Hello!

This time, we will explain how to create original pattern materials while displaying a preview using the "File Object" function.

 

This method makes it easier to fine-tune the spacing and overlap between illustrations, allowing you to create the design you have in mind.

 

We hope you will create your own unique materials and use them in your creative activities.

 

As a sample, we will make design paper for a notebook cover.

At the end, we will also explain how to print from Clip Studio to a convenience store online, so have fun printing out your own work.

You can create a design like this (sample video) ↓

STEP 1: Roughly shape your idea

Imagine what you want to make and draw a color rough sketch!

 

Choose a canvas size that is easy for you to draw on, and roughly create an image of the design pattern.

 

Try to include an idea of the colors as much as possible. Of course, it's okay if you don't, but it will reduce the amount of time you have to think about what to do when creating the pattern material.

 

↓This is what it looked like this time.

In my case, I find it easier to put the colors and motifs I want to use into words.

 

If you're making an illustration for the first time, it's okay to just have an idea of the illustration material you want to draw at this point.

 

Once you get used to making materials, try thinking about the "pattern" image as well!

STEP 2: Create an illustration

Now let's create the illustrations that will actually be used.

 

Until you get used to it, limit yourself to making 1 to 3 illustrations.

 

❶ Decide the canvas size.

Consider the print size and make it a little larger than the actual size you have in mind, so you can adjust the size later.

 

This time we'll create one that is 10cm wide, 10cm high, and has a resolution of 300dpi.

❷ Draw your illustrations.

 

If you're used to creating illustrations, it's OK to create multiple illustrations on one canvas.

 

If you're not used to it, you should carefully create one illustration per canvas.

 

This time, I created multiple illustrations on one canvas because I wanted to create illustrations with consistent brush sizes, colours, and motif sizes.

↑The canvas is expanded for easier viewing.

 

Organize into folders so you can save them individually.

 

You may want to modify it later. Leave the layers and other elements intact!

 

❸ Once the illustration is complete, save it in Clip Studio format.

 

"File" → "Save" → Give it a name and save it as "CLIP STUDIO PAINT FORMAT" → Click "Save".

 

This time I saved it as "Original Bear Illustration".

STEP 3: Export and save materials

Next, start with the "original bear illustration" and save it individually to make it easier to use.

 

Make each illustration "transparent background" and save it in PNG format.

 

❶ Display only the layer containing the illustration you want to save and hide the "Background" layer.

Click "File" → "Save As".

 

Save the file as "PNG" and with an easy-to-understand name.

 

❷ Save the other illustrations separately.

 

These will be the materials used to create the "pattern material."

↑ 6 illustrations saved!

STEP 4: Create a pattern using two canvases

Congratulations on creating your illustration!

Now we'll try designing a pattern using two canvases.

 

There are several ways to create pattern material,

but this time we'll use a file object

to create the pattern material we want while looking at the preview canvas.

 

 

Prepare two canvases

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[1st] Canvas for creating pattern materials

❶ First, create a canvas for making pattern material.

 

This time, go to "File" → "New" and create a new canvas

 

15cm wide, 15cm high, resolution: 300dpi.

*Once you get used to it, you can make it in any size you like!

❷ Next, import the illustrations you created earlier into this canvas.

 

(These are PNG illustrations with transparent backgrounds.)

 

Go to "File" → "Import" → "Image"

and import all six illustrations.

❸ The imported illustration is imported as an “image material layer.”

Therefore, convert all illustration layers into raster layers.

 

With all the illustrations selected, right-click and click "Rasterize".

 

*Be careful not to merge them by mistake!

The illustration has been converted into a "raster layer". ↓

❹ Now save the canvas for now.

 

Give it an easy-to-understand name: "Canvas for creating pattern materials."

Save it in Clip Studio format.

★ From now on, we'll call this canvas the "Pattern Canvas".

Leave the canvas as it is and don't close it.

 

From now on, we'll use this canvas to adjust the placement and design of our illustrations.

 

 

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[Second] Canvas for preview display

❶ Next, create a new canvas for preview display.

 

This time, we will print on A4 size paper, so prepare a full-sized canvas.

 

"File" → "New"

 

Width 29.7cm Height 21cm Resolution 300dpi

 

Since we made a color rough draft first, let's try changing the "Paper color" to a color close to the image we have in mind.

 

This time, we'll try "yellow".

 

*The color of the "Paper" layer can be changed at any time.

❷ Make sure to save this as well.

 

I named it "A4 size preview canvas" for easy reference.

Clip Studio format is OK.

★ From now on, this canvas will be called the "Preview Canvas."

 

You can check what the pattern will look like when you create a design on this canvas.

 

 

Create a file object

Now, let's try to reflect the "Pattern Canvas" in the "Preview Canvas".

 

With the "Preview Canvas" selected (not to be confused with the pattern canvas),

 

click "File" → "Import" → "Create File Object".

Select the Clip Studio format "Pattern Canvas" you created earlier and click "Open."

Click "OK" on the window that says "File Object Layer Created."

The illustration has been imported.

It's an incomplete design, but this is fine for now.

 

Try switching the canvas to the "Canvas for creating pattern material",

change the position of the illustration, and click Save.

 

It will also be reflected properly in the "Preview canvas".

The file object layer is linked to the "Pattern canvas".

 

After editing the illustration on the "Pattern canvas", click "Save", and then complete the design while checking it on the "Preview canvas" each time.

 

 

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Displaying two canvases side by side

But... it's hard to see like this.

 

Let's arrange the two canvases side by side so they're easier to see.

 

With two "Pattern Material Canvas" and "Preview Canvas" open,

 

click "Window" → "Canvas" → "Tile" to make the canvases easier to see.

Adjust the layout to your preferred width and dimensions.

 

If the screen is too cramped, you can hide the color palette, or if you have a separate display, you can move the window to it and display it there.

 

This time, we'll work like this:

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◆ If you want to swap the order of canvases left and right

Close all canvases and reopen them.

 

The first canvas you open will be on the left, and the second on the right.

 

(You can't swap them by dragging 💦)

 

 

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● Making seamless patterns

Now let's create a design!

The canvas we'll be working with is the "Pattern Canvas".

 

❶ Delete the "Paper" layer.

You can "Delete Layer" from the Trash or by right-clicking.

By doing this, you can display the illustration with a transparent background in the "Preview Canvas".

 

Click "Save" and check it.

 

The displayed illustration will be different each time, but don't worry about that 💦 ↓

↓Edit and save the "Pattern Canvas" and make the background transparent

❷ Next, place each illustration so that they do not go beyond the "Pattern Canvas".

 

At this point, it's okay if the illustrations overlap.

 

Select the entire canvas by going to "Selection" → "Select All".

❸ Select the layer of the first illustration, right-click and click "Convert Layer". You can name it anything you want as long as you know the name.

 

❹ Set the type to "Image Material Layer" and click OK.

❺ With the object selected with the Object Selection Tool,

in the "Tool Properties" window, check "Tiling" ☑.

 

For now, the tiling direction should be "Repeat" and "Top/Bottom/Left/Right."

❻ Convert all illustrations into "image material layers" and check "Tiling."

 

◆Caution◆

Do not release the selection.

↑All illustrations are now "image material layers".

 

◆Caution◆

At this point, if you select all layers and convert them to "image material layers" at once, all images will be merged.

It's a bit tedious, but let's convert them one by one (February 2025 EXversion 3.02)

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At first glance you won't notice any changes, but try moving the illustration up, down, left, or right.

 

You'll see that it has been replaced with a seamless pattern image.

 

Now try "Save Over" the canvas.

 

You can also cancel the selection.

 

 

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◆Caution◆

Do not rotate or scale at this point.

You will not be able to create a seamless pattern.

 

 

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❼ Switch to the “A4 size preview canvas.”

 

Now, even though you saved the pattern canvas, the preview canvas doesn’t have any pattern at all.

❽ To create a pattern, select the "File Object" layer and check "Tiling" from "Tool Properties."

 

*If you can't find "Tiling," try opening the "Sub Tool Detail" palette from the wrench icon and looking for it.

So what do you think? It's getting a lot closer to the image you had in mind.

 

You can freely change the size and angle on the "Preview Canvas."

↑It's starting to look like it!

STEP 5: Adjust the design

But this is a bit too packed.

 

From here, you can adjust the position of the illustration on the "Pattern Canvas",

 

save it, then check the finished product on the "Preview Canvas" and work on the design until you're satisfied with it.

 

As you're arranging it, you may also want to adjust the size and orientation of the illustration, or even the illustration itself.

 

 

❶ Place the illustration you want to adjust on the canvas.

 

Select the layer and right-click → "Rasterize" or "Convert Layer"

 

Convert the layer to a "raster layer."

 

 

❷ Change the size or angle, or modify the illustration.

 

*If you enlarge the illustration too much, the image quality will deteriorate, so in that case, modify the original illustration and import it back into the pattern canvas.

 

❸ Once you've finished making adjustments, go to the canvas again and select "Selection" -> "Select All" (important)

 

❹ Convert the layer to an "Image Material Layer".

Check ☑ "Tiling" and don't forget to "Save".

 

(The process is the same as steps ❷ to ❺ for creating a seamless pattern.)

↑It's okay if the illustrations overlap at this point as long as they don't go beyond the canvas.

 

 

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◆Will it not be seamless?

If the illustration is not beautifully seamless in the "Preview Canvas," please check three points.

 

● Have you made the selection the size of the canvas (selecting everything) and converted it to an "Image Material Layer"?

 

● Have you scaled or rotated it while it was an "Image Material Layer"?

 

You can correct the "Magnification ratio and rotation angle" from the tool properties.

 

● Is tiling checked? (I often forget.)

 

 

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◆How large will it actually be printed at?

Since this is a design to be used on a notebook cover, you'll want to check the actual size.

 

Click "View" → "Print Size" to display the canvas at a magnification of the actual print size.

 

Don't worry, this doesn't change the actual size of the canvas.

 

If you place a real ruler on the screen and the size seems strange, try adjusting "Display resolution" under "Canvas" in "File" → "Preferences".

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After all that, it's finally finished!

 

↓This time, I used the classic polka dot pattern as a reference when placing the illustrations.

STEP 6: Register the completed pattern material

Good job!

Now that you've worked hard to create a pattern material, let's "register it as material" so you can use it whenever you want!

 

Operate on the "Pattern Canvas."

 

❶ First, select the entire canvas by selecting "Selection" → "Select All."

 

❷ Right-click on the top layer (this is easier to understand) → click "Merge visible layer copy."

 

This will add a single raster layer with all layers combined.

❸ With the combined layer selected, click “Edit” → “Register Material” → “Image”.

Here, check "Scaling" and "Tiling,"

then decide on a name, an easy-to-understand tag and a save location, then click OK.

 

You won't be able to save the material if you leave it as "All Materials." For now, save it in an easy-to-understand folder such as "Color Patterns."

❹ Let’s open the Materials window.

The pattern material we just registered is now ready to use.

STEP 7: Try printing at a convenience store

Finally, let's print the completed design pattern!

 

Here is how to print using the copy machine installed at the "7-Eleven" that CLIP STUDIO is connected to.

 

❶ Create the data to be printed.

 

You can use the preview canvas from earlier as is.

 

If you are creating a new canvas,

create a new one with A4 size (29.7 cm wide, 21 cm high) and resolution: 300 dpi.

 

*This time, we created it at full size with no bleed, but if you are using a printing company, please use the canvas size that matches the specifications of the printing company.

 

❷ Use the rough image as a reference to arrange the background color and pattern material.

This time, we tried adding text.

 

If you print at a convenience store via CLIP STUDIO, there will be a non-printable margin on all four sides.

Important illustrations such as text and logos should be placed 5 to 7 mm inward.

❸ Save for printing.

 

This time, I created a new canvas and saved it as "Print.clip".

 

*If you don't want to go through Clip Studio Paint, we recommend the "JPEG" or "PDF" format. You can also upload directly to a convenience store's online printing service.

 

❹ Select "File" → "Convenience Store Print".

 

This time, I set it as follows.

 

• Paper size: A4 (landscape)

• Color/gray: 300dpi

• Print size: Actual size

• How to handle when capacity is exceeded: Color/gray: Reduce quality to within capacity using jpeg compression

• Output image: ☑ Text *Check other items you want to print.

• Color: RGB color

• Processing method: For illustrations

Look at the finished product and adjust the rest to your liking!

Once you're done setting up, press "OK."

 

❺ A window stating "Export completed" will appear.

Click "Check exported data."

*If you have closed it, open "List of Works" from "CLIP STUDIO".

When you double-click on the work you want to print, an option to "Print at convenience store" will appear. Click on it to proceed to the next step.

❻ Click "I agree to the terms of use and will send the printed data to a convenience store."

 

Once the data has been sent, the "reservation number" needed for printing and an address where you can view the preview image will be sent to the email address you registered with CLIP STUDIO.

 

It will take a while for the email to arrive (about 2 minutes).

 

In the meantime, make sure you understand how to operate the copy machine at 7-Eleven.

❼ When you receive the email, make a note of the "reservation number" (you can also use the QR code) and print it out at the copy machine at your nearest 7-Eleven!

 

*Printing fees apply (A4 color 60 yen, February 2025)

The seamless pattern design paper is complete!

Thank you for your hard work!

The operations are a little complicated, but once you get used to it, you can create "auto actions" to save time,

 

try varying tiling patterns, overlaying illustrations,

and create a variety of patterns.

 

Of course, you can use it as material for digital illustrations, but you can also use it for prints, handmade items, and more.

 

Have a great creative life!