Video version:

While beginner-friendly, this guide assumes a basic understanding of layers and layer folders.

Text version:

Layer Comps are one of those features you don’t know you need until you start using them. Whether you’re a comic artist, illustrator, animator, or just want to try out different versions of your artwork, Layer Comps can make your workflow smoother, faster, and way more flexible.

 

They allow you to:

 

🔸  Test out ideas

🔸  Manage multiple variations

🔸  Keep your files organized

 

👉 All without duplicating layers or bloating your project! Once you understand how they work, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them.

 

💡 Note: The Layer comps palette is a CSP EX-only feature. However, in PRO you can edit and save a file containing layer comps without losing the information and the layer comps will be back when you open it again in EX.

🟧 What Are Layer Comps?

Layer Comps save the visibility state of your layers (what’s visible and what’s hidden).

 

👉 Instantly switch between these saved versions—ideal for comparing lighting and color options, alternate outfits, expression changes, or full scene variations.

✌️  Best of all, Layer Comps are non-destructive. They don’t change your drawing, duplicate your layers, or increase file size—they simply store layer visibility combinations for easy preview and export.

🟧 How to Use Layer Comps

Open the Layer Comps palette from Window > Layer Comps.

 

 

🟨 Create a New Layer Comp

1️⃣ Click the Add Layer Comp button to save the current layer visibility.

2️⃣ Give it an easily recognizable name.

3️⃣ Change the layer visibility for a new variation and create a new Layer Comp to save it.

4️⃣ Repeat as needed for all your variants.

🟨 Switch Between Layer Comps

🔸  Click the first square next to a Layer Comp’s name to instantly switch to that state.

🔸  Use the arrow buttons to cycle through them for quick comparisons.

🟨 Update Layer Comp

To save changes to a Layer Comp (after adding new effects, like the bokeh in this example):

 

1️⃣ Select the layer comp name.

2️⃣ Click the Save Layer Comp button.

🟨 Controlling Visibility of New Layers

Clip Studio Paint includes a helpful function: "Added layers are visible in all Layer Comps."

 

Use this for global changes that you want to add to all layer comps.

👉 For example, let’s change the cat’s eye color in all variants:

 

🔸 Activate the function by clicking the palette’s bottom-left button.

 

🔸 Any new layer you add (including correction layers and tones) from now on will appear in all Layer Comps automatically:

🔸 To disable the setting, just click the button again.

 

💡 Forgot to toggle it at the right time? No problem!

🔸 If a layer is showing everywhere but shouldn’t:

 

1️⃣ Cut the layer (Ctrl+X)

2️⃣ Disable the setting

3️⃣ Paste the layer back (Ctrl+V)

 

🔸 If it’s missing from all comps but should appear:

 

1️⃣ Cut the layer

2️⃣ Enable the setting

3️⃣ Paste the layer back

 

 

🟨 Managing Layer Comps

Just like with layers, you can:

 

🔸 Rename layer comps

🔸 Select multiple (with Ctrl or Shift)

🔸 Reorder by dragging

🔸 Delete

💡 Quick Tip: Layer Masks and Rulers

It’s not a well-known feature, but Layer Comps also remember the visibility of layer masks and rulers.

👉 For example, let’s make the cat dichromatic in some layer comps:

 

1️⃣ Mask out one eye on the gradient map layer coloring the eyes to gold.

2️⃣ Shift+click the mask to toggle its visibility.

3️⃣ Update relevant Layer Comps as needed.

 

Now you have variants with a green-eyed, gold-eyed, and dichromatic cat—without extra layers!

🟨 Helpful Notes

🟡   Layer Folders

🔸  Moving layers in or out of folders may affect visibility in layer comps—plan your folder structure before creating layer comps.

💡  Make use of this behavior to hide a guide or sketch layer from your layer comps. Just put it inside a folder and it’s cleared from all layer comps!

🟡   Merged Layers

🔸Merged layers are treated as new layers and won’t be visible in your saved Layer Comps unless added manually.

💡 If merging elements that are shared across all Layer Comps, enable “Added layers are visible in all Layer Comps” before merging.

🟡   Limitations

✅ Layer Comps only save visibility.

 

They do not save:

 

🚫 Layer order

🚫 Position

🚫 Opacity

🚫 Blending modes

 

Changes to those attributes affect all Layer Comps.

 

🚫 Clip Studio Paint’s Layer Comps can’t be saved in psb or psd formats, and thus aren’t compatible with Photoshop.

🟨 Exporting Layer Comps

You can export all your Layer Comps as separate files—ideal for sharing, printing, or processing.

1️⃣ Go to File > Special Export > Export Layer Comp.

 

2️⃣ Choose the destination folder ① and file format ②.

Note: If you choose clip, psd, or psb, and leave “Export single layer” unchecked, the exported files will contain all layers but with only the Layer Comp–specified ones visible.

3️⃣ Set or clear the file prefix ③ (by default the source filename).

 

4️⃣ Choose whether to use the Layer Comp name, number, or both ④.

 

5️⃣ The “Export only selected Layer Comps” option ⑤ is useful when you want to export just a few chosen versions or when you’re just re-exporting an updated Layer Comp.

6️⃣ In the following pop-up, you can choose detailed export settings, like the output size ①, etc. Make sure to enable “Export alpha channel” ② for transparent pngs.

Note: Exported files keep the original canvas size—even for transparent Layer Comps. To crop them based on content, a post-export Auto Action batch process is needed. I’ll make a separate tutorial on that, if there’s demand.

🟧 Practical Uses for Layer Comps

🟨 Lighting Variations

Explore various moods like sunset, spotlight, or backlight—all within a single file.

🟨 Character Design

Save different outfits, hairstyles, or accessories to show different combinations without duplicating your base art.

🟨 Alternative Colors

Try different palettes for characters or environments and flip through them instantly.

🟨 Character Expressions

Create expression sets for emoji packs by combining different facial elements.

🟨 Language and color versions

Make different languages or color versions of your comics easily.

🟨 Parts for Animations and Comics

Divide the character or background into parts for modular use in animations or comics.

 

Set Layer Comps for separate facial features in different expressions or background sceneries into planes and elements.

🟧 Combining Layer Comps with File Objects

Layer Comps get even more powerful when combined with File Objects.

 

A File Object is a .clip file linked inside another as a special dynamic layer:

🔸 It behaves like an image material layer: can be transformed repeatedly without quality loss.

🔸 Changes to it don’t affect the source file it is linked to.

 

🔸 All linked layers will update automatically when you edit and save the file object source file.

🟧 Using Layer Comps and File Objects Together

Each duplicate of a File Object layer in your working file can display a different Layer Comp from the source:

1️⃣ In the file object source .clip file, create your variations using Layer Comps.

2️⃣ In your main project, go to File > Import > Create File Object. Select the file to link as a File Object layer.

 

3️⃣ With the Object Tool selected, in the Tool Property palette, Rendering Settings, uncheck Draw Paper for transparency:

4️⃣ Choose a Layer Comp from the drop-down menu:

5️⃣ Duplicate the File Object layer:

6️⃣ Select a different Layer Comp for each instance:

✌ This lets you create a layout or presentation with multiple versions of the same asset—without duplicating, copying, or flattening anything!

🟧 Practical Use of Layer Comps in File Objects

🟨 Presentation Sheets

Display color variants, color keys, or expression sets cleanly and editably in one master file.

🟨 Reusable Design Elements

Need multiple versions of the same element, like a logo with and without a shadow? Store all in one file using Layer Comps and link them as File Objects.

🟨 Rich Comic and Webtoon Backgrounds

Instead of redrawing complex backgrounds for every panel or using a plain gradient to save time, try this:

 

1️⃣ Paint the whole scene’s background in a separate file.

 

2️⃣ Save each background element (sky, midground, foreground) as a Layer Comp:

3️⃣ Import the file as a File Object into your panels through File > Import > Create File Object.

 

4️⃣ In the Tool Property, Rendering Settings, uncheck Draw Paper.

5️⃣ Duplicate of the file object layer.

 

6️⃣ In the drop-down menu, assign a Layer Comp to each duplicate.

 

7️⃣ Scale and position as needed to create depth and perspective.

✌ This method gives you the visual richness of detailed backgrounds, with far less effort and cleaner files.

🟧 Conclusion

Think of Layer Comps and File Objects as your personal assistants—quietly making your art process smoother, cleaner, and more efficient. Once you start using them, you’ll never want to go back!

Many thanks to ScriblingArt for the French translation of the comic page!

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🌟⭐✨ If you enjoyed this tip, it will make me happy if you give a like so that I know I’m doing things right, eventually leave a comment on what you liked or didn’t and where I could improve :) Suggestions for what I should cover in the future are also welcome! ✨⭐🌟