Introduction

In this simple tutorial we will learn to paint anime eyes using multiple layers in Clip Studio Paint (CSP). To simplify the explanation and avoid drawing the eyes in perspective, I created a drawing of an anime character seen from the front and using the symmetrical ruler function ("Symmetrical ruler") of CSP. I have originally written this article in Spanish, but the screenshots are from the English version.

In the following steps I will explain how to paint each part of an eye in anime style. I recommend that you use a layer for each part of the eye, as I show in the illustration above. The layers allow us to paint logically and facilitate subsequent corrections.

Eye base

First of all we will draw the base of our eye that consists of 3 elements: the sclera (white part of the eye), the shadow cast by the upper eyelashes and the base of the iris. Use a layer for each part and do the same for the rest of the steps.

The sclerocorneal limbus

Next, we will draw the sclerocorneal limbus. To do this, we create a selection by left clicking on the layer corresponding to the base of the iris while pressing the "Control" key (Ctrl-LMB means "control and left mouse button"). By the way, if you don't see the "Selection Launcher", you can enable it in "View> Selection Launcher". I find it very useful.

Then we use "Edit> Outline Selection" to create a border of a few pixels into the selection.

Optionally we can create a selection from the limbo layer, using Ctrl-LMB, to add color variations to taste.

The pupil

To draw the pupil I used the selection tool "Ellipse". In this tutorial, in order to focus on the necessary layers, we have drawn the eyes straight ahead. Thanks to this we can simply place the pupil in the center of the iris. In case you draw your character from another point of view you should consider the concavity of the iris and the pupil.

The iris

We continue with what is probably the most interesting element of anime eyes: the iris. To select the region of the iris I show you a little trick. First create a selection from the base of the iris using Ctrl-LMB as we saw in previous steps. Then, use Ctrl-Alt-LMB to subtract the regions corresponding to the limbus and pupil from the selection.

The first thing we will draw is a kind of necklace that divides the iris in two and is known as collarete.

Next we paint the upper shadow of the iris. In this case I used the layer in "multiply" mode (multiplication) so that the collarete is still visible.

Using the same selection technique explained in previous steps we can select the rest of the iris and apply a color gradient in "overlay" mode. This gradient represents the illuminated part of the iris.

Apart from the gradient, we can add a series of clear points that represent small reflections on the varied and complex formations existing inside the iris.

Next, we add to the upper left (the part opposite to the origin of the light) a brightness that has not been caused by the source of illumination directly, but by the light reflected on several surfaces including the upper tabs themselves. When reflected part of the light is absorbed and the result is a light of a color different from the original white

Finally we add the reflection caused by ambient light. Think of it as a mirror that shows what the character sees. In this case I used a bluish tone to represent the sky of the scene.

Colored eyelashes, eyelids and eyebrows

This step is optional and involves coloring the lines of the eyelashes, eyebrows and the crease of the eyelid. The method is simply to create a new layer on the lines and use the "Clip to Layer Below" option so that we do not paint beyond where we want. This coloring represents the light that penetrates the surface of the hairs and is reflected in a scattered way ("subsurface scattering").

A note about the eyebrows

Although this tutorial has focused on how to paint anime eyes, consider the importance of eyebrows in the expression of your character.

Final shine

The last step and probably the most rewarding is to add the final strong shine. For this we have placed several points of pure white color. When adding the shine it seems that the eyes come to life.

Conclusions

In this tutorial we have seen that drawing anime eyes is somewhat complex but that can be simplified by using layers and understanding what each one represents. You can use this knowledge to generate your own abstractions and paint anime eyes with your own style. I hope it helped.