This article is based on the tablet version of Clip Studio Paint.

PC users should refer to the explanation for Studio Mode.

The layout of menu commands may vary in the smartphone version.

One of the biggest advantages of digital drawing is the level of freedom it offers for editing and adjusting drawn parts later.

Using selection areas to transform your work is frequently used in digital art.

 

Creating a selection area

If you want to draw, adjust, or correct specific areas within an artwork or layer, start by selecting that area using the Selection area tool.

 

Studio Mode

Use the subtools in the Selection area tool under the Tool palette, or use the Selection area menu, if you want to manipulate the entire canvas.

 

The area enclosed by the Selection area tool will be highlighted with a dashed line. While the dashed line is visible, you will only be able to edit and paint within the selected area.

 

After making all adjustments, please remember to deselect the selection.

 

Sub Tools that can create a selection area

The Lasso and Polyline sub tools can be used for more precise selections.

 

The Rectangle and Ellipse sub tools will select an area using geometric shapes.

 

The Selection pen sub tool will select the area you paint over.

The Erase selection sub tool will erase the selection areas you paint over.

 

Selection areas are useful when making detailed adjustments such as adding finishing touches.

 

Simple Mode

Select Selection area from the Toolbar and set the selection type and method in the launcher displayed at the bottom center.

 

Selection area types

You can choose from Lasso, Rectangle, and Circle.

To increase the area, set it to Add to selection and then tap the part you want to add.

Contrarily, if you want to deselect a part of the selection, select Remove from selection before tapping.

 

Transforming your drawing

When drawing with traditional mediums, you may need to erase and redraw portions of your drawing to adjust its size and/or angle. In digital painting, you can directly apply transformations. Transforming is often used to clean up the composition of a sketch or to make small edits to illustrations during the final stages.

 

Select the area you want to transform before using this function.

 

Studio Mode 

Changing size and position with Scale/Rotate & Free Transform

Select the layers or sections you want to transform using the Selection area tools, and choose Scale/Rotate from the Selection Launcher displayed below the selected area.

 

You can transform the area by dragging the handles at the corners and edges. The above method will maintain the original aspect ratio. To change it, open the Tool Property palette and disable Keep aspect ratio.

 

Further, if you want to freely move and transform the handle, change the Mode to Free Transform.

 

You can also save the selected area as a layer. For more details, please check here.

 

Adjusting patterns using Mesh Transformation

Use Mesh Transformation to transform a pattern to fit around a character or small object.

 

Create a selection area slightly larger than the part you want to transform, then go to Edit > Transform > Mesh Transformation.

 

Set the number of grid points for Mesh Transformation in the Tool Property palette. Increase the number of grid points to make finer adjustments.

Drag the mesh intersections to move them.

 

For more details on Mesh Transformation, please check this article.

 

Transform multiple layers with a brush using Liquify

Try using the Liquify tool to make fine adjustments to the size of the character's eyes or the face outline.

 

Select the Liquify tool from the Tool palette.

Select the layer you want to adjust, then trace the image on the canvas to distort it, similar to when using a brush to draw.

 

The effect can be adjusted in the Tool Property palette.

 

For more information on how to use the Liquify tool, please check this article.

 

Simple Mode

Changing size and position with Scale/Rotate & Free Transform

After creating a selection area, select Move/Transform from the launcher displayed at the bottom center, or select Move/Transform from the Toolbar.

 

You can rotate or scale up/down the area by dragging the light blue handle.

 

In addition, in the pop-up window you can deactivate Maintain ratio when transforming corners, switch to Free Transform, which lets you freely move the handle positions, or switch to Mesh Transform, which allows for precise transformation to match the shape of characters and accessories.

 

Free Transform

 

Mesh Transformation

 

Transform multiple layers with a brush using Liquify

Try using the Liquify tool to make fine adjustments to the size of the character's eyes or the face outline.

 

Select Liquify in the Tool toolbar. Tapping the icon again allows you to set the Mode and Strength.

 

It can be used in the same way as a pen or brush, which makes it intuitive to use. If you want to adjust both the line and coloring layers simultaneously, you can store them in a Layer Folder and then apply the effects to all layers within the folder.