Understanding Layers for Beginner Digital Artists: Everything You Need to Know About How Layers Work

This is an in-depth art tutorial on layers. I discuss everything I feel that’s important to know about layers for digital painting in Clip Studio Paint. Fortunately, many art programs have similar or the same tools so these tips will work for any program you want to paint in.

Unsure about how to get started in digital art? Check out my tutorial:

Other videos to check out:

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MY LINKS

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
0:46 What are Layers
2:37 Merging Layers
3:04 Art Process with Layers
4:35 Layers for Line Art Projects
5:35 Layer Basics in Clip Studio
8:13 Layer Organization
11:31 How Many Layers Should You Have
12:26 Clipping Layers
15:00 Lock Transparency
16:14 Vector Layers
18:06 Layer Modes
19:56 Opacity Slider
21:21 Lock Layer
21:47 Layer Menu & Correction Layers
23:01 Summarizing Layers

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GEAR USED

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MUSIC

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Video VFX Effect footage by RoyaltyFreeTube on Youtube

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Description Tags: how do layers work, voiceover, art class, digital art tutorial

[ongwehias]

you are a good teacher. finally found a video where someone just plainly explains the layers. was trying to get to the place where i could clean up my linework and make color layers without breaking my back. i like the way you emphasize the terms we need to remember.

[Buddhabellie]

14:23 and I got this too! You know how many of these I've watched?! Oh my. Thank you

[colinreid]

Wonderful colouring and thanks for helping an elderly fella progress digitally.

[ritoyuki]

This was astonishingly well made, so clear, so helpful, simple, like, i've searched for understanding layers for quite a while now, and u in some minutes explained everything. REALLY, really thank u

[Buddhabellie]

Thank the youtube gods for finally showing me your videos. Thank you thank you thank you

[Raven]

I think I finally am approaching some level of understanding about layers! Thank you!

[samanthag.]

Yayyy i was waiting for a new video!!! thank youuu!!!💝💝

[CVB]

Great tutorial, I just watched it today, tomorrow gonna implement it in some easy shapes... U explain, u show and take ur time to let it understand. Many other tutorials are also with an explanation but put in a timelapse and that makes fatigue. U understand some people need the visual synchronized with the explanation. i took already (very first) abbo, liked vid and gonna check out more related cntent of yours... Thx. U have the knowledge plus u know how to bring it to others, so it is useful and great. Kudos

[mrc]

Super informative, great job on the video!

[MaisieStirfry]

Thank you so much for this, it was very well explained!

[lucaswood]

very help thanks so much !!! have been binge watching all your vids as they so helpful !!

[RileyWrites]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! Super helpful as a newer digital artist. ❤

[shhthisisredtoo]

woahh im very early hehe going to watch this now I still really have a lot to learn about layers!

[TheWFLE]

Thank you, @shyfoxx! I'm looking into digital art and hope to start soon. I didn't fully understand how to utilize layers for drawy, and probably won't until I start messing with the software itself, but I do believe I'll have a starting place now, thanks to you.

[[Question!!]] In terms of drawing software, which ones would you suggest for beginners? Or someone like me seeking to delve into digital from a traditional background? I'm thinking of starting with procreate. My question for you is, is clip studio free-to-use? What brought you to its program?

Many thanks for your time, your video, and imparting your well-earned artistic wisdom.

A new friend and follower,
Raina. 😅❤

[dashr]

woah ur art amazes me!! keep up the work :D

[AJAH]

Do you have a tutorial about brushes? 🥺

[Dannys-Music-Collection]

Confused! I just got the wacoom small pad, and 1st work on digital art . Question: ' How do you see threw the layers? Do you have to tone down the transparacy on each one ? I can not find an option, every time i choose a different color for the top layer, it covers all.

[sizzles]

I see a Shyfoxx video. I like a Shyfoxx video 👍

[moregabby]

Hiya, love your videos but I'm just confused, my layers all start without colour, just the grey and white blocks that suggest theres no background. How do you get it to automatically be coloured?

[ThatFanMadeStranger]

How do you open layers? I don’t have layers on mine is it a thing I need to purchase?