By importing an image file as a file object, any updates to the file will be linked and displayed on the canvas.

Reflecting your design in progress in your illustration

You can paste your design in progress from a separate canvas onto an illustration, and later update or replace it.

It can be used when illustration and design work are being developed independently.

You can make changes even if applying a layer color or distorting it using perspective.

You can also place multiples of the same file object onto the canvas and update them all at once.

1. Creating a file object

File objects can be created by importing image files or by converting layers within the canvas.

The created file object will be treated as a file object layer on the Layer palette.

Import an image file as a file object

Select File menu > Import > Create file object.

Select the image you want to import as a file object.

Supported image file formats for importing are Clip Studio Format (.clip) files, BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, Targa, Adobe Photoshop Document (.psd), and Adobe Photoshop Big Document (.psb).

A file object layer will be created on the Layer palette, and the image of the imported file will be displayed on the canvas.

Convert layers into a file objects

Convert the selected layer on the Layer palette into a file object.

You can also combine multiple layers into a single file object.

This is helpful for reducing the number of layers to save file size or managing content by dividing it into different clip files.

Select Layer menu > File object > Convert layer to file object.

The Convert layer to file object dialog will be displayed.

Set the conversion range and method, then tap OK.

1 - Area

You can specify the area you want to export to another file from Canvas Size, Drawing area, or Selection Area.

2 - Copy paper settings

You can add a paper layer in the exported file with the same settings as the canvas you are working on. The settings of the paper layer are reflected in the converted file object layer, so the transparent parts of the layer will be converted to the color of the paper layer.

3 - Copy crop marks/inner border settings

If you have a canvas that includes crop marks or an inner border, you can create a file with the same settings as the canvas you are working on for them. When turned on, the crop marks and inner border will be reflected on the file object layer.

Note: It is enabled when Area is set to Canvas Size.

4 - Keep original layer

When turned on, you can create a file object layer while keeping the original layer.

Images converted to file objects are saved in the clip file format.

You can specify the save destination in the dialog box anywhere on your device.

2. Editing a file object

Open file

To edit the contents of a file object directly, open the referenced image file.

Select the file object layer on the Layer palette and choose Layer menu > File object > Open file of file object.

To directly confirm the save destination of the file object, select Layer menu > File object > Open folder of file object.

Update file

You can update a file object layer to reflect edits made to the referenced file.

Select the file object layer from the Layer palette, then choose Layer menu > File object > Update file object to update the displayed file object layer.

If there are multiple file object layers, executing Update all file objects will update them all at once.

Change file

You can also change the reference of a file object to link it to another image file.

Select the file object layer from the Layer palette then select Layer menu > File object > Change file of file object to replace the file that is referenced by the file object layer.

Note:

File objects are identified by recording their specific locations on the device.

When you select a file object on the canvas whose save location has been changed, the Tool Property palette will display the Status as Unable to find file.

In this case, execute Change file of file object and specify a new save location.

3. Operating a file object

The file object layer can be manipulated using the Object subtool.

You can distort the image material layer by manipulating the handle.

You can perform more detailed transformations using the Tool Property palette.

Note:

Since it maintains a reference to the image, the image of the file object will not deteriorate, even when it is transformed repeatedly.

You can return to the original state by pressing Reset transformation in the Tool Property palette even after tranformation.

4. Viewing file objects

If the referenced image is a clip file, you can choose how to display it based on the information contained in the file.

After selecting the file object layer using the Object sub tool, you can perform operations from the Tool Property palette.

Rendering settings

When you import a clip file as a file object, you can open the Rendering settings and select the following display options.

1 - Fit to resolution of canvas

When turned on, the resolution (dpi) of the file object will be changed to match the resolution (dpi) of the canvas.

For example, if the resolution of the canvas is 300dpi and the resolution of the file object is 600dpi, the display size of the file object will be reduced by half.

When loading a file object that contains toned layers onto a canvas with a different resolution, you can prevent moiré by turning on Fit to resolution of canvas to align the dot size.

2 - Draw paper

Toggles the visibility of the paper layer in the file object.

3 - Draw tones in gray

Toggles the display of tone layers contained in file objects.

Frame on the timeline

This is enabled when a clip file with the timeline enabled is converted into a file object.

Use this when you want to use a single frame from an animation as a material.

Select a timeline in Timeline and use the Display frame slider to select the desired frame you want to display.

Layer Comps

Enable it by converting the clip file that creates a layer comp into a file object.

Select the layer comp name from the Layer Comp tab.

For more information on how to use Layer Comps, please check the following article.