Generally, lines in animation are drawn to be consistent between cels. At first, it will be difficult to match the line width and strength between cels. Remember to keep practicing until you can draw the lines you want.

 

[1] Line drawing tools

In the past, professional anime studios drew genga with a pencil and transferred them to cels using specialized equipment. In CLIP STUDIO PAINT, the [Pen] tool is better suited than the [Pencil] tool due to its uniform density.

 

[2] Let’s trace

Animation often involves tracing the lines of other cels. Here, we will look at how to trace a long line.

 

1. We will trace the lines of the clothes shown below using the [Pen] tool’s [G-pen] Tool.

 

2. Rotate the canvas to a comfortable drawing angle by clicking the [Navigator] palette’s [Rotate Right] and [Rotate Left].

 

3. Draw the line in several long strokes. When drawing the first line, make sure that the line tapers. This makes it easier to connect the next stroke.

If you find it difficult, practice the stroke a few times to convert the motion to muscle memory.

 

Notes

In Japanese, tapers at the beginning and end of a stroke are called “irinuki” (Japanese: 入り抜き).

 

4. Draw a second stroke over the tapered first stroke and match the thickness.

 

5. Repeat this for the third and forth strokes while rotating the canvas and matching the thickness.

Third stroke

Forth stroke

 

The line is complete.

 

[3] Adjusting drawn lines

Correct line width

Using tools and filters, line width can be adjusted.

 

1. When using tools to adjust line width, select the [Correct line width] sub tool from the [Correct line] tool. Make selections as if painting over them.

Adjust the results of the [Correct line width] sub tool from the [Tool Property] palette.

 

2. Line width can also be adjusted from from [Filter] menu → [Correct drawing line] → [Correct line width].

 

Adjusting with vector layers

With CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO or EX, you can draw lines on vector layers. Lines drawn on vector layers have control points. A line’s shape and thickness can be changed by controlling these points.

 

1. Before drawing, convert the cel from a raster layer to a vector layer.

 

2. Select [Convert Layer] from the [Layer] menu. When the [Convert Layer] dialog opens, select [Vector layer] from [Type]. Now you can draw on the vector layer.

 

3. Lines can be drawn on vector layers just like raster layers.

 

4. The [Control point] sub tool in the [Correct line] tool can make edits to control points such as moving and deleting.

 

When using the [Control point] sub tool, change the [Content of process] with the [Tool property] palette.

 

5. The [Pinch vector line] sub tool can pinch and adjust drawn lines.

 

6. The [Connect vector line] tool can connect separate lines.