Mesh transform is the tool we use in Clip Studio Paint to distort or warp an image or selection. Sometimes while drawing this is very useful, because we can just edit some lines or parts of a piece without having to erase and redo everything.
So how can you use Mesh Transform in Clip Studio Paint? It’s very easy, go to ‘Edit -> Transform -> Mesh Transformation’. Now just make all the changes you need and it’s done!
You can use mesh transform for a lot of things, including to edit text. But let’s see how that works!
How To Use Mesh Transform In Clip Studio Paint
Besides using Free Transform or other simple Transform option, where you can just do very simple editing, like resizing or flipping an image. There’s also the Mesh Transform option! Here you can completely modify and distort your drawing or image.
To access it, simply go to ‘Edit -> Transform -> Mesh Transformation’. When you do, a grid will appear in and around your image. In each intersection, you’ll be able to see squared points that you can move.
When moving them, you’ll be distorting the image. Play with them and move it around until you’re happy with the transformation. Finally, press ‘Enter’ on your keyboard or the icon with a circle on the Tool Property window when you’re done!
This tool is especially useful for text for example! If you draw comics, drawing sound text effects might be something you do a lot. The Mesh Transformation tool is perfect to add this kind of effects.
If you want to use mesh transformation in text though, be sure you don’t want to change the text, font or size anymore. The text layer needs to be rasterized before distorting. But if you’re curious about how to edit and transform your text, I did write a very detailed article about it, so be sure to take a look!
I would also like to point out that you don’t need to change the whole layer. Let’s say you have your drawing, but want to distort one part of it a bit. Make a selection around the area you want to distort. To do so, go to the ‘Selection’ tool on the toolbar. It’s usually the fifth icon. Alternatively, you can press ‘M’ on your keyboard.
There are different ways to make a selection. A rectangle or circle, the lasso tool, that works by drawing a shape around the place you want to select, polyline and others. Personally, I like to use the polyline selection but it’s all up to you and your preferences.
Now just take the same steps as before to enter in Mesh Transformation mode. The same grid and points will appear, but only in the part you just selected! This is very useful when you want to accentuate some curves on your drawing, without having to erase it and repeat the process.
It works very similarly as the distort option in Photoshop, it just takes a bit of time to get used to it and some patience to get the results we get. But it is very useful and helpful to create some effects!
No Liquify Option In Clip Studio Paint… Yet!
Unfortunately, so far, there is no Liquify option as in photoshop to transform your tools like a liquid. But mesh transform can almost do it if you’re creative enough and have patience.
Clip Studio Paint has updates very regularly, almost monthly. Sometimes it’s minor updates, but others add new tools, like the colorize option just added a few months ago! So who knows, with some luck Liquify and more editing tools both for image and text will be available for us.
This software is more orientated for illustration, drawing manga and comics, so it’s normal that the features and tools for it are mainly for drawing than for editing. But, nevertheless, you can still do quite a lot of editing in Clip Studio and have great results.
If you want to learn more about Clip Studio and it’s tools, feel free to look through the blog for more guides. I’ll also leave here a few if you’re interested in knowing how to rotate and scale you drawings or how to make a grid, for example, which can be very helpful when starting to draw or to create balanced compositions.
Above all, explore Clip Studio Paint as much as you can and want. At first, it might seem very different to use, but soon you’ll be familiar with it and have lots of fun with illustration or maybe even creating your own comics!
Additional Questions
How do I change the size of an image in clip studio? If you need to resize a whole image in Clip Studio Paint, simply go to ‘Edit -> Change Image Resolution’. A new window will appear and here you can change the image height, width, it’s unit and even the resolution!
How do you flip a selection in clip studio paint? Select what you need to flip, then go to ‘Edit -> Transform -> Flip Horizontal…/Flip Vertical…’. The selection you just made should flip according to what you chose!
You should also learn how to use a reference window in clip studio to have an extra view of your work and complete artwork faster.
Patricia Caldeira is the main writer here at Don Corgi. She's an art teacher with over 20.000 happy students across many platforms and courses!
Enjoy your stay and as always:
Keep on drawing!
