Duplicating Line Art Strokes In Paint Tool Sai

how to duplicate line art strokes paint tool sai

Paint Tool SAI is a popular digital art software that offers a range of tools for creating and editing line art. One common question that arises for users is how to duplicate line art strokes, which can be achieved through a few simple steps. By understanding the process of selecting, copying, and pasting linework with control points (CPs) on the same layer, artists can save time and create intricate designs with ease. In this guide, we will explore the steps to duplicate line art strokes in Paint Tool SAI, unlocking new creative possibilities for digital artists.

Characteristics Values
Tools Linework layer, Control point tool, Lasso tool
Steps 1. Select what you want to copy using the lasso, magic wand, or box tool
2. Go to the "selection" tab and click "select strokes from selection" or "select CP's in selection"
3. Clear your selection by clicking "deselect all CP"
Tips Use vector commands for vector layers and edit your CPs
Raster layer is a colour layer

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Selecting the line art you want to copy

To duplicate line art strokes in Paint Tool SAI, you must first select the line art you want to copy. There are a few ways to do this, depending on the specifics of your project.

If you want to copy a specific section of your line art, you can use the lasso tool to draw a freeform shape around the section you want to duplicate. You can also use the magic wand tool, which will select a section based on the colours or strokes you click on, or the box tool, which will select everything inside a rectangular area that you define.

Once you've made your selection, you'll need to navigate to the "selection" tab and choose either "select strokes from selection" or "select CP's in selection". Don't worry if it looks like your selection has disappeared at this point – this is normal.

It's important to remember to clear your selection each time you perform this process by clicking on the "selection" tab and choosing "deselect all CP". If you don't, you'll find that you're pasting the same thing over and over.

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Using the select strokes from selection tool

To duplicate line art strokes in Paint Tool SAI, you can use the "select strokes from selection" tool. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use this tool:

First, you need to select what you want to copy. You can do this by using the lasso, magic wand, or box tool to make your selection. Make sure you are working on a linework layer, as the "select strokes from selection" tool only works on linework.

Once you have made your selection, go to the "selection" tab at the top of your screen. In the "selection" tab, you will find the "select strokes from selection" option. Click on this option, and it may appear as if your selection has disappeared, but don't worry, it hasn't been deleted.

At this point, you can move, resize, or modify your copy of the line art. You can access these options by clicking on the square next to the lasso tool and choosing from freeform, resize, or deform/rotate. After making any adjustments, click "OK."

It is important to remember to clear your selection after you are done. Click on the "selection" tab again and select "deselect all CP." If you do not clear your selection, you will continue to paste the same thing over and over.

Additionally, you can use keyboard shortcuts to duplicate strokes. Press Ctrl + Shift and mouse over the line to duplicate a single stroke. You can also press Ctrl + A to select all CPs on that layer, then use Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V to duplicate. Alternatively, you can go into your keybinds and set Ctrl + J to "Duplicate Layer/Copy Layer."

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Clearing your selection to avoid endless duplication

To avoid endless duplication, it is important to clear your selection after duplicating line art strokes in Paint Tool SAI. Here are some detailed steps to ensure that your selection is cleared effectively:

Firstly, understand the issue: when duplicating line art strokes, Paint Tool SAI tends to retain the selection even after duplication, which can lead to endless duplication if not addressed properly. To avoid this issue, it is crucial to manually clear the selection after each duplication.

Now, let's move on to the steps for clearing the selection:

  • After duplicating your desired line art strokes, navigate to the "Selection" tab at the top menu bar.
  • Click on the "Selection" tab to access the selection options.
  • Choose the “Deselect All CP” option. This will clear your previous selection, preventing it from being inadvertently duplicated again.
  • By clearing the selection, you ensure that the next duplication action will be performed on a new set of selected strokes, rather than endlessly duplicating the same set.

Additionally, there is a keyboard shortcut that can be used to clear the selection:

  • Simply press "Ctrl + D" on your keyboard after duplication.
  • This shortcut performs the same function as clicking "Deselect All CP" in the "Selection" tab.
  • Using this shortcut can save time and streamline your workflow in Paint Tool SAI.

Remember, clearing your selection after each duplication is essential to avoid endless duplication of the same strokes. By following these steps, you can effectively manage your selections and have more control over your digital art creations in Paint Tool SAI.

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Moving, resizing, and modifying the copy

To move, resize, and modify a copy of your line art in Paint Tool SAI, follow these steps:

First, select what you want to copy using the lasso, magic wand, or box tool. Go to the "Selection" tab and click either "Select Strokes from Selection" or "Select CP's in Selection". Don't worry if it looks like your selection was deleted; it wasn't. Remember to clear your selection by clicking on the "Selection" tab and choosing "Deselect All CP" every time before you start a new selection.

Now you can move the copy of your line art around. Switch from StrokeDup, or you will endlessly duplicate the same thing. To resize and modify, keep everything selected and click on the square next to the lasso tool. From the drop-down menu, choose from freeform, resize, deform, or rotate. Make your adjustments, then click OK. Finally, deselect everything in the 'selection' top menu.

If you want to resize an object while maintaining its original proportions, hold down the Shift key while you resize. Holding Shift and Alt together will resize the object from the middle without moving it.

Additionally, the linework tools in Paint Tool SAI support the function of the control point tool in combination with Ctrl/Shift/Alt keys. You can edit and modify each stroke shape, control pressure strength by dragging the control point on strokes, and modify the line type and colour of clicked strokes.

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Copying and pasting line art with CP's on the same layer

To duplicate line art strokes with CPs on the same layer in Paint Tool SAI, follow these steps:

First, select what you want to copy. You can do this by using the lasso, magic wand, or box tool. Make sure you have the correct layer selected before making your selection. Once you have made your selection, go to the “Selection” tab and choose either "Select Strokes from Selection" or "Select CP's in Selection". Your selection may appear to disappear at this point, but don't worry—it is still there.

Next, you will need to clear your selection. Click on the “Selection” tab again and select "Deselect All CP". This step is crucial, as failing to do so will result in your previous selection being pasted repeatedly.

Now, you can move, resize, or modify your copied line art. To do so, click on the square next to the lasso tool and choose from the options provided: freeform, resize, or deform rotate. Make your desired adjustments, then click "OK". Finally, deselect everything in the "Selection" menu at the top.

You can also copy line art from one SAI file to another. To do this, open both files. On the file you want to copy from, select the linework layer, then hit Ctrl + A, followed by Ctrl + C, or go to Edit -> Copy. Navigate to the other document and paste the linework in.

Additionally, you can copy line art within the same file by grouping all the layers you want to copy into a folder. Close the folder and click on it to select it, then go to 'File' and click on 'Open'. Open the image you want to copy, then select 'Copy'. Go to the page where you want to paste the image and select 'Paste'.

Frequently asked questions

First, select what you want to copy using the lasso, magic wand, or box tool. Next, go to the "'selection' tab" and click "select strokes from selection" or "select CP's in selection". After that, click on the square next to the lasso tool and choose from freeform, resize, deform, or rotate. Once you've made your adjustments, click OK and deselect everything in the 'selection' top menu.

Every time you duplicate something, remember to clear your selection by clicking on the "'selection' tab" and then clicking "deselect all CP".

First, select what you want to copy, then go to the "'selection' tab" and click "select strokes from selection". After that, click "merge selected layers".

Select what you want to copy, then go to the "'selection' tab" and click "select strokes from selection" or "select CP's in selection".

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