Introduction

Hello everyone! Welcome ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡. This time we will talk about using the Shifting tool for correcting illustrations and simple animations, as well as using the Liquify tool for small corrections. I hope you find them useful. Without further ado…

 

Let's get started!

0. Video Tutorial

💡 Listen to it in different languages; subtitles and auto-dubbing are available for this video.

1. Where is it?

Shifting allows you to modify the pose of characters or elements in an illustration, even if it is finished. This is very useful for saving time, as it avoids having to redraw, while also allowing you to create variations of the same illustration in an instant. And my favorite part: we can also use it to create simple animations.

 

This tool is available starting from version 4.2.0 of Clip Studio Paint.

 

 

✦ Studio Mode

In Studio Mode, the tool can be found at the following path: Edit > Transform > Shifting.

💡 TIP: To use the tool, we have to go through a long menu path. So, my first piece of advice is to create a shortcut in the “Command Bar.”

 

➀ To do this, click on an empty space in the bar; a menu will appear where we will go to the “Command Bar Settings” option.

➁ In the window that opens, go to: Edit > Transform > Shifting.

➂ Once the tool is selected, click OK and that's it. Now the shortcut will appear in the top bar where we can group it with other tools or give it a distinctive color; this way, it will be easier to access the function without wasting time.

⭐ Another idea to facilitate access to the tool is to set a “Shortcut,” but I would only recommend this if it's a tool you use a lot. Since shortcuts are limited in a way, it's best to have only the most important tools assigned to them. To set a shortcut, you must:

 

➀ Go to: Clip Studio icon at the top left (on tablets; for computers, the option is in the “File” menu) > Shortcut Settings.

➁ In the window, change the category to “Main Menu” and from there go to: Edit > Transform > Shifting.

➂ Click on the tool, then on Edit Shortcut, and set it. Done.

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✦ Simple Mode

In Simple Mode, everything is easier. Once we select the layer or folder to deform, we just need to click on the “Transform” tool.

And once activated, go to the “Shifting” option.

2. How does it work?

Well, let's start by learning how the tool works so we can take full advantage of its potential.

 

 

✦ Layers and Folders

The first thing we need to know is that Shifting can be applied to individual layers, folders, or several selected layers.

 

If we handle multiple layers or a folder, when applying the deformation, the tool will detect elements that have space between them as two independent elements.

However, if both elements are overlapping, even if they are on separate layers, the tool will detect them as a single element.

NOTES:

📌 Only raster images can be deformed. If we have a layer in another format (vector, image material, etc.), we must rasterize it. To do this, right-click on the layer and choose the “Rasterize” option from the menu.

 

📌 If we have a layer within a folder that is not rasterized, it will only allow us to apply the deformation to the layers that are.

Hidden Pixels: Another point to keep in mind when handling folders, especially, is that the tool will detect pixels in layers even if they are hidden. As shown in the following GIF, the orange background is hidden, but the tool still includes it in the deformation. This can be a disadvantage because it means you have to be careful about what elements are inside the folder, although it also has its advantages.

The advantage we can get from using disabled layers inside a folder or selection is that it's easier to work with closed spaces. That's why, if we have sketches with open lines or text, what we can do to modify it as a set is create a layer beneath said element, fill it according to our needs, and then disable it.

The same principle applies to Simple Mode, with the only drawback being that multiple layers cannot be selected at once.

► SELECTION

 

On the other hand, if we don't want to modify the entire layer, we can use the selection tool. This will ensure that only the selected area can be modified when using Shifting.

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✦ Function of the Pins

Activating Shifting generates a triangle-based mesh that, when pins are placed on it, allows the image to be deformed, moved, or rotated.

 

💡 TIP: Since this tool is destructive in nature, what we can do to avoid permanent loss if we get an undesired result is to duplicate the layer, so we always keep an original of the illustration.

► PINS

 

Clicking on the mesh will establish the first node. By dragging the center of a node, we can move the area corresponding to that node. If we only have one, the entire image will move. If we have two or more, the nodes that are not active will keep their zone static, acting as anchor points.

If we rotate the outer circle of a pin, the area of influence for that pin will rotate.

 

⚠️ We can set as many pins as we want, but we must be careful. As the number increases, the area of influence for each node decreases, which can lead to stiff results. Conversely, if too few are placed, the result can be too curved; it all depends on the nature of the area you want to edit.

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✦ Tool Properties

First, in the “Tool Property” window, we can edit some parameters depending on our needs.

► EXPANSION

 

The expansion option increases the mesh's range of action. Low expansion is good for fine adjustments of adjacent elements or for elements that are not completely covered when activating the tool.

 

⚠️ But you have to be careful with elements that are separated; if we apply high expansion and the meshes of both elements overlap, then editing one element can end up cutting parts of the other element.

► SHOW MESH

 

This option allows you to hide the mesh so we can see the deformation better.

► DELETE PINS

 

To delete pins, go to the “Click on pin” option and choose delete pin. Now you just have to click on the node you want to remove.

► SELECT MULTIPLE PINS

 

To select multiple pins, go to the “Select pin (tap)” section. Here we will find several options, including selection and deletion. Now just select the nodes you want to edit.

► SHORTCUTS

 

There are a series of shortcuts to delete pins and select multiple ones without needing to use the tool property window. In the tablet version, we can use these shortcuts with the edge keyboard.

📍 With SHIFT, we can select multiple pins at once.

📍 With ALT, we can delete pins.

► ROTATION ANGLE

 

This is very simple: it serves to set the exact angle at which you want to rotate an element.

► ADVANCED SETTINGS / ORDER

 

In the “Sub Tool Detail” (wrench icon), you will find other editing options. To access it, click on the wrench icon located in the bottom right corner of the “Tool Property” window. Among the options we have:

 

● Mesh density:

We have three options: Low, Standard, High. The higher it is, the greater the precision, but standard is usually fine.

 

● Order:

This is another setting I find very interesting. To see this option in the “Tool Property” window, you must click on the eye symbol.

 

 

It works with elements located on the same layer but that can overlap when moved. For example, the fox's tail: by moving it, we can put it in front of or behind the body. For this, we have four buttons: two to move the object up and two to move it down relative to another.

► INTERPOLATION METHOD

 

Finally, we have the interpolation method option. This option modulates the clarity of the edges during image transformation. Personally, I recommend leaving the option on “Hard edges” for higher resolution.

► SIMPLE MODE

 

In Simple Mode, it works the same, with the only exception being the inability to select multiple pins. The options for hiding the mesh, deleting pins, expansion, and order are found within the tool's own window.

 

In this mode, a quick way to delete a pin is to double-tap it.

3. Illustration Retouching

Essentially, the “Shifting” tool helps to make small adjustments to poses, create variations of the same image very quickly, and my favorite: create simple animations, like animated stickers. Now let's look at some considerations when working with this tool.

 

 

✦ Different Layers

It is recommended to have the image separated into elements; this will facilitate moving and distorting objects without altering unwanted areas. Having everything on the same layer makes it complicated to adjust the pose to something more attractive.

 

Let's see: in the following image, all elements are on a single layer. When we want to move the hair, we cannot do it without moving the body because, being connected, the mesh flow distorts them as a whole.

On the other hand, by separating the elements, we get more interesting modifications with a greater margin for maneuver.

💡 TIP: It is not advisable to perform all the movements you want in a single edit. For example, in the following GIF, if you want to move the fox's tail and head, first move the tail in one edit and the head in another.

Below is a final example of how it is easier to work with separate layers.

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✦ Liquify

The “Liquify” tool allows you to distort a small area with a brush depending on the direction indicated within the tool's own settings. You can find it in the tool window; it can also be found in the toolbar in Simple Mode.

This tool is ideal for accompanying modifications made by the “Shifting” tool. It serves to correct small distortion defects that may result.

And here we have the result.

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✦ Letting Movement Flow

Pose Balance: An advantage of this tool is that it is not necessary to place an infinite number of pins; sometimes a few are more than enough. For example, look at how the shoulders align with the hip movement in the following image.

 

If the final movement shows any abnormality, we can correct it in another modification.

Do not place pins indiscriminately

 

If we place pins anywhere without a purpose, we might fail to achieve the desired movement or block the mobility of other pins. For example, in the GIF below, we are trying to move the leg, but if we place one on the thigh and another on the ankle, we get nowhere.

 

Joints are good places to place pins, but don't place pins on all of them at once.

Pin Locking

 

On the other hand, sometimes locking between pins serves to make subtle movements without affecting other areas. For example, in the next one, we want to rotate the ankle, but doing so rotates the leg. In this case, it's best to place a pin at the base of the leg to block unwanted movement.

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✦ Different Elements in an Instant

Finally, let's see how with this tool we can make several modifications to an image and thus obtain new elements.

 

For example, to make the following hydrangea, I only used a single little flower. First, I duplicated the flower layer three times and modified them with the “Shifting” tool. Once this is done, all that's left is to duplicate, arrange, and use the “Liquify” tool to fix some details.

If you want to know the step-by-step to make a hydrangea, you will find it in the following tutorial:

 

 

And here is the result:

4. Simple Animations

Finally, let's look at some examples of how we can make simple animations with this tool.

 

The animations below will be made from the animation workspace in the “Simple Mode” of the program (for tablets and phones); if you are not familiar with this space, I invite you to watch the following tutorial. Additionally, I address some basic principles of animation in it.

 

 

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✦ Animal Tail Movement

Let's start by learning the basic principles for animating an animal's tail. These concepts can actually be applied to different objects, like hair, ribbons, etc.

 

MOVEMENTS

 

A) The force of the movement starts at the root of the tail, so this part will move first, indicating the direction of movement.

B) The second section will follow the movement of the first, but with a slight delay.

C) The tail movements will be wavy, so we can imagine two spheres moving in opposite directions, forming an “S” shape along the way.

The following is a diagram showing the suggested movements that can be made to indicate an opening movement towards the right. As we can see, it starts with a curvature in the center, which as the frames pass, fades until it is almost lost.

► STEP BY STEP

 

Once the animation workspace is open, a first frame will be created containing all the layers created up to that point.

 

➀ Frame one: Now, select the layer and with the Transform > Shifting tool, place it in the first position of the sequence.

 

To have a clean workspace, I suggest dividing the character only into the elements you plan to animate. In this case, we will have two layers: the tail and the body.

➁ Frame two: The next thing will be to duplicate the first frame and, once duplicated, modify the opening of the movement with the Shifting tool.

➂ Frame three: Then we will duplicate frame two, and we will edit this copy with the next movement in the sequence.

 

From here, the process becomes repetitive, as everything consists of duplicating and deforming until the opening sequence is complete. In total, I created five frames for this initial movement.

Frame four

Frame five

Well, now let's start with the backward movement. The principles are exactly the same but in reverse.

For this second cycle, I only used three frames because I didn't want the movement to be very slow. Let's remember the principles of acceleration and deceleration in animation.

 

Frame six: At this point, I deformed the figure so that a small curve pointing toward the character begins to be noticed.

Frame seven: Once again, we duplicate frame six to subsequently edit it.

Frame eight: This is the last frame and the one closest in movement to the start of this second sequence.

Finally, the opening sequence is repeated, but for this part, it is not necessary to deform more frames; now we just need to duplicate and flip.

In this part, we will duplicate all the frames created so far. If you look at the previous GIFs again, you will notice that in each of them, I duplicated the modified layer and then, with the Transform tool, flipped the image so it formed a mirror effect between one frame and another—well, that was to save time.

 

Right now we have to do the same: duplicate each frame and mirror them. The duplicated frames are created immediately after the original frame, so with the help of “Onion Skin,” we can guide ourselves when aligning the inverted shape to simulate a mirror reflection with the original.

Now, the last step consists of ordering the mirrored frames after the originals in the same order as the original frames, which would look like this: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ╌ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

 

💡 TIP: To order layers, it is more advisable to do it from Studio Mode, as it is easier to identify the frames and order them.

- RESULT -

► BOUNCE

 

To give the animation more life, I decided to add a bounce effect to the body. The process is very easy; let's see how:

 

➀ Start by activating the Shifting tool on the layer where the character is.

➁ Now place the pins so that the lower part of the character does not move from its position.

➂ Then place a pin on the head or near it and move it downward.

➃ For frame two, duplicate frame one and repeat steps two and three, but in this case, instead of going down, we will go up a little.

 

We will do this a couple of times until reaching the highest point we like.

➄ Finally, duplicate the frames created so far, excluding the first and last ones. These new frames will have an inverse order to the originals. Something like this: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2

In this bounce effect, the animation principle known as SQUASH AND STRETCH will be applied.

 

● SQUASH: If an object is flattened upon hitting a surface, its sides will grow as they become wider.

● STRETCH: If the object is stretched, its sides will contract, and consequently its height will increase. An object falling or moving from one side to another at high speed exhibits this characteristic.

 

Remember, even if an object is squashed or stretched, its mass does not change, it does not disappear; it simply deforms.

- RESULT -

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✦ Lateral Movement

The principles of movement are the same as we saw in the previous section, with the only difference being that here an “S” movement will be more pronounced.

 

► STEP BY STEP

 

The diagram we will follow for this movement is as follows:

The movement starts with its form raised; then, when it wants to go down, the force of the movement pushes the root of the tail downward and the final part follows it, but applying an “S” displacement.

 

Frame one: The editing process is the same as the previous one: first, edit frame one with the corresponding movement.

Frame two: For this one, duplicate frame one and then edit it with the second movement of the sequence. Repeat this process until completing the downward sequence.

Frame three

Frame four

Frame five

Once the descent is complete, comes the ascent. The process is the same but reversed; now the force pushes upward.

Frame six

Frame seven: Some deformations are complicated, so it's convenient to handle them in two or more editing sessions.

To complete the loop, we must consider that the last frame should be close to the position of the first frame so that when the loop repeats, there are no jumps.

 

If it seems that the elements are poorly located, we can always solve it with the Transform and Liquify tools.

Once all the frames are completed, all that's left is to review the animation, check for any deformations, and if there are any, correct them.

- RESULT -

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As we could see, with this tool we can make some simple but interesting animations. For example, some time ago I made the following dance animation using this tool, Shifting.

If you wish to see the step-by-step, I've left the tutorial below:

 

 

Farewell

The Shifting tool is one of the best additions the program has had; I really like it, especially for making simple animations. I hope that one day we can make more complex animations with this tool, but until then, don't hesitate to incorporate it into your workflow.

 

Thank you for making it this far! It would be a great help if you could give me a like. See you another time! ≽^•⩊•^≼

 

Bye bye ₊˚⊹♡

 

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