Selecting And Moving In Sai: A Quick Guide

Paint Tool SAI is a popular digital art software that offers a range of tools for creating and editing digital artwork. One common task that users often want to perform is moving a specific selection within their artwork, such as adjusting the position of an object or a portion of a drawing. While Paint Tool SAI provides various selection tools, the process of moving a selection can vary depending on the user's specific needs and the layers involved. In this guide, we will explore the different methods for moving selections in Paint Tool SAI and provide step-by-step instructions for achieving the desired results.

Using the lasso tool, select the area you want to move, then hold Ctrl and drag

To move a selection in Paint Tool SAI, you can use the lasso tool. First, select the lasso tool, which is shaped like a lasso and is located next to the square tool. Then, draw around the area you want to move. Once you've made your selection, hold Ctrl and drag it to the desired location.

If you need to resize or rotate the selection, click the dotted line box that appears around your selection after you've made it. From there, you can choose to resize or rotate, and then click OK when you're finished.

It's important to note that this method only works on normal layers, not lineart layers. If you need to work on a lineart layer, you can merge it with a normal layer and then use the lasso tool as described above.

Additionally, if you want to move multiple layers at once, you can cut out the parts you want to move, paste them into a folder together, highlight the folder, hold Ctrl, and then everything should move together.

Use the pin tool to pin layers together

PaintTool SAI is a graphics design program that allows users to edit images using various tools and effects. One of the features of PaintTool SAI is the ability to work with layers, which can be compared to transparency, allowing users to apply effects and place them above or under an image.

Layers in PaintTool SAI can be accessed on the left side of the screen, beside the tools panel. Each layer has an eye icon that allows users to toggle its visibility. To create a new layer, users can use the Normal layer or Linework layer icons in the Layer Panel. The Normal layer is the basic layer that allows drawing with any of the tools, while the Linework layer provides a different set of tools for creating straight lines and curves.

One of the tools in PaintTool SAI is the pin tool, which allows users to pin layers together. By clicking on the layer selection area under the layer visibility eye icon, users can pin a separate layer to the current layer. This links the layers together, allowing users to move, transform, or apply filters to multiple layers simultaneously. For example, if you have layers A, B, and C, highlighting layer A and pinning layer B will allow you to move and transform both layers together. However, you will only be able to draw or erase on the highlighted layer, which is layer A in this case.

The pin tool is useful when you want to apply changes to multiple layers at once, ensuring consistency in your edits. However, it's important to note that the pin tool affects the entirety of the layers, and there is currently no way to select and move a small part of multiple layers without merging them in PaintTool SAI.

Use the selection tool to move multiple layers in a folder

To move multiple layers in a folder using the selection tool in Paint Tool SAI, follow these steps:

• Put all the layers you want to move into a single folder.
• Select the folder by clicking on it.
• Use the selection tool to select the specific area you want to move. This could be just the head area, for example.
• With the folder and area selected, you can now move a part of every layer within the selected folder, as long as it is selected by the tool.

Note that you can also use the pin tool to pin layers together or use folders to move multiple layers. However, these methods will affect the entirety of the layers, and it is not possible to only affect a small portion of multiple layers in SAI.

Additionally, you can use the default setting to select the top-level layer by Ctrl+Shift+Left-clicking. Alternatively, if you want to select without the folder, you can use Ctrl + Left-clicking.

Use the rotate tool to rotate selected areas or layers

To rotate selected areas or layers in Paint Tool SAI, you can use the rotate tool. This tool allows you to rotate your selected areas or layers by 90 degrees in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

• First, make sure you have a selection or layer to work with. You can create a selection by using the selection tool and dragging your mouse around the area you want to select.
• With your selection or layer made, go to the rotate tool in the tools panel.
• Click on the rotate tool to activate it.
• Now, you can rotate your selection or layer by clicking and dragging the mouse in the direction you want to rotate.
• The rotate tool will rotate your selection or layer in 90-degree increments. If you want to rotate by a smaller amount, you can use the free transform tool, which allows for more precise rotations.

It's important to note that if you don't have anything selected when using the rotate tool, SAI will apply the rotation to everything on the current layer. So, always make sure you have the correct selection or layer active before rotating.

Additionally, you can use the size option to change the size of your selection or layer. This works by grabbing one of the squared areas and dragging it in the desired direction. The specific areas you grab will determine if you're changing the height, width, or both.

Use the Ctrl + Shift + Left-click shortcut to select the top-level layer

Paint Tool SAI offers a default setting that lets you select the top-level layer at the clicked position by using the Ctrl + Shift + Left-click shortcut. This setting is particularly useful when you want to select the top-most layer at a specific location without affecting the other layers beneath it.

To use this feature effectively, make sure you have the correct layer selected before clicking on the desired position. This ensures that you're selecting the top-level layer at the exact spot you intend to. It's worth noting that you can also achieve a similar result by keeping the checkbox ON and using the Ctrl + Left-click shortcut instead. However, the Ctrl + Shift + Left-click combination provides a more precise selection of the top-level layer at the clicked position.

The Ctrl + Shift + Left-click shortcut is especially handy when working with complex compositions or when you need to make quick selections without disturbing the underlying layers. By using this shortcut, you can easily isolate the top-level layer and make adjustments or transformations as needed. This can include deforming, flipping, or rotating the selected layer independently of the others.

Additionally, Paint Tool SAI offers flexibility by allowing you to customise your shortcuts. If you prefer a different key combination for selecting the top-level layer, you can do so by double-clicking on the tool in the toolbox. This will open the Custom Tool Property window, where you can change the Shortcut Key to your preferred alternative. Alternatively, you can access customisation options by navigating to Help > Shortcut Keys and selecting the appropriate action to change the default shortcut.

In conclusion, the Ctrl + Shift + Left-click shortcut in Paint Tool SAI is a valuable tool for selecting the top-level layer at a specific clicked position. It provides precision and ease of use, especially when working with intricate layer structures. With the ability to customise shortcuts, Paint Tool SAI ensures that you can tailor your workflow to your personal preferences, making your digital art process even more streamlined and efficient.

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