[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

 

I you click on a layer, it becomes “selected”. To apply any effects, first, you have to “select” a layer.

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

 

POINT [Reference] 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 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 clicking 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, tone etc., you can draw while clearly organizing what needs to be edited or worked on.

 

You can change colors by clicking the tab on the left of the [Layer] palette.

By default, there are 6 colors available. When selecting [Use other color] at the bottom, a dialog box will be displayed, allowing you to set any color.

 

 

 

■How to combine layers

 

In CLIP STUDIO PAINT, there are several ways to combine layers.

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 Pixel], [Clip Layer], 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 state of the Palette color, [Lock Transparent Pixel], [Clip Layer with layer below], [Reference layer] 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 state of the Palette color, [Lock Layer], [Lock Transparent Pixel], [Clip Layer with layer below], [Reference layer] settings will be changed to [None].

• The expression color of the layer will be color.

 

 

 

<Merge visible to new layer>

We will combine copies of displayed layers. 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, after combining, the layer will become a raster layer.

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

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

• The state of the Palette color, [Lock Layer], [Lock Transparent Pixel], [Clip Layer with layer below], [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 state of the Palette color, [Lock Layer], [Lock Transparent Pixel], [Clip Layer with layer below], [Reference layer] and the draft attributes will change to [None].

• The expression color of the layer will be color.

 

 

 

[POINT]

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 be converted to 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 an the bottom layer when [Combine with Lower Layer] is selected, a confirmation message saying [Do you want to apply the mask before merging?] will be displayed.

 

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

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

 

All rulers in the layers that will be joined 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 thumbnail of the layer 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 be displayed in the areas that are drawn on 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 function [Clip to Layer Below] on a paper layer.

 

 

 

■Lock Transparent Pixel

 

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

With Monotone Layers, [Lock Transparent pixel] is not available.

 

 

 

■Set as Reference Layer

 

When you are editing another layer, set the layer you especially 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.

If you select multiple layers and set them to [Set as Reference Layer], all selected layers will be set as reference layers.

 

<Example on how to use the Reference layer>

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

 

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

 

This is because the [Multiple referring] → [Refer all layers] box is set to ON in the [Tool Property] palette, resulting in all displayed lines being referenced.

 

If you change [Multiple referring] 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 it without problems.

 

 

 

■Set as Draft Layer [PRO/EX]

 

The “Draft layer” becomes a hidden layer when saved as a BMP JPEG PNG TIFF and Targa.

As it will not be displayed in the final product, as its name suggests, it is best used when drafting a drawing.

 

The draft layer can only be set with a raster layer or vector layer.

While selecting the layer you want to set, click 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 set to be included in the export/print settings that appear when [File] → [Export (Single Layer)] is selected, and the [File] → [Print Settings] menu.

 

Additionally, when creating a selection or a fill, the draft layer is set as a [Non-reference layer] in the [Sub Tool Detail] → [Reference] parameter.

You can refer to it by setting it to OFF.

 

[3] Little techniques for layers

We will introduce you various little techniques regarding layers.

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 clicking on the thumbnail in the Layer palette.

 

 

 

■How to display only one layer

 

By holding down the [Alt] key ([Option] For macOS) and clicking the eye of the layer, only this layer will be displayed.

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]

 

By selecting and dragging, you can move layers. However, as the number of layers increases, it will take longer to move the layers.

 

By selecting the [Layer] → [Layer Order] → [Top] menu, 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 clicking on a drawn part with the [Operation] → [Object] or [Select layer] tool, the layer of the drawing is automatically selected.

 

When you specify an area by dragging [Select layer], all layers, including the 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-click 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.