Marcus Chen
PaintTool SAI is a digital painting and drawing program developed in 2004 for Windows. It is widely used by anime and manga artists, but it can be used for almost any kind of project. While PaintTool SAI is not a complicated program, it does have a learning curve. One of the most important things to get used to in PaintTool SAI is knowing how to use layers. Drawing everything on just one layer will make it hard to correct or erase mistakes later. Instead, separate each segment of the drawing, such as colour, shading, and highlights, into different layers. This allows you to draw on top of each other without affecting each segment. To adjust line tips in PaintTool SAI, you can modify the line colour to the currently selected colour by clicking on strokes. This tool only works with a linework layer. You can also modify the line type of clicked strokes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Line type | Click on strokes to modify |
| Line color | Modify to the currently selected color by clicking on strokes |
| Line shape | Edit and modify each stroke shape |
| Line pressure strength | Control by dragging the control point on strokes |
| Layers | Separate each segment of the drawing into different layers |
| Layer Panel | Move it left or right, hide the navigator and paint effects |
| Quick Bar | Toolbar with quick access to undo mistakes, clear selections, change the stability of the cursor, etc. |
| Stabilizer | Set higher to create smooth lines more easily |
| Zoom | Zoom in and out of the canvas |
| Resolution | Set to at least 350dpi if printing |
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What You'll Learn
Using the Quick Bar to access basic tools
The Quick Bar in Paint Tool SAI is a toolbar that provides quick access to basic but necessary tools for working on your illustrations. With a simple click of any of the buttons, you can access a variety of functions.
The Quick Bar allows you to undo and redo strokes. The undo function works in reverse order of you creating them, and is limited to 100 undos. You can also clear selections, removing the outline of the selection so you can work on the canvas without restrictions. You can also invert the selection area to the opposite of what is selected.
Additionally, the Quick Bar lets you adjust your workspace view. You can zoom in and out of your workspace, as well as reset the zoom factor. You can also rotate your workspace, set the rotation, and reset it. The Quick Bar also allows you to flip your workspace horizontally.
Another important function of the Quick Bar is the ability to adjust stabilizer settings for digitizer input. This can help you create smoother lines, especially when the stabilizer is set higher than 0.
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Adjusting the stabiliser for smoother lines
The Quick Bar is a toolbar that gives you quick access to basic but necessary tools for working on your illustrations. With a simple click of any of the buttons, you can easily undo mistakes, clear selections, change the stability of your cursor, and more. This is a great way to steady your cursor to smooth out your strokes.
The 'S-#' options slow down your strokes, making them easier to make long, smooth strokes. For example, one user notes that they work with theirs on 10 because their hands are a little shaky, and when they line, they set it to S-7.
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Layer separation for colours, shading and highlights
Layer separation is a crucial aspect of creating digital art in Paint Tool SAI. By separating your artwork into different layers, you can easily make changes, corrections, or additions without affecting the entire drawing. Here are some detailed instructions for layer separation for colours, shading, and highlights:
Creating New Layers
To start, create a clean line art layer. This will serve as the foundation for your artwork. Then, click on the "New Layer" option to add new layers for colours, shading, and highlights. Each segment of your drawing, such as colours, shading, and highlights, should be on a separate layer. Remember to name your layers accordingly to avoid confusion, especially when working with multiple layers.
Coloring and Shading
After creating your line art, it's time to add colour. Create a new layer set under the line art by clicking the folder icon. This layer set will hold all your colour layers. Start by colouring each segment in a different layer with a flat base colour. Once you've set the base colour, determine the light source to understand where to shade and highlight your drawing.
Shading Techniques
Use a large Water brush on a new layer to add initial shadows and highlight reflections. This layer should be set to "Multiply" and should not be too dark. Create another new layer above the others and use a darker colour with the Marker tool to create deeper shadows. Smooth out the edges with the Water tool and adjust the hues to your liking.
Highlights
To add final highlights, create a new layer above the layer set and use a luminosity layer. Utilise the Marker brush and then soften the highlights with the Oil Water tool. Examples of highlights include hair highlights, backlight of fur, or edges of a coat.
Additional Tips
Experiment with different colours on the overlay layer to enhance your shading and highlights. You can also adjust the opacity to make the effect more subtle. Remember to play around with the stabiliser setting to find the best level for smooth lines. Additionally, consider separating the Preview Window from the layers to create more workspace.
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Customising the Layer Panel
The Layer Panel in Paint Tool SAI can be customised in a few ways to improve your workflow. Firstly, you can move the Layer Panel to either the left or right side of the screen, depending on your preference. You can also hide the navigator and paint effects in the Layer Panel.
To manage your layers, you can group them together to avoid cluttering the Layer Panel. This helps to organise your work without having too many layers. You can also name your layers to easily identify them, especially when working with multiple layers.
Another customisation option is to separate the Preview Window from the Layer Panel. By default, the Preview Window is located above the layers, but it can take up a lot of space. To create a separated preview, click on View > New. This will allow you to view the zoomed-out version of your drawing without it taking up space in the Layer Panel.
Additionally, you can adjust the opacity of each layer to control its visibility. You can also lock layers to prevent any new strokes outside the existing artwork. This is useful for locking the base colour or line art.
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Using the 'S-#' options to slow down strokes
The S-# options in Paint Tool SAI slow down your strokes, making them smoother and easier to control. This is particularly useful if your hands are a little shaky.
To steady your cursor and smooth out your strokes, you can adjust the S-# settings. The higher the number, the slower the strokes. For example, if you set it to S-7, your strokes will be slower than if you set it to S-4. This gives you more time to carefully draw each line, resulting in smoother lines and curves.
You can also adjust the stabilizer setting, which is separate from the S-# options but also impacts the smoothness of your lines. When the stabilizer is set to 0, it can be challenging to create straight lines. Increasing the stabilizer value will make it easier to draw smooth lines, but it will also introduce a delay in your pen strokes. Experiment with different stabilizer levels to find the setting that works best for you.
In addition to the S-# options and the stabilizer, Paint Tool SAI offers a range of other tools to help you create smooth, controlled lines. The Quick Bar provides quick access to essential tools, including the ability to undo and redo strokes, change the stability of your cursor, and more. Familiarize yourself with these tools and settings to improve your linework and overall drawing experience in Paint Tool SAI.
By utilizing the S-# options, adjusting the stabilizer, and exploring the various tools available in Paint Tool SAI, you can achieve the desired level of smoothness and control in your strokes, making it easier to create precise and polished line art for your digital illustrations.
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Frequently asked questions
To create a new canvas, select File > New. You can then specify the width and height of your canvas, which you can input in pixels, inches, centimetres, or millimetres.
You can adjust the line tips by using the Quick Bar, which allows you to change the stability of your cursor. You can also use the 'S-#' options to slow down your strokes, making them smoother.
When the stabilizer is set to 0, it is difficult to make straight lines. Increasing the stabilizer will make it easier to create straight lines, but it will also increase the delay of your pen.
It is important to use layers when creating clean line art. You can create a new layer by clicking on the New Layer option. You can then use the linework tool to draw curves and lines.
First, create a new layer on top of your line art layer. Then, colour each segment in a different layer with a flat base colour. Next, determine where the light is coming from to understand where to shade and highlight your drawing.
