Clip Studio Paint

I cannot really imagine a situation other than creating custom 3D models in which Clip Studio Paint would ever be inappropriate; it offers tools for art such as: 2D, pixel/voxel work, vectors, painting/drawing, comics, animations and more. The only place that Clip Studio Paint does not shine is in the creation of 3D models, but I think that that is fair given that it's competitor, Photoshop, also cannot do this; this was never a tool meant for 3D model design or creation, but the fact that you can import models and that there is a library of free and paid posable models native to the app is rather impressive.

• Handles huge files with grace, and auto-saves back-ups while you draw.
• Can export into any other image file format, making for easy program transfers.
• Offers animation abilities, posable 3D models as references, mange/comic tools, and so many other options.

• The UI is absolutely not user friendly out of the box, and there are an overwhelming number of keybinds and options.
• Some huge files, while saveable, take about 3 minutes.
• Limited cloud space even though you pay for a license.

I think that once one gets the hang of how to navigate and use Clip Studio Paint, they will find that it has so much more to offer than one might expect when looking at it for the first time. There are hidden gems all throughout this program, and they are all there to make your creative experience all the more streamlined and natural.

I have used a handful of other free art programs, including MediBang Paint, and while they are all good, and I'm sure perfect in the hands of the right artist, I feel as though they simply do not offer the number of options necessary for my needs. They feel very limited and stale; customization is limited and their UI's are outdated. Clip Studio Paint is modern and sleek, highly customizable, and offers far more tools than the other options around it.

• I think that the initial price was incredibly steep, but I managed to get it on discount. As a starting artist, this was a hard blow to take at the start, especially before these subscription options existed.
• After years of use I have more than paid off the cost I sunk into Clip Studio Paint EX.
• I see myself making marked profits by continuing to use the program, even with the new subscription service rather than a perpetual lisence.