1. Organizing layers

When drawing illustrations or manga, the numbers of layers grows so much that you can’t remember what you drew on which layer... It happens to all of us.

Here, we will introduce some tricks to organize your layers so you can use them easily.

 

 

 

How to select multiple layers

 

When you tap on a layer, it becomes “selected”. You have to select a layer first to apply any effect.

To add effects to multiple layers simultaneously, you can save time and effort by selecting multiple layers at the same time.

You can select multiple layers by checking each layer or by holding down the [Ctrl] key while selecting.

 

If you want to select a large number of layers at once, you can select every layer between two layers by selecting a layer and selecting another while holding down the [Shift] key.

 

Note: If you select multiple layers at once...

• You can combine the selected layers into a folder by dragging them on the New Layer Folder icon.

• You can copy the selected layers by dragging them on the New Raster Layer icon.

• You can delete all the selected layers by selecting Delete.

• You can even move and transform them simultaneously with the Move layer tool and Edit > Transform.

 

 

 

Display in 2 panes

 

You can display the layer palette in 2 panes by tapping on the icon displayed on the top left of the layer palette.

This is useful when there are too many layers to be displayed or when the layers you want are far apart from each other.

 

 

 

Classify layers with palette colors

 

Layers can be assigned palette colors. When there are too many layers, classifying them with colors can make them easier to recognize.

By setting a palette color for each character or part, or for each process such as draft, line art, white, color filling, and tone, you can draw while clearly organizing what needs to be edited or worked on.

 

You can change colors by tapping the tab on the left of the Layer palette.

By default, there are six colors available. When selecting Use other color at the bottom, a dialog box will appear that allows you to set any color.

 

 

 

How to combine layers

 

There are several ways to combine layers in Clip Studio Paint.

You can combine layers via the Layer menu, the palette menu of the Layer palette, or by right-clicking the Layer palette.

 

 

 

Merge with layer below

Merge the selected layer with the layer below it.

• You cannot merge locked layers, hidden layers, draft layers, empty folders or tonal correction layers.

• The new layer’s layer name, blending mode, palette color, Lock transparent pixels, Clip to Layer Below, and Reference Layer settings will be the same as the bottom layer.

• The expression color of a layer will be color if it contains a layer of color, gray if it is a combination of gray or a combination of gray and a single color, and single color in the case of single colors.

 

 

 

Merge selected layers

Combine multiple selected layers.

• Hidden layers will stay hidden when combined.

• When a folder is merged, the contents of the folder are combined and converted into a single layer. You cannot merge empty folders.

• You can also merge locked and draft layers. However, the lock and draft attributes will be canceled.

• You can combine tonal correction layers. After merging, the layer will become a raster layer.

• The new layer’s name will be the name of the first layer that was selected.

• After merging, the blending mode will become “Normal”.

• The palette color, Lock transparent pixels, Clip to Layer Below, and Reference layer settings will change to None.

• The expression color of a layer will be color if it contains a layer of color, gray if it is a combination of gray or a combination of gray and a single color, and single color in the case of single colors.

 

 

 

Merge visible layers

Combine displayed layers. A layer currently being displayed must be selected.

• You cannot combine hidden layers.

• You can combine every layer expect for the draft layer. Regardless the type of the layer, after combining, the layer will become a raster layer.

• The new layer’s name will be the name of the first layer that was selected.

• After combining, the blending mode will become “Normal”.

• The palette color, Lock Layer, Lock transparent pixels, Clip to Layer Below, and Reference layer settings will be changed to None.

• The expression color of the layer will be color.

 

 

 

Merge visible to new layer

Displayed layers are copied and combined. A layer currently being displayed must be selected.

When the copies are combined, the original layers will remain intact.

• You cannot combine hidden layers.

• You can combine every layer expect for the draft layer. Regardless the type of the layer, the layer will become a raster layer after combining.

• The name of the layer will be “Selected Layer Name 2".

• After combining, the blending mode will become “Normal”.

• The palette color, Lock Layer, Lock transparent pixels, Clip to Layer Below, and Reference layer settings will be changed to None.

• The expression color of the layer will be color.

 

 

 

Flatten image

Merge all layers into one.

• Hidden layers will stay hidden if combined.

• You can combine all layer types. After combining, the layer will become a raster layer.

• The layer’s name will become “Layer 1”.

• After combining, the blending mode will become “Normal”.

• The palette color, Lock Layer, Lock transparent pixels, Clip to Layer Below, Reference layer settings and the draft attributes will change to None.

• The expression color of the layer will be color.

 

 

 

Note:

Depending on the type of layers that are combined and the attached information, there are differences in the resulting data.

 

Merge with layer below and Merge selected layers will combine and convert layers into a raster layer by default, but there are a few exceptions.

 

• Only vector layers: Layers will be combined into a vector layer.

• Text layers and speech bubble layers: Layers will be combined into a speech bubble layer.

• Only text layers: Layers will be combined into a text layer.

• Only speech bubble layers: Layers will be combined into a speech bubble layer.

 

If there is a layer mask, it will applied and combined with the layer.

As an exception, if there is a layer mask on the bottom layer when Merge with layer below is selected, a confirmation message of “There is layer mask in layer below. Do you want to apply the mask before merging?” will appear.

 

• If you select Apply, the layers will combine after the mask is applied to the bottom layer.

• If you select Hold, the layer mask will remain, and a layer mask will be applied to the merged layer.

 

All rulers in the layers that will be merged will be attached to the new layer.

 

 

 

Changing the layer’s thumbnail size

 

You can change the layer’s thumbnail size by going into the Layer palette menu > Thumbnail size.

By default, the size is set to Small. If you change the size, the thumbnails will change as shown below.

 

 

 

Only display the area of the layer on the thumbnail

 

You can change the area displayed in the layer thumbnail in the Layer palette menu > Thumbnail Area palette.

By default, the setting is set to Show whole canvas and shows the entire canvas.

When set to Show only layer area, the thumbnails will only display drawn parts of the layer.

 

2. Attributes

Next, we will introduce layer attributes, which can add useful functions to layers.

 

 

 

Clip to Layer Below

 

When Clip to Layer Below is set to ON, the content drawn on the layer (clipped layer) will only display in the areas that are drawn in ​the layer below.

The clipped layer will also be affected by the opacity of the layer below it.

 

If clipping layers overlap, they only appear in the drawing area of ​​the layer below.

 

You cannot use the Clip to Layer Below function on a paper layer.

 

 

 

Lock transparent pixels

 

Lock (limit) the ability to draw on the transparent parts of the currently selected layer. You can selectively draw on parts that already exist without the fear of drawing on transparent parts.

Lock transparent pixels is not available for monotone layers.

 

 

 

Set as Reference Layer

 

When you are editing another layer, you can set the layer you want to reference as a Reference layer.

In the Layer palette, when Set as Reference Layer is set to ON, a mark is added next to the display and the layer becomes a reference layer.

You cannot set a paper layer as a Reference layer.

 

If you select another layer and set Set as Reference Layer to ON, only the selected layer will become a reference layer and the settings of the existing reference layer will be deactivated.

You can select multiple layers and set them all as reference layers.

 

Example on how to use Reference layers

As an example, we will paint the following character's skin in the instance of the character line art layer overlapping with another line art layer.

 

If you color with the Fill tool with Refer other layers ON, it stops painting at lines other than those of the character.

 

This is because Refer multiple > Refer all layers box is set to ON in the Tool Property palette, resulting in all displayed lines being referenced.

 

If you change Refer multiple to Reference layer, only the reference layer will be used as reference.

We were able to set the line art of the character as the reference layer and paint without problems.

 

 

 

Set as Draft Layer (PRO/EX)

 

A Draft layer is a layer that can be hidden when the canvas is exported to an image file.

 

While selecting the layer you want to set, tap the Set as Draft Layer button at the top of the Layer palette or select Layer menu > Layer Settings > Set as Draft Layer. The layer will then be set as a draft layer.

 

The draft layer can be included in the export/print settings that appear when File > Export (Single Layer) is selected, or in the File > Print Settings menu.

 

Additionally, when creating a selection or a fill, the draft layer is set as Exclude in the Sub Tool Detail > Reference parameter.

You can use it by setting this to OFF.

 

3. Tips and tricks for layers

Here are various layer tips and tricks.

You will be able to achieve tedious work much faster.

 

 

 

Create a Selection from a new layer

 

From the Layer menu > Selection from Layer > Create Selection, you can create a selection based on the drawn part of the layer.

You can also create a selection from a layer by holding down the [Ctrl] key (Command under macOS) and tapping on the thumbnail in the Layer palette.

 

 

 

How to display only one layer

 

Holding down the [Alt] key ([Option] For macOS) and tapping the eye of a layer will display only that layer.

If you want to return it to its original state, click again on the eye with the [Alt] key ([Option] For macOS).

 

 

 

Sorting Layers (PRO/EX)

 

You can move layers by selecting and dragging them. However, as the number of layers increases, it will take longer to move the layers.

 

By selecting Layer > Layer Order > Top, you can move the selected layer to the top of the layers, or to the bottom with Bottom.

 

 

 

Determine which layer you are drawing on with [Ctrl] + [Shift]

 

By tapping on a drawn part with Operation tool > Object or Select layer tool, the layer of the drawn part will automatically be selected.

 

When you specify an area by dragging with Select layer, all layers, including the drawn part of the area, will be automatically selected.

You can do the same action by clicking on the canvas while pressing [Ctrl] ([Command] on macOS) + [Shift] key.

 

 

 

Change the color of the paper layer

 

Double-tap the thumbnail of the Paper layer to display the Color settings dialog box.

You can change the colors of the paper into any color of your choice.

 

 

 

Delete all unused layers at once -Ver. 4.1-.

 

Empty or hidden layers that had been added while you work can be deleted all at once from the Layer menu > Delete layers.

 

Empty layers will delete all layers that have nothing drawn on them all at once.

 

Hidden layers will delete all layers that are hidden in the Layer palette at once.

 

If a layer folder or animation folder is hidden, the layers in the folder will also be deleted.

 

Note:

You can lock layers in the Layer palette to prevent them from being deleted in bulk deletion.