Clip Studio Paint Reviews

Pros

Clip Studio Paint is thoughtfully built as an artist and animator, with lots of small details that make the whole experience feel polished. Whether I am just starting out or already working at a professional level, drawing and animating in CSP is pretty easy too. On top of that, the huge community asset library is incredibly helpful and has something for just about any creative idea I want to explore.

Cons

I noticed that it does miss a few small but still important features that other art programs include, such as a separate H/S/V slider.

Pros

Being able to use it on my iPad and switch between Simple Mode and Desktop Mode is a huge plus. Having access to the full desktop feature set on my iPad has really helped my manga creation workflow.

Cons

It does handle large canvases but that seems to affect overall performance and I have run into lag pretty often.

Pros

There is a wide range of tools, brushes and assets and it stays focused on art and productivity instead of piling on bloated, unnecessary features like Photoshop does.

Cons

The interface feels heavy, performance is pretty poor Overall and the license verification system regularly gets in the way of using software I already paid for. About a quarter of the time, it simply won't let me use it and sometimes it just decides not to work at all.

Pros

One thing I really appreciate about Clip Studio Paint is just how many tools and features are included in the suite, along with how much I can personalize my workspace to match whatever I need at the time. That level of layout customization is especially helpful since my workflow changes pretty often. The cloud backup option also gives me a lot of peace of mind because I know my work is still protected if anything ever happens to my computer or hard drives. On top of that, I enjoy how community-focused the platform is especially with the ability to buy or even download free materials, brushes and other assets shared by other artists.

Cons

A frustrating part for me is that many of the really desirable features are locked behind the more expensive license tier and I am not a fan of the shift from perpetual licenses to annual subscriptions either. I have also heard there may be some AI involvement in the newer updates and that honestly doesn't sit well with me at all. They really should know better.

Pros

Clip Studio Paint comes with pretty much everything I'd expect from a digital art program. There is a huge range of features, tons of options and plenty of ways to customize my workflow to fit how I like to work. On top of that, the asset store is a big advantage and downloading and adding assets into the program is very convenient.

Cons

At the same time, the interface is not very user friendly and learning how to use�the program�can be extremely challenging. The manuals and tutorials available are also quite weak, to the point that many users don't even realize how to access basic functions like perfect symmetry.

Pros

Overall it is easy to use and the drawing tools keep improving with more and more useful features. Being able to use Clip Studio on my iPad and move my artwork back and forth between my mobile device and laptop makes it an incredibly versatile program.

Cons

I still wish it included a perspective line tool like the one in Paint Tool SAI. That would make it feel like the ultimate art software.

Pros

One thing I appreciate most about CSP is its open-source nature.

Cons

The part I enjoy least about�this software�is the interface which feels difficult to navigate.

Pros

The thing that really made me happy is that my CSP files open in Adobe Photoshop and my Photoshop files open in Clip Studio Paint as well. Since Adobe Photoshop kept crashing on me, Clip Studio Paint ended up saving my projects. I'd definitely recommend CSP.

Cons

At the beginning, I was a little confused about how to import new brushes or materials.

Pros

Clip Studio Paint gives me as an artist an impressive range of tools to work with, from drawing features to perspective rulers. The standout is being able to change the size of my stroke whenever needed, since that is especially important in my professional animation work.

Cons

The menu is extremely extensive and at first it can feel a bit overwhelming.

Pros

The thing that deserves a mention from me is the huge range of brushes available in the program. Still, the biggest reason I keep coming back to Clip Studio Paint is how fast it lets me lay down flat colors underneath my linework. I also use Photoshop CS5 and its paint bucket tool really falls short by comparison. Clip Studio Paint handles flat fills incredibly well and it lets me put those colors on a separate layer from my lineart while still using the linework as a guide. The end result is almost seamless, needs very little cleanup by me and is far more flexible and less destructive than doing the same thing in Photoshop.

Cons

My biggest complaint is the imported text issue, although it only comes up in certain situations. Aside from that the program�does take some time to learn if you want to really use it well. To be fair that applies to most software but this one is a bit less user friendly at first than some other programs.

Pros

It runs well even on lower-spec devices and the huge selection of downloadable brushes and drawing tools makes it really versatile. It's excellent for my illustration work and it also lets me handle animation projects from start to final render. On top of that, it supports many file formats and delivers high-resolution output, so I'd definitely recommend it especially for beginners like I once was.

Cons

At the beginning, I had a little trouble remembering where some of the tools were but that felt pretty normal for someone new to�the app�and honestly no different from learning other software. After spending some time with it, I ended up really enjoying�this software.

Pros

Clip Studio Paint has turned out to be a very great piece of software, packed with plenty of helpful features and tools. The massive selection of brushes really stood out and it has been both impressive and a real time-saver.

Cons

One thing I wish�this platform�handled better is its marketing and update policy especially making sure people who recently paid can access newer versions and updates. That's really my only issue with it.

Pros

An excellent program to create illustrations, animations, digital drawings and comic books. It also comes with very strong tools for my comic lettering. It is more complete than other software in the same category and I would definitely recommend it to professional artists and illustrators.

Cons

It is not the most user friendly at first and does require some initial learning but with practice it becomes much easier to use.

Pros

One thing I really appreciate about Clip Studio Paint is the wide range of possibilities it offers me for textures and materials.

Cons

Nothing major but the way the timeline is organized in animation mode can be a bit confusing.

Pros

I really enjoy the tools it offers me for inking my illustrations and adding comic-style effects is very easy.

Cons

The learning curve is moderate, so if someone is just starting out, it can take a bit of effort to get used to�the program.

Pros

There is a huge range of possibilities thanks to the many tools and they're all quite simple to use.

Cons

Its price is high and doesn't really fit my budget, even though I still think it's worth it.

Pros

It is a powerful and fantastic piece of software that I use every week for my projects. It performs really well and comes with a huge variety of useful features, including plenty that are accessible even as a beginner. The interface is clear, clean and customizable which makes it pleasant to work in. Another big advantage is the option to pay once instead of dealing with ongoing subscriptions and There is also a store where I can download tons of new assets for my work.

Cons

The price is definitely one of the less favorable aspects of�this software. It's not exactly cheap, so the cost could be a real barrier for people who want to use its features for non-professional purposes. Even so, it still feels worth every cent spent.

Pros

Clip Studio Paint is very approachable to use. I can choose between the standard version and EX and even the regular version includes plenty of features to create what I need. Compared with other art software, it comes across as much more welcoming for beginners like me. They also run sales pretty often which makes it a really appealing program to give a try.

Cons

Keep in mind that this comes from the newer subscription model. So you are now pushed to pay monthly, even though one of its biggest advantages used to be the one-time purchase. It also feels like you lose access to certain things if you don't subscribe which is the disappointing part.

Pros

One of the best parts of Clip Studio is its community asset library, where users share brushes, textures, 3D models and other resources that I can download and use.

Cons

Pricing can get expensive depending on the platform you use. For example, the tablet version requires a monthly subscription, while the PC and Mac version is just a one-time purchase.

Pros

Getting a free trial with my tablet purchase was a nice bonus. The software definitely is professional and very full-featured, with a huge range of tools and settings to work with.

Cons

Over the past month, I have opened it every few days and still haven't gotten very far. It took me quite a while just to figure out how to start a new file and I still don't know how to import an image or add a background. It doesn't seem to include any kind of media library which isn't a dealbreaker but it would have been helpful. I also cannot work out how to switch brushes or adjust the brush size. Overall it feels really confusing and the interface elements are so tiny even on a large tablet. I am not a professional artist but I have been doing art as a hobby my whole life and usually have no trouble with similar programs. I wanted to use this to create a new company logo but at this point I can barely manage a stick figure with it lol. Some tutorial videos or beginner guidance would really help.