Continuing from the previous lesson, this lesson will explain how create a frame border step by step.

If you have not read the previous lesson “How to make a basic frame border1”, please read it before proceeding.

 

The basic frame border has been completed. The next step is to divide it into frames, but we will take a short detour and explain the Frame border folder first.

 

[1] Frame Border Folders

Frame border folders are layer folders exclusive to frame borders.

They mainly have two functions.

 

 

 

■1. Masking the outside of the frame

 

Pictures drawn on layers in the frame border folder are masked at the frame border, and will not be displayed outside of the border.

 

By deselecting the [Layer] palettes’ “Enable Mask” option or clicking on the layer palettes’ layer mask thumbnail while pressing [Shift], the mask will be disabled and will display content outside of the border.

 

The purple mask that is displayed when the folder is selected can be hidden by deselecting the [Layer] palettes’ “Show Mask Area” option or clicking on the layer palettes’ layer mask thumbnail while pressing [Alt].

This will not enable/disable the mask itself.

 

A frame border folder will draw a frame border on the edge of the mask, and create a ruler.

While normal layer folders can create layer masks as well, they cannot draw lines on the masks’ border or create a ruler automatically.

 

[POINT]

Unlike normal layer masks, frame border folder masks cannot be edited with drawing tools.

 

 

 

■2. Freely editing frame shapes and borders

 

Frames’ shapes, positions, and border lines can be freely moved. Line width and line type can also be freely edited. As border lines are vectors, they can be scaled up/down and transformed without any loss in quality.

 

Additionally, border lines can be drawn by snapping drawing tools to the border line ruler.

• Specific ways to edit border lines will be explained in following sections.

 

[2] How to divide frames.

There are two ways to divide frames: dividing the frame border folder into multiple folders, and dividing one frame border into multiple frames.

Both are equally viable ways to make frames, but they each have the following characteristics.

 

・Multiple frame border folders

As each frame’s contents are contained in separate frame border folder, there is no need to consider other frames when editing.

When working as a group, specific frames can easily be shared by simply copying and pasting the frame to another file.

 

・Single frame border folders

Layer management becomes easier, as each line art, inking and tone layer can be managed with one layer.

 

 

 

■1. Divide each frame border folder

 

Select [Frame Border] tool→ [Cut frame border] sub tool group → [Divide frame folder] sub tool.

 

When dividing with [Divide frame folder], the frame border folder is divided along with its contained layers.

 

By setting [Tool Property]→[Dividing method] to [Create empty folder] and dividing frames, the frame border folder will be duplicated without its contained layers.

 

 

 

■2. Only divide frame borders

 

Select the [Frame Border] tool →[Cut frame border] sub tool→[Divide frame border] sub tool.

 

 

 

When dividing with [Divide frame folder], multiple frame borders are created inside one frame border folder, as the original frame border folder’s border lines are being divided.

 

 

 

However, frame spacing and frame borders will still be masked.

 

[3] Dividing frames

Let us return to creating frame borders and divide the newly created frame border.

 

As the space between frames is determined in the [Tool Property] palette with [Horizontal gutter], [Vertical gutter] settings with both [Divide frame folder] tools, it is necessary to set these values beforehand.

 

[POINT]

When [Space of frame border in preference] in the [Tool Property] palette is selected, frames will be divided based on the width specified in [File] menu→[Preferences]→[Layer/Frame]→[Frame Border].

 

By clicking inside of a frame with [Divide frame folder], the frame can be divided horizontally.

 

By dragging inside of a frame, the frame can be divided to a position and angle of choice.

Depending on the angle of the border line, the width between frames will be the [Horizontal gutter] or [Vertical gutter] value set in the [Tool Property] palette.

 

Borders can be divided horizontally, vertically, and in 45 degree steps by dragging while pressing with the [Shift] key.

 

[POINT]

The step angle when pressing [Shift] and dragging, can be set in [Sub Tool Detail]→[Step of angle].

Additionally, step angles can be kept on by selecting the check box.

 

When dividing frames in the same length for comic strips or WEB comics, use [Layer] menu →[Ruler - Frame]→[Divide frame border equally].

To join divided frames, use [Layer]→[Ruler - Frame]→[Combine frames] while selecting more than two frame border folders that you want to join.

 

This concludes frame splitting.