CLIP STUDIO TIPS

Methods to apply screentones

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FrancoLeonardo

INTRODUCTION

Different ways to apply screentones for manga/comic will be explained in this tutorial. In addition, some basic concepts about frames will be explained so that you obtain the necessary information before starting to work with them.

But before we start, what are plots?

1. WHAT ARE PLOTS?

Screentones, halftone dots or screentones are a technique for applying textures and shadows to drawings that are used mainly in comics and manga. In addition, thanks to the different types of patterns that exist, feelings and emotions can be transmitted that would otherwise be difficult to express.

In the traditional process, the screens are prepared in pre-printed sheets that are adhered to the paper to add the different shades of gray. Fortunately, and thanks to technology, we can simulate this technique digitally.

However, as we well know, manga is worked and printed in monochrome, that is, it manages only 2 colors, in this case black and white. Then you may ask, why do we see shades of gray in manga if they are only produced in black and white?

Well, this is due to the plots, which are generally made up of black dots of different sizes and thicknesses that form a pattern that deceives the eye by faking that sensation of gray that we see in manga pages.

In the example below you can appreciate it much better.

Ⓐ On the left you can see the dots much smaller and a little further away, giving that appearance of a gray tone that our eye perceives.

Ⓑ On the right you can see how the dots look when viewed from very close up.

2. APPLY FILMS FROM [Floating Selection Menu]

This method applies patterns by previously making a selection, taking advantage of the [New Pattern] icon that appears in the selection flyout menu.

Here are the steps to follow:

① Once you have your drawing ready, select the area you want to apply the pattern to.

You can make this selection in different ways:

1.- By means of the different sub-tools of the [Selection] tool window.

2.- Using the [Automatic selection] tool.

3.- Or through [Quick mask].

② Once the selection is made, a floating menu will appear with a series of options. Click the [New Pattern] icon.

When you click the [New Pattern] icon, a box named [Simple Pattern Settings] will appear.

*While holding the selection, you can perform this same step from the [Layer] menu → [New Layer] → [Screen]. The same [Simple Screen Settings] box will appear immediately.

In the [Simple Screen Settings] box, you can make a number of settings.

Each one will be explained in a simple way below.

Ⓐ Frequency

Refers to the size and number of halftone screen dots. The larger the value, the smaller the point size, and the smaller the value, the smaller the size and number of points.

Usually the standard frequency for manga is set to 60.0. Of course you are free to choose the frequency you prefer, but be aware that you run the risk of Moirè effect.

Ⓑ Density

Sets the density of the pattern. The smaller the number, the lighter the pattern and vice versa. You can adjust the density of the pattern by changing the number with the slider.

Changes the shape of the dots in the plot to different shapes available. CLIP STUDIO PAINT puts at your disposal more than twenty different types, feel free to experiment and use the one you like the most.

Ⓓ Angle

Changes the angle of the plot points. The default set angle is 45 degrees, but you can adjust the angle as much as you like, but be aware that you risk getting Moiré.

③ Once you are satisfied with the appearance of the patterns you can click the [OK] button.

④ Instantly the selected area will be covered using the screen tone with the specifications you have chosen.

3. APPLY FILTERS FROM THE [Layer Property] WINDOW

This method will convert your layer into screen tones.

Here are the steps to follow:

① Set the [Expression Color] of the layer to [Gray].

② With the shade of gray you want, paint the area you want to apply the pattern to.

③ Go to the [Layer Property] window. You can find it in the palette on the right of your screen, or by accessing it from the [Window] menu → [Layer Property] if it is not displayed on the screen. This symbol [ ✓ ] will specify whether the window is active or not.

④ From the [Effect] options, select the [Screen] icon.

⑤ Clicking the [Screen] icon will display a series of options just below. Here are the settings you can make.

Essentially, these settings are the same as explained above, with one small difference.

Ⓐ Frequency

Refers to the size and number of halftone screen dots. The larger the value, the smaller the point size, and the smaller the value, the smaller the size and number of points.

Ⓑ Density

In this section, which, as we mentioned before, specifies the density of the plot, we find two different options.

① Use image color

Selecting this option will set the raster density to the colors of the image. The lighter the color, the less visible the pattern will be. On the contrary, if the color is darker, the more visible the pattern will be.

② Use image brightness

Selecting this option will set the raster density based on the brightness of the image. The blank spaces in the pattern will show through and the bottom layer will be visible.

Changes the shape of the dots in the plot to different shapes available. In addition to circles, you can choose other shapes such as squares, lines, stars, among others.

⑥ The setting you have decided on will be displayed on the screen, and the shade of gray will have changed to the pattern you specified.

4. APPLY SCREENS FROM THE [Material] PALETTE

This method applies screens using the tones available on the [Material] palette.

Here are the steps to follow:

① Once you have your drawing ready, select the area you want to apply the pattern to.

② After making the selection, go to the [Material] palette. You can find it in the vertical palette on the right of your screen, or by accessing it from the [Window] menu → [Material] if it is not displayed on the screen.

③ With the [Material] palette open, click [Monochrome Patterns] and select the pattern you want to apply.

*CLIP STUDIO PAINT offers a wide variety of materials that you can use for free, but if you wish, you can download an even wider variety from CLIP STUDIO ASSETS.

④ By dragging and dropping it onto the canvas, the chosen pattern will automatically be applied to the selected area. You can also apply the chosen pattern by clicking the [Paste Material] icon.

*In case you have not previously selected any area, the pattern will be pasted over the entire canvas surface if it is dragged and dropped from the [Material] palette.

5. APPLY SCREENS WITH THE [Manga Gradient] TOOL

This method applies patterns using the [Manga Gradient] tool.

Here are the steps to follow:

① Once you have your drawing ready, select the area you want to apply the pattern to.

② After making the selection, go to the [Gradient] tool. You can find it in the vertical palette on the left of your screen.

③ Then select the [Manga Gradient] sub tool.

In the "Tool Property [Manga Gradient]" palette, you can modify the parameters as you like. Each one will be explained in a simple way below.

Ⓐ Shape

Select the shape of the gradient and decide if its direction will be linear, circular or oval.

Ⓑ Edge processing

Determines the type of gradient pattern created by the tool.

If on, locks the gradient type along a specified angle increment.

Ⓓ Opacity

Sets the transparency at which the gradient will be created. The higher the value, the more opaque the gradient will be from its start. Conversely, the smaller the value, the more transparent the gradient will be from its start.

④ Clicking will define the starting point of the gradient.

⑤ Dragging will set the end point within the selected area.

⑥ Once decided, release to apply the gradient.

*Remember that whenever you want you can modify the gradient with the [Operation] tool.

Click the [Operation] tool and select the [Object] sub tool.

In the "Tool Property [Object]" palette, you can modify the parameters as much as you like by applying the knowledge gained earlier.

6. MODIFY, DELETE, ADD AND SCRATCH FILMS

⦁ MODIFY

Remember that once patterns are applied, regardless of the method you used to do so, you can modify them from the [Layer Properties] palette.

As we pointed out before, you can find it in the palette located on the right of your screen, there you can make any type of modification with the previously shared knowledge about the different sections of the [Layer Properties] palette.

In essence, these settings are the same as explained above, with a few additions.

Ⓐ Effect

When you click [Screen] again, the screen in question disappears and is replaced by a color equivalent to the density of the set screen.

On the other hand [Layer Color], as its name indicates, changes the color of the selected layer.

You can also change the effect range of the raster using the two available options, [Image] and [Mask Image].

Ⓑ Frequency

You can set the number of halftone screen dots. The larger the value, the smaller the point size, and the smaller the value, the smaller the size and number of points.

You can make adjustments to the density of the pattern. You can change the number with the slider freely, so if you want the pattern to be lighter decrease the number, conversely if you want the pattern to be darker increase the number.

Ⓓ Point Settings

Changes the shape of the dots in the plot to different shapes available. In addition to circles, you can choose other shapes such as squares, lines, stars, among others.

Ⓔ How to apply

You can change the mask expression. The [None] option does not allow gradients. In contrast, the [Yes] option will allow a gradient to blur brushes.

⦁ DELETE

You can erase the previously created pattern by deleting the unwanted parts.

① For this you can use the [Eraser] tool to remove the parts of the pattern you want to remove.

② You can also use any drawing tool and erase by selecting the transparent color.

③ In the same way, by selecting an area of the drawing using any [Selection] tool and pressing the [Delete] icon, or if you prefer, through [Edit] → [Delete], you can delete the unwanted parts.

⦁ ADD

You can add the previously created pattern by drawing the desired parts.

① Select the drawing tool you like and paint the area where you want to add the previously created pattern.

② You can also use the [Fill] tool on the same layer to apply patterns.

③ Or if you prefer, you can do it by selecting an area of the drawing using any [Selection] tool and filling it through the [Edit] menu → [Fill].

*The pattern will be applied immediately, as long as you choose any color other than transparent.

⦁ SCRATCH WEFTS

Scratching or scraping wefts refers to a technique used in manga to get different results, such as creating a gradient effect, getting a different texture, and so on.

In essence, it consists of scraping the wefts with the cutter to obtain a specific result. Traditionally, two different parts of the blade of a craft cutter are used, which are the bevel of the tip and the tip, to scrape off the adhesive pattern.

In CLIP STUDIO PAINT you have at your disposal different tools that emulate this feeling:

① If you go to the [Decoration] tool and select the [Lattice] sub tool, you can find brushes such as [Scratch Lattice] or [Chiffon Cloud].

② You can also find a brush named [Scratch Tone] inside the [Airbrush] tool.

③ Also, if you want, you can use the drawing tool you like and do the scraping manually.

*If [Posterization] on the [Layer Property] palette is set to [None], strokes from tools such as [Airbrush], [Brush], or [Pencil] will not maintain their blur functionality. If you want to keep the functionality of this type of brush, go to the [Posterization] section of the [Layer Property] palette, and change it to [Yes].

To scratch a pattern choose any of the tools mentioned above with a transparent color and, within the same layer you want to modify, apply the scratch.