Priya Kapoor
Layer masks in Clip Studio Paint are a powerful tool that allows users to mask or hide parts of a layer without deleting them. This can be useful for hiding unnecessary elements, such as overlapping lines, making colouring easier. To create a layer mask, users first need to select the layer they want to mask in the Layer palette. Then, they can create a selection area of the part they want to keep or hide using tools like the Rectangle tool or the Pen tool. After that, they can apply the mask by going to the Layer menu and selecting Layer Mask, followed by either Mask Selection or Mask Outside Selection. The masked area will be represented in black, indicating that it is hidden, while the visible area will be shown in white. Users can also adjust the opacity and gradient settings of the mask to control how much of the masked area is visible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose of layer masks | To hide parts of a layer without erasing them |
| How to create a layer mask | First, select the layer in the Layer palette and create a selection area of the part you want to keep or hide. Then, use the Layer menu > Layer Mask > Mask Selection or Mask Outside Selection |
| Layer mask appearance | A layer mask thumbnail will appear next to the layer with the visible area shown in white and the masked area shown in black |
| Applying a layer mask | Select the Layer menu > Layer Mask > Apply Mask to Layer to combine the layer and the layer mask |
| Deleting a layer mask | Select the Layer menu > Layer Mask > Delete Mask |
| Enabling/disabling a layer mask | Select the Layer menu > Layer Mask > Enable Mask |
| Displaying the mask area | Select the Layer menu > Layer Mask > Show Mask Area to display the mask area in purple |
| Linking the layer and the mask | Select the Layer menu > Layer Mask > Link Mask to Layer. When linked, the mask moves with the layer |
| Adjusting opacity | Use brush tools set to transparent and with the opacity reduced to create an opacity fade |
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What You'll Learn
Create a selection area
To apply a mask in Clip Studio Paint, you must first create a selection area. This can be done using the Selection Area tool, which allows you to select parts of your artwork. The Selection Area tool offers various sub-tools, including Rectangle, Ellipse, Lasso, and Selection Pen.
The Rectangle sub-tool enables you to create a rectangular selection by dragging diagonally on the canvas. Similarly, the Ellipse sub-tool creates an elliptical selection through the same process. Holding the Shift key while dragging will result in a circular or square selection. The Lasso sub-tool allows you to create freeform selections by drawing the desired shape on the canvas.
The Selection Pen sub-tool offers more precision in creating selections. You can draw or trace the specific areas you want to include in the selection. To erase parts of the selection, use the Erase Selection sub-tool by drawing or dragging on the canvas. The Shrink Selection sub-tool is useful when you want to select a closed area within another selection. This is particularly handy when dealing with drawings that have multiple closed areas.
Additionally, you can adjust the shape and roundness of the selection area's corners using the settings in the Sub Tool Detail palette. This palette also provides access to further settings, such as "Selection", "Anti-aliasing", "Correction", and "Closed area fill". The "Anti-aliasing" option is worth noting as it allows you to adjust the smoothness of your selection. A stronger anti-aliasing effect will result in a smoother appearance when painted.
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Use the layer menu
To apply a mask in Clip Studio Paint, you will need to use the Layer menu. First, select the layer in the Layer palette and create a selection area of the part you want to keep or hide. You can do this by using the Rectangle tool or any other tool of your choice. Alternatively, you can go to the Selection menu and select the 'Select Color Gamut' option.
Next, use the Layer menu and select 'Layer Mask'. Here, you will find the following options:
- Mask Selection: Creates a layer mask with no areas masked.
- Mask Outside Selection: Masks everything outside the selection area.
- Delete Mask: Deletes the layer mask from the selected layer.
- Apply Mask to Layer: Combines the layer and the layer mask, deleting any parts covered by the mask. This action also removes the layer mask from the Layer palette.
- Enable Mask: Enables or disables the layer mask.
- Show Mask Area: Displays the masked area in purple or transparent red.
- Link Mask to Layer: Links the layer and the mask together, allowing them to move simultaneously when using the Move Layer tool or other layer transformations.
You can also adjust the threshold of the mask in the Layer Property palette by going to Mask Expression > Threshold. This will allow you to adjust the opacity of the mask.
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Mask selections
To mask a selection, first, select the layer in the Layer palette and create a selection area of the part you want to keep or hide. You can do this by using the Rectangle tool to create a selection area. Once you have your selection, use the Layer menu and select Layer Mask, then choose either Mask Selection or Mask Outside Selection. A layer mask thumbnail will appear next to the layer, with the visible area shown in white and the masked area in black. If you create a layer mask without any selection area, a mask will be created for the entire layer.
You can also use the Mask Outside Selection icon on the Layer palette to create a layer mask. Mask Outside Selection masks the entire layer, while Mask Selection creates a layer mask with no areas masked.
To enable or disable the layer mask, select the Layer menu, then Layer Mask, and then Enable Mask. To display the masked area in purple, select the Layer menu, Layer Mask, and then Show Mask Area. By default, newly created masks are linked to their respective layers, and when the mask and layer are linked, the mask moves with the layer when using the Move layer tool or other layer transformations.
You can also use gradients to partially mask areas. To do this, go to the Layer Property palette for the layer mask and check that Mask Expression > Show gradients is set to Yes. When masking with gradients is turned off, using a color above a specified opacity will fully mask the area. You can adjust the threshold in the Layer Property palette by going to Mask Expression > Threshold.
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Use gradients
Gradients in Clip Studio Paint provide a smooth transition from one colour to another, from colour to transparency, or even a repeating pattern. The Gradient Tool can be found on the Tools Window between the Fill and Figure Tools, or by pressing 'G' on your keyboard.
To use a gradient, you can create a Gradient Layer under your current layer and "clip to layer below", or ctrl-click a transparent gradient to select transparency, and "create layer mask" to your current layer. A Layer Mask will allow you to edit where the gradient appears by erasing or drawing on the mask. You can also create gradient layers using the gradient tool. If you want to edit the gradient later, select the Gradient sub-tool, then in the Tool Property palette or Sub Tool Detail palette, you can change the "Where to create" setting from "Draw on editing layer" to "Create gradient layer".
When using the Gradient Tool, you can select from a number of presets that come with the program, including: Foreground to Transparent (a foreground colour to transparent transition), Foreground to Background (a foreground to background colour transition), Stripe (a foreground to transparent striped pattern), Background Stripe (a foreground to background colour striped pattern), and Photosphere (a blurry ring transition from white to foreground colour to transparent).
You can also create your own gradients, edit pre-existing gradients, or import new ones. You can create different gradient effects by using different gradient shapes, changing the edge process, and changing the angle. You can also import and install gradient sets, which can be downloaded and imported from the Asset app.
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Delete the layer mask
To delete a layer mask in Clip Studio Paint, you have a few options. Firstly, you can select the "Layer" menu, then select "Layer Mask", and finally, choose "Delete Mask" while selecting the layer mask thumbnail. Alternatively, you can right-click on the layer mask icon and select "Delete Mask" from the context menu. Another way to delete the mask is by tapping the Delete key or going to "Edit" and selecting "Delete". This method will clear the mask layer so that no areas are masked.
Additionally, you can combine the layer and the layer mask together, which will also result in the deletion of the layer mask. To do this, go to the "Layer" menu, select "Layer Mask", and then choose "Apply Mask to Layer". This action will merge the layer and the mask, removing any parts that were covered by the mask. Consequently, the layer mask will be deleted, and the resulting merged layer will be a raster-type layer.
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Frequently asked questions
First, select the layer in the Layer palette and create a selection area of the part you want to keep or hide. Next, use the Layer menu > Layer Mask > Mask Selection or Mask Outside Selection. A layer mask thumbnail will appear next to the layer with the visible area shown in white and the masked area shown in black.
Select the Layer menu > Layer Mask > Apply Mask to Layer to combine the layer and the layer mask together. This will delete the layer mask.
Select the Layer menu > Layer Mask > Delete Mask to delete the layer mask from the selected layer.
