When drawing comics using Clip Studio Paint, the [Text] tool is used to enter characters (text).

Here we will introduce the basics of character input and editing, using how to add text to a text balloon as an example.

 

Note: For how to use text settings such as changing the font and size or setting readings, refer to [How to use text tools (settings)].

 

 

Entering characters (text)

This section covers how to enter and edit text.

There are two main ways to enter text: Wrap text at line break and Wrap text at frame (PRO/EX).

 

 

 

1. Wrap text at line break

 

This method is the basic input method for entering text into balloons, etc.The position of the line break is determined by pressing [Enter].

 

1.) Select the text tool.

 

2.) Click where you want to place the text.

 

3.) Enter text

Type in your text. An outline is displayed around the text during the input. This is called a text frame.

 

 

4.) Confirming characters

Tapping the text frame you want to edit with the [Object] tool displays handles on it.

 

5.) Moving/Rotating Text frames

Text frames can be moved by tapping the line displayed around it and dragging, regardless of whether you are in the middle of entering or have confirmed the text.

 

Dragging the top control point of the text frame rotates the text.

 

Note: If text is entered with the [Wrap text at line break] method, it is possible to change the character size by dragging the handles of the text frame.

 

 

 

2. Create text box (PRO/EX) and use Wrap text at frame

 

This method is suitable for entering long sentences or paragraphs, such as monologues. Text entered when creating a text box will break lines automatically to match the frame. As with the first method, the line break can be applied in any location.

 

1.) Select the [Text] tool and drag on the canvas. The size of the rectangle displayed when dragging becomes the size of the text box.

 

2.) Enter text into the text box. For this text box, dragging the handles changes only the size of the frame. The font size does not change even if the frame size is changed, differing from “1. Wrap text at line break”.

 

As you continue to enter the text, the text wraps to fit the frame size. Changing the size of the text frame alters the position of line break.

If the size of the frame is changed, or there is a lot of text, text overflowing from the frame will not be visible. Make sure to check that all of the entered characters are visible.

 

Changing line break settings

The text frame settings in the previous sections, 1. Wrap text at line break and 2. Create text box (PRO/EX) and use Wrap text at frame, can be changed in the [Sub Tool Detail] palette of the [Text] tool.

If [Wrap text at frame] is on, the text will become a text box. If [Wrap text at frame] is off, the text will wrap at line breaks.

For details on how to select text frames, see the below section 6. "How to edit single and multiple text frames."

 

Text layers and text frames

The text frame manages entered characters collectively, while the text layer manages text frames. This section covers the relationship between these two.

 

Text frame containing text

 

The outline displayed around characters when they are entered with the [Text] tool is called a text frame. Characters (texts) are contained inside of it.

 

Text layers containing text frames

Multiple text frames can be stored on a single text layer.

 

Note: You cannot use tools, such as the [Pen] tool, to draw on text layers.

 

How to edit text frames

 

 

 

Combining multiple text layers

 

You can keep multiple text frames on a layer with the [Layer] menu > [Merge with layer below] or [Merge selected layers].

 

 

Note: If a layer other than a text layer is selected, all layers will be converted into an image layer (Raster layer) instead of a text layer. When converted to an image layer, text information will no longer be editable, therefore, be sure to check all layer types before merging them.

 

 

 

Choosing layers to create text frames on (PRO/EX)

 

When a text frame is created while entering text, it is possible to choose between creating a new text layer, or adding the text to an existing text layer from [Edit settings] > [How to add] in the [Sub Tool Detail] palette.

 

[Create layer always]

 

[Add to selected text]

 

 

[Detect position]

 

If comic frames are split using different border folders, tapping inside the frame border will create a text layer within the same frame border folder.

 

If the text is created by tapping outside that frame, however, the text layer will be created outside the corresponding frame border folder.

 

Note: If the text layer is moved to another frame border folder, the mask (purple parts) outside the frame border may hide the text. Please be aware of this when moving layers.

 

Editing text (Duplicate/Move/Delete)

Text can be edited based on individual [Characters] or individual [Text frames], but the tools used are different in each case.

 

 

 

Editing individual characters

 

1. How to select characters to edit

Using the [Text] tool, tap on the characters with the [Text] tool, which will highlight the text frame in green. Tapping again will display the text cursor. Then drag to select the desired characters.

 

2. Moving characters

 

 

3. Copying characters

 

 

 

 

Editing individual text frames

 

1. How to edit text frames

 

Using the [Object] sub tool, tap the text frame you want to edit with the [Object] sub tool displays handles on the selected text frame. Tap and drag from the inside of the frame to move the entire text frame.

 

When selected, you can adjust text settings, including font type and size, from the [Tool Property] and the [Sub Tool Detail] palette.

 

Tap and drag from the inside of the frame to move the entire text frame.

In addition, elements for adjusting the text are displayed in the [Tool Property] and the [Sub Tool Detail] palette. Here, the fonts and font sizes of each text frame can be changed.

 

2. Moving the layers of text frames

 

If the destination is a text layer, selecting [Edit] menu > [Paste] will move the text frame to the selected layer.

 

Note: If the text layer becomes empty when the [Cut] function is executed, a dialog will be displayed asking how you would like to handle the now empty layer.

 

In addition, when copying or cutting to paste a text in a different location, trying to paste the text frame on anything but a [Text] layer will create a new [Text] layer.

 

 

 

Copying text frames

 

Since the duplicated text frame is pasted in the same position as the original text, the position of it needs to be moved thereafter.

 

 

 

 

Deleting text frames

 

 

Transforming Text

Tapping the text frame you want to edit shows the [Mode] option.

 

・Scale/Rotate: Use the handles to scale the text up or down; Use the top control point to rotate.

・Scale: Use the handles to scale the text up or down.

・Rotate: Drag the handles or the top control point to rotate the text.

・Skew: Distorts text in a parallel direction.

In the [Sub Tool Detail] palette under [Transformation settings] you can set values for [Rotation angle], [Skew (horizontal)], and [Skew (vertical)].

 

How to edit single and multiple text frames

 

Starting with Ver. 2.0.0, [Apply to] has been added at the top of the [Tool Property] palette of the [Text] tool. If you change [Apply to] to [Selected], you can also use the [Text] tool to change the font, size, and other settings of the selected text frame.

[New only] is the same as in Ver. 1. The settings in the [Tool Property] and [Sub Tool Detail] palettes are applied only to newly created text. The settings of the currently selected text frame will not be changed.

 

[Selected] shows the settings of the [Tool Property] and [Sub Tool Detail] palettes for the currently selected text, and changes to the settings are shown in real-time in the text frame. The newly created text will have the same settings as the currently selected text frame. The sub tool settings are not changed.

 

Additionally, by selecting multiple text frames while holding down [Shift], you can change the font, size, and other settings of the selected text frames all at once.

 

Note: Selecting multiple text frames with a stylus pen

When dragging on the canvas with the [Text] tool, it is initially set to [Create Text Box], which can create [Wrap text at frame] text, but switching to [Select Text] makes it easier to select multiple text boxes, even with a stylus pen.