Creating Bubble Effects With Paint Tool Sai

how to paint a transparent bubble paint tool sai

Paint Tool SAI offers a range of features that allow users to create transparent images and backgrounds. While the process may vary depending on the version of Paint Tool SAI, users can generally achieve transparency by adjusting settings such as opacity, hardness, and colour blending. Additionally, the availability of layers and the ability to export files with transparency, such as .PSD or .PNG, are crucial for achieving the desired transparent effect. Users can also utilise tools like the eraser or selection tools to manually remove backgrounds and create transparent areas within their artwork.

Characteristics Values
Image Format *.png
Background Colour White, black, or transparent
Transparency 32bpp ARGB
Image Editing Software GIMP
Brush Settings Size, Hardness, Opacity
Layer Settings Selection Source, Canvas Background, Layer Effect Color
Selection Tools Zoom, Eraser, Anti-aliasing
Blending Tools Colour blending, trailing, dilution effect, persistence

cypaint

Using the transparency tool

To use the transparency tool in Paint Tool SAI, it is important to first check if your version of SAI supports transparency. If it does, a dialog box will appear after you save your image. Select 32bpp ARGB (Each pixel has opacity) for a transparent image. If you are using SAI 2, you can make the background transparent by hiding any background layers, clicking on Canvas, hovering over Background, and selecting Transparent (Bright checker).

If you are using a different version of SAI, you can still achieve transparency by using image-editing software such as GIMP, which is compatible with both Windows and Mac. First, export your art as a .PSD file, then open it in GIMP.

Another method to create transparency is to use the selection tool. First, create a dark layer underneath, even if it is not visible, and edit your selection settings to select the areas you want to make transparent. You can then use an eraser to delete the backgrounds. For more precision, zoom in and use a 1px anti-aliased brush and 1px eraser to clean up the edges.

Additionally, you can control the transparency of your brush strokes by adjusting the opacity settings. Lowering the opacity will create more transparent brush strokes, similar to thinning with water. You can also control the blending amount with the canvas color, with larger values affecting more canvas color affection.

cypaint

Blending colours

The Brush tool has a blending and persistence bar. To blend colours, set blending higher and persistence lower. It is important to note that the persistence bar is dependent on the blending settings, so setting them somewhere in the middle will likely produce optimal results. If you are unsure about the settings, a safe option is to set them at 50%.

Additionally, when using the Brush tool, it is recommended to use a soft-edged brush for blending. You can also create custom brushes by right-clicking and selecting the desired option.

  • Min Size: 0
  • Density: 25-50 (Depending on the object)
  • Blending: 33
  • Dilution: 17
  • Persistence: 34
  • Opacity: On
  • Quality: 4
  • Edge Hardness: 0
  • Min Density: 55
  • Max Dens Prs: 19%
  • Hard/Soft: 200

By adjusting the blending and persistence settings, you can control how easily the brush shifts colours when blending from one colour to another.

Rococo vs Baroque: A Study in Contrasts

You may want to see also

cypaint

Dilution effect

The Dilution Effect in Paint Tool SAI controls how easily a brush shifts colour when blending from one colour to another. It works in tandem with the blending setting, which controls how readily the brush will inherit any colours you are painting over with it.

The higher the dilution setting, the more transparent the colour becomes, like paint thinned with water. A 100% dilution setting will not paint on blank parts of the layer at all, whereas a 0% dilution will allow the brush to paint very easily onto a blank surface.

The persistence setting also affects the rate of colour shifting. The higher the persistence, the longer it will take for the colour to shift.

The dilution setting can be found under the texture in the brush tool settings.

cypaint

Persistence control

The Persistence setting in Paint Tool SAI controls how easily a brush shifts colour as you are blending from one colour to another. In other words, it determines how long the colour "persists" before shifting to a new colour. This setting is particularly relevant when painting over existing colours, and it is influenced by the blending settings.

A higher persistence value will result in a longer duration for the colour to shift as you make a stroke. Conversely, a lower persistence value will lead to a quicker transition between colours. It's important to note that the persistence setting has minimal impact when the blending is set to 0%.

To achieve optimal results, it is recommended to keep the blending and persistence settings somewhere in the middle. This allows for a smooth and gradual transition between colours, providing more control over the blending process. However, the specific values used will depend on the desired effect and the type of brush being used.

Additionally, the Persistence setting can be adjusted to control the bended colour trailing. Increasing the value will result in more colour trailing, creating a more pronounced blending effect. This can be particularly useful when trying to achieve a watercolour-like painting style, where colours seamlessly blend into one another.

cypaint

Editing transparent pictures

Hiding Background Layers

Start by hiding any background layers you have in your file. In SAI 1, you won't see any checkerboxes indicating transparency, so you can check if your drawing is see-through by filling a layer underneath with black and then hiding it. If you can see the black background through your drawing, your image is transparent. In SAI 2, you can simply click on "Canvas", hover over "Background", and select "Transparent (Bright checker"). Your drawing should now be displayed with grey checkerboxes, indicating transparency.

Refining Your Image

Once you've confirmed that your image is transparent, you can refine the edges if needed. If your image has jagged edges or messy lines, you can zoom in and use a 1px anti-aliased brush and a 1px eraser to clean up the edges. This step is especially important if you're editing official art or graphics, such as Pokémon images, as you want to ensure you're not infringing on any copyrights.

Saving Your Work

When saving your transparent image, it's crucial to save it in the correct file format. For SAI 2, always save your file as a .PNG to preserve transparency. For earlier versions of SAI, saving as a .PSD file may be recommended, as certain free image programs can open and edit this format. Additionally, saving as 32bpp ARGB will ensure that any areas you haven't drawn on remain transparent.

Additional Tips

If you're working with a flat image without layers, you can still cut out a drawing from an opaque background. You can use an eraser to manually delete the background by zooming in and carefully erasing the unwanted areas. Alternatively, you can create a dark layer underneath and adjust your selection settings to remove the background. Remember to always work with official or your own art when editing transparent images.

Frequently asked questions

To make the background transparent, you can go into the settings and select 'transparent' as your background. Alternatively, you can hide any background layers, then click on 'Canvas', hover over 'Background', and select 'Transparent (Bright checker)'.

You can use the Opacity tool to adjust the transparency of your image. Lowering the opacity will make your image more transparent.

To maintain transparency, you should export your art as a .PSD file and then open it in an image-editing software such as GIMP. Finally, save your file as a .PNG file.

Written by
Reviewed by

Explore related products

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment