✩Ways to Layering

 

✩Lazy Artist’s Guide: How to Use Layering the Easy Way in Ibis Paint X

Hey there! Nai’s here, and if you’re anything like me, you love creating art but don’t always have the patience to spend hours on complicated techniques. That’s why today, I’m sharing one of the easiest ways to make your digital art look more polished—without the extra effort. The secret? Layering!

Ibis Paint X has a powerful layer system that can help you shade, highlight, and add depth to your artwork without having to repaint everything manually. The best part? You don’t need to be a pro to use layers effectively! Let’s break down some simple, lazy-friendly layering techniques that’ll make your art look amazing with minimal work.

1. Use Multiply Layers for Instant Shadows

• What it does: Multiply layers darken whatever is underneath them, making them perfect for quick and easy shading.
• How to use it:

1. Create a new layer above your base colors.
2. Change the blending mode to Multiply (you can find this in the layer settings).
3. Use a soft airbrush with a slightly darker color to add shadows—boom, instant depth!

• Pro Tip: Don’t use pure black for shading—it can look too harsh. Instead, try using a darker version of your base color (like deep purple for skin or navy blue for hair) for a softer effect.

2. Add a Soft Glow with “Add” or “Screen” Layers

• What it does: These layers brighten your artwork and make highlights pop effortlessly.
• How to use it:

1. Create a new layer on top of your art and set the blending mode to Add (or Screen for a more subtle glow).
2. Use a soft airbrush and a light color (white, yellow, or pink) to add highlights.
3. Gently paint over areas that would naturally catch the light, like hair, cheeks, or accessories.

• Pro Tip: Want that dreamy, ethereal glow? Lightly blur the highlight layer to make it blend seamlessly!

3. Use Clipping Layers to Avoid Messy Coloring

• What it does: Clipping masks let you color inside the lines without worrying about ruining your base layer.
• How to use it:

1. Place a new layer above your base color layer.
2. Tap the layer and select Clipping—this will lock your strokes to whatever is below it.
3. Now you can shade, highlight, or add details without going outside the lines!

• Pro Tip: Clipping masks are great for adding textures, like soft blush, clothing patterns, or light reflections.

4. Overlay Layers for Vibrant Color Effects

• What it does: Overlay layers add richness and vibrancy to your colors, making them look more alive.
• How to use it:

1. Create a new layer on top of everything and set it to Overlay.
2. Use a warm color (like orange, red, or pink) to add warmth, or a cool color (like blue or purple) for a moody effect.
3. Lightly brush over areas to enhance the mood and lighting of your piece.

• Pro Tip: If the effect is too strong, lower the opacity until it looks just right.

5. Lock Alpha for Easy Color Adjustments

• What it does: Locking alpha means you can repaint an area without affecting the transparent parts of the layer.
• How to use it:

1. Select the layer you want to edit.
2. Tap Lock Alpha (found in the layer menu).
3. Now, when you paint, the colors will only affect the existing strokes—perfect for quickly adjusting shading or adding highlights!

• Pro Tip: This is super useful for refining line art, recoloring, or fixing areas without making a mess.

Final Thoughts

And that’s it! These simple layering techniques can save you so much time while making your artwork look polished and professional. Whether you’re adding shading, highlights, or color adjustments, using layers the lazy way can seriously level up your art without the extra work.

So, if you’ve ever felt intimidated by layers, don’t worry! Just start with these easy tricks, and soon, you’ll be layering like a pro—with half the effort.

Happy drawing, and remember: work smarter, not harder!