches that aesthetic.
If you can’t find a font that closely matches your needs, don’t be afraid to mix and match letters from different fonts! You could hand-trace them or resize and distort as much as you need to blend everything into appearing like it was all an original font!
Color
Color plays an important part of logo and sticker design!
There are quite a few different ways to change the color of your design.
It might be best to convert your text to a vector before applying any of these.
You can change the color of the text by adding the color in the box next to the paint can labeled “Layer color” in the layer properties.
Sub colors can be changed as well, if there are any.
At the top of the program, click Edit > Convert to drawing color. This will color anything on the layer the color currently in use.
Another way to make changes is to add a layer above the text, clip it to the layer with text, and paint over it with a new color. You can also paint it with a textured brush for a different look!
Finally, you can use tonal correction and/or blending modes to alter colors.
Edit > Tonal Correction > Hue/Saturation/Luminosity: Use the sliders to adjust the hue and saturation of the color.
Edit > Tonal Correction > Color Balance: Use the sliders to adjust colors.
Edit > Tonal Correction > Gradient maps: Select gradient maps to color with.
Edit > Tonal Correction > Color Match: Alter colors to match an image’s color. This feature was added in 2.0.
If you prefer, you can create a “Tonal Correction Layer” clipped to your text rather than editing the layer you have. It’s helpful if you don’t like the results and want to revert back to the start!
One of my favorite things to do is use the gradient tool to place random color values on a design and adjust the colors with gradient maps!
💡 The psychology of color
Did you know that colors have a psychological reasoning behind how they make us feel?
Bright, warm colors like red, orange, and yellow can mean danger, or grab your attention as something important and worth looking at.
Cool colors can communicate something calming like lavender, or how the lush greens of a quiet forest can invoke peace. Bright green can also be used for something energetic, or fast-paced.
Keep this in mind when designing to attract interest in the text and coordinate with what it reads without confusing the viewer!
Decorating and Changing the Style of the Text 🖌
It would be boring to just type up the words and call it day. Especially when you can do so much to personalize it and make it your own!
Did you know that if you change the text layer to a vector layer, you can change how the letters appear by changing the brush shape?
Convert the text layer to a vector layer by right-clicking on the layer, or under the pull down “Layer” tab at the top of the program. In the menu that appears, select convert layer. In the next window, change the layer type to a vector layer.
If you want this vector layer to be new and not overwrite your text layer, make sure the “Keep original layer” box is checked. Also, it will be useful for later to select “color” in the “Expression color” tab.
Sometimes, the conversion may not go smoothly and you will need to fix it.
This one isn’t too bad and I probably could leave it as-is. But I liked how it looked before, so I fixed it back up. I even changed some of it so it’s a little more personal!
The adjusted example is below.
If you would rather not convert to vector because the conversion didn’t work as you’d like, you can also try converting to a raster layer!
Usually, converting to raster keeps it looking the same as the text layer and there are simple things you can still do to decorate it. But keep in mind that a raster layer will have a lower quality and resolution when resizing. You also miss out on using vector tools.
Now to change the brush shape of a vector layer.
Click on the object tool while the vector layer is selected to view the vector settings.
In the Object tool’s properties, you can change the thickness or thinness of the text, change the color or apply a new brush shape to your text. Just click on the box next to “Brush shape” and look at all of the options available.
If there aren’t many brush shapes to choose from, you can add new brushes to the options.
Find the brush tool you want to add and click on the wrench in the bottom right of that brush’s “Tool property” window to open the “Sub tool Detail” window again. Under brush shape, click the “Add to presets” button.
Now that brush is under preset shapes for vector layers AND figure tools!
You can add any type of brush you have, whether it’s a painterly brush or decoration brush, so have fun experimenting many different styles.
If some brushes look strange, try resizing it smaller or bigger.
You can make further adjustments by using the “Correct line” sub tools. These tools will allow you to make lines thinner or thicker or redraw and manipulate lines. It works like a brush, so you can fine-tune where exactly you want to make changes.
Also, since this layer is now a vector, we can also move the letters around more than the text layer allows.
You can make selections with the lasso tool (or any “Selection” sub tool) to move, resize, or transform whole words, paragraphs, or individual letters. And since it is a vector layer, the quality will still stay crisp and clean!
Adding Texture or Patterns
Apply any texture by dropping it above the layer with your text. You can change the blending mode to multiply or overlay for great effect, or click the “Overlay texture” button in the layer properties.
I like using old paper or watercolor paper textures! But you can use tree shadows, water surface, polka dots, or anything that may fit the look you need!
*Some texture files may not support the “Overlay texture” button. In that case, you could try blending mode layers to try and achieve a similar effect!
You can also apply patterns like stripes, plaids, or polka dots to text!
Create a new layer above the text and clip it to the layer below, then draw the patterns you want. Or if using a pre-made pattern material, paste it onto the canvas above the text layer, then clip it to the layer below.
If you don’t remember, that’s the little button near the top of your layer window!
That’s how I made the text for my title card of this very tutorial!
❗ To color or decorate each letter individually, circle it with the lasso tool before painting.
Drawing & Wordplay
There is nothing stopping you from drawing over the text to add a personalized touch.
From typing the text, drawing a line to connect the two “sorry”s, and then outlining took three easy steps to create something new!
You could create a brush letter look by adding flairs and filigrees to letters or draw boxes or lines to highlight sections. Connecting letters together with drawn lines can add the organic feel of a hand-drawn design.
Depending on what the text is for, I also think it is fun to include imagery of the words to the design. You could even draw over a letter to make it appear like what the word reads as I did in the example below.
Especially for brands and businesses, it’s important to stand out with a creative design. And when you include imagery to match, it helps you remember the name!
In a slightly more abstract example below, this logo has also included lines to invoke the imagery of a river surface.
Liquify
The liquify tool is another great way to change up the style of your text. You can use it to shrink, stretch, twist, squish, or distort sections or the whole word!
Note: The liquify tool is available in Clip Studio Paint version 1.11.6 or higher.
Drop Shadow
Adding a drop shadow effect is great way to make the words stand out.
Create a drop shadow by first duplicating the layer.
You can do this at the top of the screen by clicking Layer > Duplicate Layer. Or by right-clicking the layer itself.
Now that you have 2 layers of the exact same thing, make the copy layer beneath a dark color and move the layer in the direction you want. You can even change the opacity and blur it for a softer effect.
Outlines
You can create outlines a few ways:
“Border effect” lets you add an outline instantly around the text. You can change the thickness of this outline or change it to watercolor style, if you prefer a softer look.
You can make the border any color you like by picking that color and adding it to the box next to the paint can.
This is useful and easy but can be very limited. It can also be flawed sometimes, like this example below.
If you look closely, turning the border effect on here it isn’t very clean…
So instead, I preferred to duplicate layers and add borders that way.
By simply duplicating layers or using correction layers, you can create many different effects or quickly make changes.
Like the drop shadow, duplicate the layer. On the layer under the main text, change it to a solid color and resize it so its visible behind the text.
You can go even further by turning on border effects to the layers underneath to create multiple outlines!
Lastly, you can select the text with the magic wand (called “auto-select”), then click Edit > Outline selection.
Enter your desired settings and click “OK”.
Now you have an outline! For the best results, I like to create a new layer beneath the text layer after selecting.
This makes the outline on its very own layer so you can soften, color, and distort however you want without altering the text! You can even duplicate it again to add extra borders with different colors or effects. Fun!
💡 TIP: If the Magic Wand selection around your text is jaggy or fuzzy, try changing the ” Tolerance” and “Area scaling” sliders in the Magic wand’s sub tool settings until you get the best result!
Decorate your art with text!💟
Decorative text is also great to use as a pattern in the background, or on a prop. Or make graphic tees for your characters to wear!
Create a text layer and write a phrase. When you are happy with the design, merge any layers and rasterize it. Then go to Edit > Register Material > Image…
There are a few things we can do here. If you select the box titled “Tiling”, the image will be seamlessly repeated across when pasted to the canvas. You can change the setting in “Tiling direction” to be vertical only, horizontal only, or both!
Don’t forget to give it a name. Save it somewhere and tag it with a keyword so you know how to find it easily.
Also, if you check the “use for brush tip shape” box, you can create a brush that will paint the text in one stroke! It has its own advantages if you get creative! I know some artists use it to stamp a watermark on their art.
Now that you have your text as a material, just drop it onto the canvas and use it as you like! Or enjoy creating pre-made stamps to quickly write messages with your very own stamp brush.
❗ When using text over an image, you should add outlines or bright colors with high contrast so that the text doesn’t get lost in the artwork.
What Makes an Appealing Title Design 🎨
So, what makes an appealing design for a title?
Need to design a title for a comic cover or webtoon? It’s very important for a title to give you an impression of the overall tone of the story inside.
Here are a few examples of titles that have a distinct “feel” to them that gives a lasting impression.
Romance/Fantasy, Kid’s/Cute, Horror, and Sci-Fi.
What exactly are the characteristics of a font style that might match these aesthetics? Here are just a few quick examples:
Kid’s: Handwritten feel with loose or curly strokes, thick imperfect features and/or spacing, with mostly lowercase letters.
Sci-fi: Angular, tall, bold and big letters, uppercase letters, modern feel, outlines.
Horror: Brushstrokes, bold uppercase or mixed letters, uneven handwritten feel.
Romance & Fantasy: Elegant calligraphic text, script letters, thin letters, handwritten pen feel, proper use of upper and lower case letters, loose long swirls and curls.
But font choice isn’t the only thing to consider. Colors used, and arrangement of the words also make an impact.
Placing the words too small on the cover might make it hard to read. Placing them too big will risk covering the artwork too much. You will have to find the best way to arrange the words to be readable while still leaving enough of the artwork to be seen.
Now let’s try titles swapping titles with style and see what might happen...
Uhh… It’s a little confusing, right? You can’t really be sure what these words mean when presented this way!
I don’t mean that you must never mix styles.
For example, if you are writing a heartfelt story about an alien that falls in love with an earthling princess, you may find that you can mix the romance and sci-fi styles in a way that properly represents the theme of the story!
Look around at existing media and pay close attention to their title logo. What kind of feeling does it evoke? How well does it match the story being told? The world it takes place in? Or even the time period? You were likely interested to pick it up and read or watch purely by the style of text on the front without even realizing!
So, if you are creating media in a certain genre, you should compare other media in that same genre and make a note of traits that their logos share.
The colors used, the shapes, motifs, visual effects, and arrangement of the letters play a bigger role into a title than you might think!
❗ While you can take bits and pieces of existing things for inspiration and example, please remember to NEVER outright copy something as-is. You could get into trouble if you copy something too closely! Gather many references and combine different elements to make something new.
Final Tips and Words✍
Experiment, practice, and combine techniques to enhance your text design skill!
I may have written a lot about the text tool and fonts and such, but this is certainly not limited to typing things out. If you prefer, you can hand-write your own words as well!
All of the same design methods should still be able to apply the same way, so don’t be afraid to draw your own text. It will be extra special with a personal touch too!
Finally, please don’t forget to spell check your work! If words and text are going to be the focus of your art in this case, it’s VERY important to have correct spelling. It ensures a high-quality impression from viewers and clients. Especially if it isn’t a language you are familiar with, I hope you will triple check your work for spelling errors.
By the way, I’d like to fully disclose that all of the designs shown here were made solely 100% from my imagination. Any names, titles or brands are fake and any resemblance to real titles or brands is pure coincidence. I really hope I didn’t accidentally create something that was already made! ^^;
If you learned something new or liked this TIPS article, please remember to leave a ❤.
Please feel free to write any questions or comments if you have any. I’m happy to explain further!
And if you are interested in my art, you can check out the links below.
Happy creating! Until next time. ☆
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