Continuing from the previous lesson, we will explain how to use the selection layer.

 

In this lesson, we will introduce how to create a selection area using the drawing tool and some practical uses of selection layers.

 

 

[1] Converting to a selection layer and drawing

Use the selection layer to create the selection area using drawing tools such as the pen and brushes like drawing, and delete using the rubber or transparent color.

 

 

 

(1) Select [Convert to Selection Layer] from the [Selection] menu.

 

 

 

(2) A selection layer is created, so draw on using drawing tools.

When a transparent color is selected with a drawing tool or an eraser tool is used, you can erase the drawn parts.

 

 

 

(3) Double click the selection layer icon of the layer palette.

 

The drawn region becomes a selection.

 

[POINT]

Draw with gradient tools or watercolor brushes in the selection layer to create areas with different densities (= posterization).

When the selection area is reverted, the outlines of the selection are not displayed in parts where the color is faint. However, the selection area is actually present in all painted areas, not matter how faint they are.

 

Since the selection reflects the posterization, filling it with a solid color will also properly reflect the density of the gradation used.

 

When the selected area is reverted from the selection layer drawn in with the gradient, and filled, it is also filled with a gradient.

 

The same is true for the selections of layers drawn on with tools that apply blur such as watercolors.

 

[POINT] The difference between quick mask

With a selection area created, select the [Selection Area] menu → [Quick Mask] to create a “quick mask” layer with the selected area filled in red.

Similarly, for quick masks you can add and delete the selected area by drawing it.

 

Select [Selection Area] menu → [Quick Mask] again to revert the part drawn on the quick mask to the selected area. At this time, the quick mask layer is deleted.

Similarly to the selection layer, click the thumbnail in the [Layer] palette to use functions, such as adding, deleting or reverting the selection area.

Multiple quick mask layers cannot be created, nor can they be saved. Therefore, they are only suitable for creating selection areas that are only used once.

 

[POINT]

Select the selection layer and quick mask layer, and click [Layer color] in the [Layer Property] palette to change the color of the selection layer to the color selected at the moment, or another random color.

 

[2] Putting things into practice

This part will introduce a practical technique using the selection layer.

 

・Painting clothes in different colors

A selection layer saves a selection area, making it operable with different functions such as reverting, adding and multiplying.

 

For example, when painting the shadow on the cardigan shown below...

There is no problem filling in the shadow for the whole cardigan.

 

However, filling in the shadows of the arm and the back indidually will be complicated.

 

In that case, by stocking different selections of the arm and the whole selection area, it becomes easier to paint.

 

The shadows for the arm...

 

After selecting the whole cardigan,...

 

...double click and press the [Alt] key on the selection layer of the arm.

 

The selection area of the arm is deleted, and only the back part of the cardigan is selected.

 

You can paint the shadows of the back without worrying about the influence on other parts.

 

[POINT] Hiding the outlines of a selection area and the selection launcher temporarily.

Hide the outlines of the dshed lines indicating the selection area (Selection border) temporarily.

 

Choose [Selection Border] in the [View] menu.

 

With that, the selection border is hidden temporarily.

 

• Changing the selection, such as by adding or transforming it, reverts the settings back to displaying the outlines of the selection.

 

The selection is hidden, but the functionality as a selection still exists.

 

In the same way, the selection launcher can be hidden.

 

Choose [Selection Launcher] in the [View] menu.

 

With that, the selection launcher is hidden.

It will remain hidden even if the selection area is edited.

 

 

 

・Selections to close large gaps

 

Use the selection layer function to easily create a selection.

 

As the selection area can be created by drawing, it is useful when there are very big gaps that are hard to deal with, with tools such as the [Auto select] tool.

 

In the example below, lines of the bangs have large spaces in between them, so even if [Close gap] is set to maximum for the auto select tool, the selection area of the hair remains unfilled.

 

So, to create a selection layer and close the gaps in the hair is is easier to using the pen tool.

 

Now fill the hair with “Close and fill” or “Refer other layers”.

 

Since the gaps have been closed beforehand, the color will not overflow.

Like that, a selection layer with only the hair parts filled has been created.

 

Even if filled by mistake, it is easy to erase using the [Eraser] tool or another pen or brush tool with transparent color.

 

The selection layer is useful to fill different parts, and create and save complicated selections. Why not try using it for drawing?

 

 

 

[Artist profile] 井藤シュークリーム (Itou Chou-Cream)

I quit my job to become a manga artist, and now work as a manga assistant.

I am working continuously to master CLIP STUDIO. I believe there will be a revolution in CLIP STUDIO’s manga functions.