Introduction

Hello everyone, Ayda Fork here~

 

This tutorial will show you how to add shadows to your artwork with [shading assist]. You may instantly make stunning Lights and Shadows to develop fantastic, appealing illustrations with only one click! For us illustrators, this update saves so much time considering that I have never sketched so quickly before!

 

Now that Clip Studio Paint has a tool to simplify our lives, let us learn how to use it properly! All of these are simple techniques I used to create my own illustrations, and I hope they are helpful to you as well.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

1. Use the resources that are accessible!

As I have stated in my last tips, you may take advantage of the available assets such as 3D models that have already been included in your downloaded material, and create your character more easily using it in case you're having trouble with anatomy.

Now, when you've discovered your ideal poses, you may also alter the form and size of the 3D model you've chosen to create the right characteristic of your character the way you intended them to be.

Using this feature, you can easily change the body shape of the 3D model to the way you wanted whether she's overweight or fit to the bone, it's all up to you!

The following feature is the Light Source, which allows you to simply set the light source of your 3D model and can also help with shading later. If you're having trouble with light sources and shadows in your drawing, this cool feature will come in handy.

 

When shading your character, it's critical to understand where your light sources will intersect and where the shadow will darken the most, thus this feature comes in handy, especially if you're unfamiliar with the lighting and shadows aspect.

2. Create your character!

Create your character on top of the 3D model you created earlier. You may place the 3D model layer beneath or on top of the new layer where you drew your character. All you have to do is reduce the opacity till you can sketch comfortably.

Now that you've successfully created the character and colored it using basic coloring, let's go on to [Shading Assist]!

3. Using Shading Assist

To use [Shading Assist], you have to click on the [Edit] button and then choose [Shading Assist] but before that, make sure that your illustration is divided into a lineart file and a color file for the base colors.

 

 

Shading Assist works well on layers with a few flat colors. If colors are grouped into a folder, you can produce shading for all flat colors by selecting the color folder and then applying [Shading Assist].

Now, to apply shading in your artwork, in the [Layers] palette, select the colors layer or layer folder you want to use Shading Assist and after you clicked on [Shading Assist] button, the [Shading Assist] dialog will pop up.

When you pick a [Preset] in the dialogue that opens, you can change the light sources you intended. The dropdown menu has many settings for usage in various circumstances. You may also change the color of your light by selecting the base color in the shadow area.

You can also use the circle manipulator on the canvas to alter the position, size, and intensity of the light source, and after the color and light settings are satisfied, tap [OK] in the dialogue to create a shading layer on top of the selected layers in the [Layer] palette.

4. Keep it up!

Now all you have to do is continue to carry out the same thing on other layers, such as the skin layers, fur layers, and any other layers that require light sources, as intended.

You may also change the blending mode of the shading to make it blend in better with your illustration!

5. The light sources for detail

For the detail or the light sources of this illustration, it's chess and magical sources since this illustration depicts the subject of magic, and light sources are extremely crucial to portray magical strength. So, if you wanted to have a magical theme for your illustrations, you may simply enchant your artwork even more using [Shading Assist]!

To begin, I put a light source behind the chess pieces and set the blending mode to Add Glow, as well as some light rays. Then I add some magic sources to demonstrate the 'magic' and use [Shading Assist] to change the lighting.

As you can see in the image, I used [Ball light] to add a light source behind the chess pieces because [Ball light] produces more easily recognizable shadows than [Directional light] and it can be moved anywhere on the canvas as you wish, whereas [Directional light] only applies light to the entire canvas at the same angle and intensity to generate shading. So there is a difference between the two.

6. Using Shading Assist on the background

First, create your own background. For me, it's the light sources emanating from a magical circle behind the character. As a result, the background is dark, and the light is the main focus since the characters is set to be in the dark. To further enchant it, I add additional rays of light and shading using [Shading Assist] to the magic circle so it can glow in the dark ^^

As you can see, the shading type of [Directional light] is commonly used to color the background of artwork. You may create shadows that blend in with your background by utilizing an appropriate setting for the character's surroundings.

7. Add detail to the light

When there is light, there will be some additional glitter or ray of light that might make the artwork much more captivating. To begin, there are several tools available for download at Clip Studio Assets that may be useful in making your artwork even more stunning!

Simply select your favorite tools and add them to your artwork. It's definitely a game changing, you know! Just add the additional details and you are done~

Conclusion

When you are entirely satisfied with your work, that is when you are the happiest! This is the finished product of my illustration; I hope you enjoy it!~

The [Shading Assist] has helped me a great deal in the making of my artwork and I'm really thankful of it. I'm delighted Clip Studio Paint included this feature to assist illustrators like myself while creating artwork, especially when starting a Webtoon. This tool comes in helpful at critical moments, so thank you, CSP~<3

 

 

For the bonus, here my illustration if the [Shading Assist] preset is set to [Night]. I also changed the background to match the setting, but it turned out very well, so I'll share it with you guys~ ^^

 

 

Using magic at night is quite interesting so it's pretty intriguing! Well, it is sad but this brings my tips to an end. I hope these tips are as helpful to you as they were to me with my illustrations. I'm not sure if the directions are clear.... but please give a like if it helps you!

 

Thanks a lot for Reading!!!