Introduction

Hello! My name is Hira Karmachela a.k.a BABE ODED. In this post I will share my experience in creating profile icon/picture with multiple traits using Clip Studio Paint. I am sure, all of you who are reading this article know very well about the current trend of profile icon. This post guides us to create a multiple traits profile icon which technically allows us to create many variations of profile icon from a single project.

 

I hope this post will be interesting tips for those of you who are looking for creating profile icon with multiple traits using CSP.

About Profile Icon/Picture

Profile icon or also known as profile picture (PFP), technically is used as a complementary visual identity on various social media platforms. The images used do not always have to be self-portraits from photography, but can be in the form of figure illustrations in a surreal or cartoon style that display expressions or images from the account user.

 

Recently, profile icon or PFP has become very popular with netizens. Technological developments, especially in the use of social media, have made this profile icon the initial identity to attract interaction with fellow users. In fact, profile icon has become a separate market that is traded and collected by many social media users.

#1 Understanding the Concept of Traits in Profile Icon

Traits in profile icon refer to the variety of attributes used by characters in the image. Technically, the smallest details in a figure in a drawing can be considered properties as long as they are created on separate layers. So in concept, this trait can be used and combined with various other properties to produce a variety of figure appearances.

The traits of profile icon can be in the form of various background colors, various head shapes, hair colors, various types of clothing, and many more according to our creations.

#2 Developing Ideas

There are many interesting references about the profile icon design that we can see through popular accounts on social media. But of course it's best to develop your own ideas and express yourself through them.

Technically, profile icon will display a portrait of a figure. Therefore, it is highly recommended to be able to display the expression of the figure to be made. The type of shot that is most suitable for this need is a Close Up or Medium Shot which shows the head to the upper chest of the figure. It is important to remember that profile icon will be displayed in a very small size on social media platforms. So, try to think of an idea that is minimalist but has an appeal.

Another thing to consider is the point of view of the figure. Most common to display the figure in front view. But we can consider a different appeal by displaying a side view, a three-quarter view, even a rear view.

After that, decide which illustration style to use. You can use realistic, surreal, cartoon, or pixel art illustration styles.

#3 Setting Document and Layout

Without further ado, let's open CSP and start creating your profile icon. Go to File menu > New.

A new window will appear. Profile icon requires dimensions with box shape so we set the width and height custom. The size doesn't need to be too big even some social media platforms will readjust the uploaded images according to their storage. For that, I recommend using the dimensions 1080px for the width and 1080px for the height as well.

For the resolution, just set it at 72 dpi because we are making images for digital needs only. But you can consider a higher resolution if there is a need for printing.

The canvas is ready, then we set the grid to determine the layout of the figure that we will create. Go to the View menu > Grid.

An imaginary grid or lines will appear on the canvas. Looks very annoying because there are too many lines. Don't worry, we can adjust the number of grids by going to the View menu > Grid/Ruler Bar Setting.

A new window appears. Set the start point of the grid/ruler bar to Center. Then set the gap between the grids to 1000px and the number of divisions to 5. Click OK to confirm.

Perfect. One more thing that needs to be prepared in this session is an imaginary circle as an illustration for us when this profile icon is posted on social media. Most social media platforms display profile icon in the form of a circle so it is possible that some parts are cut off if we don't consider it from the start.

Select the "Paper" layer in the layers panel. Then select the "Ruler" tool and select the "Figure ruler" sub-tool.

In the Tool property panel, select the circle shape in the figure section then check the "Aspect type" option and select the pixel for the unit. At the bottom set the dimensions of the imaginary circle to 1080 by 1080.

Before placing it on the canvas, we set the circle to be directly centered. To do this, click the settings icon in the lower right corner of the Tool property.

A new window appears. Select the Shape operation section then check the "Start from center" option. Close the settings window.

Now place the imaginary circle on the canvas. Point the pointer to the center of the grid then left click. An imaginary circle will appear with a purple stroke. This circle doesn't really exist and is just a guide so there's no need to delete it at the end.

#4 Using 3D Materials as Reference

This session is optional but will still be very helpful for those of you who are advanced or new to point-of-view depiction of a figure. For those of you who are still confused about how to draw good figure proportions from the front, side, or other views, you can use 3D materials as a reference.

Just practice going to the Window menu > Material > Material [3D].

The Materials panel will expand to the right of the screen. Select "Body type" then select and hold down on the available 3D drawing figure assets. If by any chance this asset is not available on your CSP then you need to download it first. If it is available, then you just place it on the canvas.

Collapse the Materials panel so it doesn't block the canvas. The 3D asset will appear on the canvas in full body condition. We can adjust it so that it seems to fit our needs.

Select the preset angle icon at the bottom of the figure. A new window will appear. You can choose the available angles and the figure will immediately be displayed according to the selected angle on the canvas.

You can choose a front view, a left or right side view, a three-quarter view, and even a rear view according to the profile icon concept that you have set.

Once you have selected the appropriate angle, it is highly recommended to rearrange the figures to fit the desired layout for profile icon needs.

Leave space at the top of the head so that we can design hair or hats freely. It is also important to leave space on the left and right. Select the "Paper" layer so we can see the space left when the figure is displayed in a circle frame.

When this 3D asset is finished setting up, then select the material layer in the layers panel. Then set the opacity of the layer to 50% so that this layer is comfortable to use as a reference for drawing.

#5 Organizing Traits as Layers

Before starting to draw a figure, we should first organize the need for traits using a layer system. Create a layer folder with the same number of traits as you have designed and name each folder according to the trait names. For example, I designed a number of traits with the following names: Background, Skin, Clothes, Head, and Special.

Go to the Layer menu > New Layer Folder. You will see a folder in the layers panel. This folder can be filled with new layers or existing layers.

Rename the layer folder by select the layer folder "Folder 1" then go to the Layer menu > Layer Settings > Change Layer Name.

A new window appears. Type the trait name for the layer folder. I gave an example to create a "Background" layer folder.

To make it easier to organize visually because we will have many layer folders and many layers in it, I suggest using a color palette for each layer folder with a different color. The method is very easy, just choose a color in the color palette button in the layers panel.

Here's a list of layer folders that represent each trait I designed for my profile icon. It's important to visually sort the layer folders in their order. The last image on the canvas is placed on the bottom layer (eg Background layer) and the front image on the canvas is placed on the top layer.

#6 Drawing The Figure Traits

The next process is the drawing of the figure. This process can be done in many ways, both technically, stylistically, and procedurally. But in principle, the figure is made partially according to the distribution of predetermined properties.

 

To start with, you can sketch the overall appearance of the figure to be created on "Layer 1" which is outside the layer folders. You can use the pencil or pen tool to make a sketch. Use the 3D assets on the layer below it as a reference.

Next, you can create a new layer in each layer folder to vary the traits. To create a new layer in a folder is very easy. Select the layer folder then go to the Layer menu > New Layer > Raster Layer.

A new window appears. Type the attribute name for the trait.

For example, the "Background" layer contains only solid colors or color gradients. Its function is only as the background of our profile icon. In this post, I created five variations of this trait using solid colors with the following attribute names: Timberwolf, Sunset Orange, Sunglow, Sky Blue, and Screamin Green.

On top of it, I created a "Skin" layer containing the figure's body from neck to upper chest without any clothes on. For this trait I only made three variations, here are the attribute names: Froggie, Beast, and Human.

The next layer above it, I created a "Clothes" layer which is a variation of the clothes that will cover the body of the figure. For this trait I created three variations with the following attribute names: Swimwear, Glossy Jacket, and Black Suit.

The next layer above it, I created a "Head" layer which is a variation of the object that becomes the head of the figure. Conceptually, I made it disconnected from the figure's body. For this trait I created five variations with the following attribute names: Big Mouth, Porthole, Coconut, Drawing Board, and Hollow Face.

The top layer, I made a "Special" layer which contains objects that are accessories or ornaments that decorate the appearance or expression of the figure. For this trait I created four variations with the following attribute names: Tentacle Hand, Sand Hand, Voxel Hand, and Idle Hand.

That's all the layer arrangement that I made as an example in creating a profile icon with multiple traits. Of course, you can freely add layers/traits and attribute variations for each trait according to the concept you want. Next, we can combine each attribute in each trait/layer to generate various possible profile icons.

#7 Generating and Exporting The Profile Icons

Finally we come to the long awaited session. After all the traits are created and arranged in such a way with the layer system, then now we can start combining each trait and generating them into various profile icons.

 

It's very easy. We only need to show the trait layers we want to reveal and hide the remaining trait layers. Try to experiment to combine one trait attribute with another trait attribute.

Once you've generated an interesting combination of traits, you're ready to export them into a profile icon. I recommend saving it in PNG format which is able to save images well for digital needs and web publications in small data sizes. Go to the File menu > Export (Single Layer) > PNG.

 

The save window appears. Select the storage directory then type the file name.

Before the file is saved, the settings window will appear first. Here you can set your file storage requirements. For now keep the settings by default. Then click OK.

You can also save the file in a smaller size for comparison only when the profile icon is installed on social media platforms. When the file storage settings window appears. Change the image scale ratio to the size you need. For example, below I change the image scale ratio to 5% from 1080px by 1080px so that the image to be saved will be 54px by 54px.

#9 The Final Result

From the attribute variations on each trait/layer that I created in this post, I generated some interesting profile icons. In principle, the more the number of traits and attributes in each trait, then you can generate more trait and attribute combinations to be used as various profile icons.

OK! That's all I can share. Hope it is useful and please support me to make more tips.

See ya.