To create a clipping mask in Clip Studio Paint, you need to assign a layer to be masked by another. This means the masked layer's content will only be visible within the boundaries of the layer below.
Here's how to do it:
Creating a Clipping Mask
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Prepare Your Layers: You'll need at least two layers. The layer you want to mask (the one whose content will be clipped) must be directly above the layer that will be used as the mask (the layer that defines what area will be visible).
- For example, you might have a layer with a drawing of a circle below and a layer above with some colored scribbles. You want those scribbles to only appear inside the circle.
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Select the Top Layer: Click on the layer you want to clip (e.g. the scribbles layer).
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Activate Clipping Mask: There are several ways to make this layer a clipping mask:
- Right-Click: Right-click on the layer you selected, and choose "Clip at Layer Below".
- Layer Palette Icon: In the Layers palette, locate the "Clip at Layer Below" icon (it looks like three stacked squares with a diagonal line pointing downwards). Click it when the target layer is selected.
- Shortcut: Use the keyboard shortcut which can also quickly create a clipping mask. This shortcut can vary based on the settings and your operating system; the default is often Ctrl+Alt+G on Windows and Command+Option+G on Mac.
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Observe the Change: The clipped layer will now have a vertical bar along the left side in the Layers palette. This indicator shows that it's a clipping mask and that its visibility is controlled by the layer below. The content of the clipped layer will only be visible within the area defined by the pixels in the base layer.
Working with Clipping Masks
- Modifying the Base Mask: When the base layer (the one doing the clipping) is changed, the visible portion of the clipped layer updates to match the base layer.
- Modifying the Clipped Layer: You can add elements or change colors of the clipped layer, and all of these changes will only affect the area defined by the base layer.
- Unclipping: To remove a clipping mask, select the clipped layer and use the same method you used to activate clipping. The vertical bar will disappear, and the layer will be visible in full again.
- Using Masks: The provided reference mentions that selection masks can be used by right-clicking on a mask thumbnail and using the selection options, which can be useful when preparing a complex shape for clipping or to precisely control which parts of the base layer will be used for clipping.
Example
Using the example of the circle and the scribbles:
- If the circle layer is at the bottom and the scribbles layer is on top, and you apply the clipping mask to the scribbles layer, the scribbles will now be seen only inside the area of the circle.
By following these steps, you can effectively use clipping masks in Clip Studio Paint to create interesting effects, color within the lines, and make adjustments in non-destructive ways.
