YouTube Shorts Tutorial

Setting Up the Background

Your character is finished, but you don’t feel like drawing the background!?

No problem! Try CSP’s new filters and let them do the work for you!

First, group your character layers into a folder, duplicate it as a backup, and rasterize the copy into a single layer.

Then, drag a repeating pattern asset onto the canvas and resize it to your liking. You can use any repeating pattern asset you like from Clip Studio Assets, or download the one I’m using from the link below.

Rasterize the image asset layer once you are done resizing and positioning.

Next, apply Convert Brightness to Opacity from the menu bar to make the white areas of the image asset transparent.

Fill the repeating pattern layer with a color, and place it below the character layer.

Enhancing the Background with Quick Effects

Now go to Filter > Quick Effects > Apply to Current Layer from the menu bar.

Choose Inflate, then adjust the lighting on the left side of the panel to match your character’s lighting.

On the right side, keep the values relatively low so the background doesn’t become too eye-catching and compete with the main character.

You can click and hold the blue, before-and-after icon around the bottom center to compare the result with the original.

Press OK once you’re satisfied. Then, go to Quick Effects again and choose Glow to give the background a soft, vibrant effect.

Keep in mind that you can’t stack multiple Quick Effects in one go. You’ll need to apply each effect separately.

Now, let’s add a soft cast shadow underneath the pattern.

Go back to Filter > Quick Effects > Apply to Current Layer again and choose Drop Shadow. Adjust the shadow position to match the lighting.

 

Change the shadow color to a lighter, desaturated color so the shadow stays subtle. Since the pattern is part of the background, we don’t want its shadow to be too dark or distracting.

If the background still looks too strong, simply lower the layer opacity.

Next, create a layer below the pattern. Pick a desaturated color from the same color family, then use the Gradient Tool to drag from bottom right to upper left, creating a darker tint on the shadow side.

Creating Cast Shadow with Quick Effects

Now, select the character layer and apply Drop Shadow from Quick Effects.

Adjust the shadow’s angle and distance to match your character’s lighting using the controls on the left. Then, on the right, keep the blur value low to create a relatively sharp cast shadow.

Keep the character’s cast shadow fairly dark, but it doesn’t have to be pure black. Instead of pure black, use a darker, more saturated color for the cast shadow. It’ll look softer and blend better with your character’s colors.

Making the Text Pop with Quick Effects

Moving on to the text!

Create a new layer and use the Rectangle Selection Sub Tool to create a large frame and a smaller frame underneath.

Then, from the layer property panel, create a white border effect and increase the edge thickness.

Add some text that suits your character. It could be a nickname, title, tagline, or anything else you like! Make the font style bold and position the text upwards to overlap with the top of the frame.

Rasterize the text layer and lock the transparent pixels.

Fill the text with Complementary Color - colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel.

Then, use the Gradient Tool to give the text some color variation.

Go to Quick Effects and apply Drop shadow. Set the Blur to a lower value to give the text an overlapping look.

Then, from the layer property panel, create a white border effect and increase the edge thickness for the text layer.

After that, go back to Quick Effects again and apply Inflate to give the text a smooth, glossy look.

Do the same to the smaller text.

Apply Drop Shadow > Border Effect > Inflate

Enhancing Lightning and Color Vibrancy with Quick Effects

Lastly, go back to your character layer and apply Glow from the Quick Effects menu to easily enhance the lighting and color vibrancy.

Before and After: Quick Effects

A simple character just transformed into a finished illustration with just a few Quick Effects!

Try it on your own character and see what you can create!

For a better idea of the workflow, check out my YouTube Shorts!