[1] Tools and Sub Tools

In CLIP STUDIO PAINT necessary tools are selected in order of selecting a [Tool], then a [Sub Tool].

There are a lot of pre-registered Sub Tools from the beginning, however, you can also download materials such as pens from [Search materials] through CLIP STUDIO and register them as sub tools. Of course, you can also make Sub Tools yourself and register them.

 

Depending on the tool, the content of the [Sub Tool] palette will change. In addition, sub tools are categorized by group.

 

- [Pen] Tool

 

- [Brush] Tool

 

- [Figure] Tool

 

A button for selecting a [Group] is displayed at the top of the [Sub Tool] palette. The touch and the role of the drawing may be completely different depending on the sub tool even within the same tool.

 

Comparing the [Darker pencil] and the [Rough pencil] from the [Pencil] Tool.

 

- [Pencil] tool → Sub Tool [Darker pencil]

 

- [Pencil] tool → Sub Tool [Rough pencil]

 

[2] Icon operations of [Tool] and [Sub Tool]

■1. Tool icon operations for the [Tool] palette

 

<View icon>

For instance if you select the [Figure] tool, the three groups [Direct draw], [Stream line] and [Saturated line] will be shown under the [Sub Tool] palette for the initial setting. ※For CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO/EX.

Sub tools can be found in the group of [Direct draw] and can be selected as needed.

 

The icon of the selected sub tool is displayed on the [Tool] palette. The icon may change depending on the selected Sub Tool even with the same [Figure] tool.

When selecting the [Saturated line] group from the [Figure] tool, the [Figure] tool icon of the [Tool] palette changes to that of the [Saturated line] tool.

 

<Changing and deleting the tool name>

The tool name can be changed in the [Tool] palette.

Right clicking onto the tool in the tool palette displays the menu.

Select the [Tool settings].

 

The [Tool settings] dialog box will be shown, to enter the tool name.

 

To delete, select the [Delete tool] from the menu.

 

[Caution!!: Use the [Delete tool] carefully!]

When initializing, tools and sub tools you have created, will be deleted, therefore we recommend you export your tools and sub tools in advance. [PRO/EX]

On how to export, refer to [5] “Make original sub tool” and 2. “Reading and writing sub tools”.

 

<Restoring the initial tools and sub tools that have been deleted, through initializing and restarting.>［Windows/macOS］

Launch CLIP STUDIO PAINT while pressing the [Shift key] and select [Tool] from the displayed dialog.

 

 

 

■2. Add sub tools to the [Tool] palette.

 

Each sub tool of the [Sub Tool] palette can be added to the [Tool] palette. Move a frequently used sub tool to the [Tool] palette, so that it can be selected directly and conveniently from the [Tool] palette.

If you drag a [Group] of a [Sub Tool] palette or a [Sub Tool] palette onto the [Tool] palette and drop it in between the other tools, with red line, an icon will be added onto the [Tool] palette.

 

If you move the sub tool on its own, the group will be automatically generated on the [Sub Tool] palette.

 

 

 

■3. Move a sub tool to the sub tools of another tool.

 

If you drag a [Group] of a [Sub Tool] palette or a [Sub Tool] palette onto the tool icon on the [Tool] palette, a red square will pop up around that tool, and dragging it further will move it into that tool.

 

If you move a group, all the sub tools registered in that group will also be moved.

 

 

 

■4. Moving tools within the palette

 

Each tool or group can be moved to a convenient location within the pallet.

To move the location of the icon, drag and drop it to the where you want to move the tool icon in the [Tool] palette.

 

In the [Sub Tool] palette, drag and drop the sub tool or group to where you want to move it.

 

 

 

■5. Operations for sub tools and groups

 

<Moving a sub tool to another group>

You can drag and drop a [Sub Tool] to a [Group] tab and move it to a different group.

 

<Registering a sub tool as a group>

By dragging and dropping a [Sub Tool] to a [Group], you can register a sub tool as a group. If you register it as a group, only one new group and one sub tool that moved will be registered.

 

[3] Changing and duplicating sub tools

■1. Changing the name of a sub tool

 

① Right-click on the sub tool of the [Sub Tool] palette to display the menu.

 

② Select the [Sub Tool Settings] and change the sub tool name.

In the [Settings of sub tool] dialog, you can change not only the name but also the shape and color of the icon.

 

 

 

■2. Duplicating a sub tool

 

① Select [Duplicate sub tool] from the menu displayed after right-clicking on the sub tool.

 

Although you cannot select output/input processes, you can edit names and tool icon related settings.

 

② Click [OK] to create the sub tool.

 

[4] Tool Options

■1. The [Tool Property] palette

 

Depending on the selected tool (sub tool), items shown on the [Tool Property] palette will change.

 

In the tool properties, use the [Slider] or the [Indicator] to adjust the settings.

 

The [Slider] and [Indicator] are for setting numerical values, but you can also switch from the menu by right-clicking on it.

 

 

 

■2. The [Sub Tool Detail] palette [PRO/EX]

 

Items displayed on the [Tool Property] palette are items that only need to be adjusted when using the tool. In fact, there are a lot more setting items. All setting items can be changed in the [Sub Tool Detail] palette.

Clicking the icon in the lower right of the [Tool Property] palette will display the [Sub Tool Detail] palette.

• You can also display it from the [Window] menu → [Sub Tool Detail].

• The [Sub Tool Detail] palette can only be used in CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO/EX.

 

[Items on the [Sub tool detail] palette]

 

① Among the drawing tools, samples of lines that can be drawn with the pen are displayed.

② This is each option item. When clicked, detailed items are displayed in the area of ③.

③ Detailed items of each option are displayed and the setting can be changed.

④ When you move the cursor over the item of ③, help is displayed.

⑤ Return all sub tool settings to the initial state.

⑥ Reset the current setting as the [Initial setting]. (It overwrites the original initial setting contents.)

 

[5] Create original sub tools [PRO / EX]

You can also create and save a sub tool that suits your taste.

 

 

 

■1.Creating a sub tool

 

(1) Select [Create custom sub tool] from the menu displayed by right-clicking on the sub tool.

 

(2) The [Create Custom Sub Tool] dialog will be displayed, to configure each item.

 

① Name: Enter a name for the tool.

② Output process: Choose what you want to paint (color, create selection area, make balloon, etc.).

③ Input process: Select what you want to create or draw with the tablet pen operation.

④ Tool icon: Select an icon from the genre of tools already prepared in CLIP STUDIO PAINT.

⑤ User Settings: Original images can be set as tool icons. After clicking on the radio button, a dialog box to select a file will appear. Applicable image formats are BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, Targa.

⑥ Background color of the icon: Select the background color of the icon.

Depending on the selected tool, the options for the input/output process might be different.

 

(3) Click [OK] to generate the sub tool.

 

(4) Configure each item on the [Tool Properties] palette and the [Sub Tool Detail] palette.

 

[POINT]

You can change every item from the [Sub Tool Detail] palette, but adjusting them all from scratch is burdensome. First, duplicating a sub tool that is close to what you want to create and then adjusting it is more efficient. You will be able to imagine what you can do with the setting items gradually!

 

 

 

■2. Reading and writing sub tools

 

The menu displayed when right-clicking on a sub tool has items to handle the sub tool data.

 

① [Importing a sub tool]: This reads the sub tool file extension .sut.

② [Exporting a sub tool]: This writes the selected sub tools to an arbitrary location with the file extension .sut.

③ [Register a sub tool as a material]: This registers an original sub tool in the material palette.

 

Registered sub tools can be distributed to other users through CLIP STUDIO.