In this article, we will introduce the basic functions and terms needed to make animations in Clip Studio Paint.

This is fundamental knowledge you will need, regardless of the type of animation. You’ll want to check it out!

 

The following pages provides several tutorials to help master the animation features.

You don’t need to have any knowledge on animation: just follow the steps to learn how to use Clip Studio Paint’s animation features and how they work.

• Learn to Animate

 

Creating a new canvas

To create an animation with Clip Studio Paint, you will first need to create a canvas, and then set the animation's frame rate (smoothness) and the number of frames (playback time).

Note: These settings can be changed later.

 

Select File menu > New to view the settings.

 

From the New dialog box, select Project, then Animation to show the animation file creation settings.

 

See explanations for each animation setting below.

 

Settings that determine the size of animation

With illustrations, you normally set the image size using the Canvas option. With animation, you will need to enter other settings such as Size of output frame and Overflow frame to determine the canvas size.

Let’s go into each setting.

 

Size of output frame

 

The Size of output frame is the size of your complete animation.

An output frame will be made according to the set size, and the contents inside the frame will be exported.

 

The standard size will change according to the medium you want to post to (X, Instagram, YouTube, or other web services).

 

The presets that include size and aspect ratio are as listed below.

 

720 x 540 (144dpi) with blank space

1280 x 720 (144dpi) with blank space

1920 x 1080 (192dpi) with blank space

1080 x 1920 (72dpi), no margins

1080 x 1080 (72dpi), no margins

Overflow frame

 

Overflow frame is an option used when adding camera movement. Ignore this if you aren’t planning to use camera movement.

By setting a Size of output frame that is larger than the canvas, you can draw outside of the export area.

 

2D cameras can be adjusted to change what is shown in the Output frame.

 

Blank space

 

Sets the blank space of overflow frames.

If Overflow frame is turned off, the blank space will be created in the output frame.

 

Note: What is a Title-safe area?

Enable Title-safe area when you want to specify an area that will never be cropped regardless of the environment. When producing TV animations, some portions would be cropped due to different screen sizes.

You don’t need this setting if you plan to post your work to the internet.

 

Settings that determine the smoothness and length of animation

The settings under Timeline allow you to set the smoothness and playback time of the animation.

Let’s go into each setting.

 

Note: There is an upper limit to the number of frames that can be used in Debut and Pro versions.

For details, please read the following “Frame number limit for Pro and Debut versions.”

 

 

 

Frame rate (fps = Frames Per Second)

 

The Frame rate is the number of frames (= still images) shown per second.

The default 30 fps will display 30 frames per second.

 

The higher the frame rate, the more frames you can show per second, and the smoother the animation.

Example: Smoothness comparison due to different frame rates

(5 fps, 10 fps, 30 fps)

 

 

 

Playback time

 

Playback time allows you to set the length of your animation.

By default, this is displayed as the number of frames, with Frame rate determining the actual playback time.

 

By setting the same value for Playback time as the Frame rate, the animation will be one second long.

 

 

 

Different ways of showing Playback time

 

There are four different ways to show Playback time.

 

• Frame number (starting from 1)

• Frame number (starting from 0)

Shows the playback time in frames.

The difference between Number of frames (1 start) and Number of frames (0 start) is whether the first frame is displayed as frame “1” or frame “0.”

 

In video editing software, frames are usually numbered from 0 as they start from "second 0" on the timeline. However, in the Japanese animation industry, frames are usually numbered from 1. Choose whichever numbering method you prefer for your file.

Clip Studio Paint official tutorials usually uses Frame number (1 start) which is the usual default setting.

 

• Seconds + frame

Shows the playback time in seconds. If you want to add frames after the specified number of seconds, set the number of frames you want to add.

 

• Time code

Shows the playback time in minutes and seconds. You can set this with Minutes: Seconds: Number of frames.

 

These are the basic options that you will need to set in the New dialog box.

 

Note: For more information on other options, please read the user guide below.

 

Max number of frames in Pro and Debut

Debut and Pro versions have a max limit of 24 frames. Clip Studio Paint EX does not have this frame limit.

 

If you create animations with only 24 frames, you are limited as follows:

• By using 8 frames per second (= 8 fps), you can create animations with a playback time of 3 seconds, but the animation will not be smooth.

• By using 24 frames per second (= 24 fps), the playback time will only be 1 second long, but the animation will be smooth.

 

Using the Timeline palette

Selecting OK under the New dialog box, will create a new canvas for animation.

 

You will need to use the Timeline palette to create animations.

If the palette is not displayed, select the Window menu > Timeline.

 

Note: For smartphone users

Clip Studio Paint for smartphones requires palette bar customization to create animations.

Use the following procedure to add the Timeline palette.

 

The Timeline palette and the Layer palette are linked, but they display different things.

 

 

 

The structure of the Timeline palette

 

• Vertical Hierarchy: Track

Layers in the Layer palette and layer folders will be displayed as tracks in the same hierarchy as the Layer palette.

 

• Horizontal Hierarchy: Frame

Each Frame of the timeline will be displayed.

When the animation is played, the leftmost Start frame will be shown first, and the rightmost End frame will be shown last.

 

You can change the Start frame and End frame by dragging the blue rectangle.

 

Clicking the frame number will select the frame.

 

Note: Zooming in/zooming out of the Timeline

By clicking the Timeline palette’s Zoom In or Zoom Out, you can scale the number of frames displayed in the timeline palette.

The actual playback time will not change.

 

• Clip

Clips are the unit of content in an animation track. By editing the Start frame and End frame, you can set the frames that would be shown on playback.

 

Clicking the bar at the top will select the entire clip, turning it blue.

Dragging this will move the entire clip horizontally.

 

You can drag the rectangles on the edge of the Start frame and End frame to change the length of the clip.

 

 

 

Animation folder and Animation cels

 

The animation file that you made through the New dialog box contains one Animation folder containing one animation cel.

 

• Animation folder

Animation folders are shown as a single track in the Timeline palette.

Layers in the Animation folder can be set as Animation cels in the Timeline palette.

 

• Animation cels

By using Assign cel to frame, cels can be displayed on the clip.

The animation file you created through the New dialog box only contains the “1” cel. This means that only the “1” cel will be shown from the beginning to the end of the clip.

 

Click New animation cel on the Timeline palette to create an animation cel. This will also specify the cel to the current frame.

 

Creating the animation cel will also add it to the Layer palette as a layer.

 

Clicking the leftmost frame with an animation cel on the Timeline palette will select the animation cel.

Drag the selected cel horizontally to move the frame containing a cel.

 

These are the basic controls for the Timeline palette

 

What kind of animation do you want to make?

Select your own path from here. What do you want to try making with this animation feature?

The following lessons will explain how to make different types of animation.

 

• Learn to Animate

 

• Hand-drawn frame animations

Functions used:

2D camera folder

Assign multiple cels

Add keyframe in layer

 

• Inbetweening basics