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kencoon7
Oct '16

I am new at this and am using Clip Studio.
I just finished page one of my comic. It has4 panels and a few layers in each one.
I noticed that I forget what I put on which layer and sometimes seem to be putting the wrong thing on a layer.
How do you keep track of it?

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    Oct '16

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    Oct '16
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AnnaLandin
Oct '16

I name my layers, which is probably the easiest and most straight forward method. Sketches are named "sketch", I tend to separate my line layers into "figure lines" and "background lines", then there's one "background colours" layer, one "figure colours", one "shadows", one "atmospheric lighting", and then one or several of extra lighting details and stuff.

When I'm 100% certain I'm done with a layer - when the lineart is done, for example - I either lock transparency, or completely lock the layer (clicking on the padlock symbol at the top of the layer-menu), so that I can't draw on it by mistake.

mariusthered
Oct '16

As ink is at the top of the stack (not including frame and text ) I tend to ink then go to the bottom layer and work up, not moving from that layer till i'm don't with it.

AliceHoffmann
Oct '16

I'm also on team "name your layers". It may seem like unnecessary work but with any file you work on for a longer time it pays off very soon. There is a lot less risk of forgetting where to look, working on the wrong layer... It can save a lot of time. =3

El_Psy_Congroo
Oct '16

I've stopped using the paneling folders to a large extent. I often make subjects break out of their panels so nowadays I usually set up my paneling layout on a lower layer than my foreground and split the panels using Divide frame border in stead of Divide Folder so that they are all in one folder. I sometimes make the backgrounds in that folder, or in layers below it. This way all my foreground flats, inks, shading, etc are also each in their own layer, instead of being split for every panel. This really lowers the load on my computer. When I need to keep foreground stuff within a panel I use the magic wand tool to select the inside of that panel and just draw within the selection. If I need something to pop out above a panel border, I can easily do so without making a new layer.

WakaXO
Oct '16

When it comes to comic pages I almost always use the same layers in the same positions (ex. line art above colour, panels/ word bubbles at the top) so all I do to organise my layers is name them. other than that I use folders for panels (because the program automatically makes a folder for it anyways) and I also separate my word bubbles/sound effects into another folder (so they can break the panel lines).

jennula
Oct '16

Yeah, naming your layers and locking the ones you're all done with will help you a lot =) I'm usually naming them "sketch", "lineart characters", "color characters", "shadows characters", "hilights characters", "lineart background", "color backgrounds". And then I usually have a layer group/folder where I throw in all the text layers so they're easy to show and hide =)

Zpreader
Oct '16

Using named layers and named folders is always a great way to keep organized, and good organization will help you to work faster when you get far into a piece/page by preventing layer mistakes.

agentfink
Oct '16

My Rough Layouts (which sometimes has many layers/folders) are in a folder that I tend to color layer red.

Having my Layouts in a folder helps when I want to try out something different-- just duplicate the folder.
Here's a page that went through 6 versions. (note how V2-- V5 are color layered RED).

Then either do my pencils above the roughs, then place them in folders according to the panels OR use my Frame Folder Tool to make the panel layer masks/folders and pencil in there.

When I am ready to ink, I always turn the layer below, whether Pencil or Roughs to a color layer Red.

I also take advantage of coloring my layers so I can easily see what layer I'm on or know which layers to turn back on or off (I don't do this for every page, only when needed)... tho I am using it a bit more lately... In this case, green is go/good, yellow was reworking.

Here is a sample Panel that has a character.
The Blue Ink color layer was the original and I duplicated it to change some art around, that is why layers say COPY. You can also see my Rough/Pencil Reds on the bottom turned off.

Spinester
Oct '16

I have a very simple layer structure (in the order I have them):

Text folder - Where I keep all the speech balloons

Panels - Where I draw panel border lines

Inks - For the main line art

Shades - Where I add shades, highlights, textures

Flats - Where I have the flat colors of the comic

Pencils - Where I do the rough penciling/layout of the page

White Background - Where I fill the whole page with a white background

Comic page template - My guide for page size, trim, bleed, etc