Save time with Auto-Action

Making Manga / Comic can be a tedious process of doing the same step over and over again. While clip studio can’t draw for you it can help with the repetitious part of making a comic. The way it can help is with the tool called Auto-Action. Auto-action is a tool that records the functions of the user and stores it in a single button.

The [Auto Action] palette is a palette that allows you to record multiple operations and run these operations in one go. You can also manage recorded operations.

The auto-action tool can be used for a multitude of things, but the main use dependent on the user themselves. The tool is customizable so if the user can think of it they can do. For example the process of crop an image, resizing it, and exporting can be done in a single button. A lot of artist start out a traditional artist who then scans in their artwork and colors it in digitally. After scanning in the photo an artist usually dubplates it, makes the drawing transparent, locks the original, and makes several layers to start work on the drawing. That is if their ink is clean if not then they have to get rid of the grey/blue lines. Auto- action can simplify all of this into one button. So, let do that right now.

First, go to the windows tab and click Auto-action if it not up already

Click on the Menu tab

and click add new auto-action

Rename the action so you can remember it. I named mine "Transparent page" but name it whatever you want.

Once that is done click the record button. Once this button is clicked anything you do will be used every time you click, so be cautious but you can always edit the action later.

For this example right-click to duplicate the page. Then lock the original.

Rasterize the copy [if needed] and then in the edit tab convert brightness to opacity.

To get rid of all the gray lines on this page we'll change the expression color to monochrome so only the black lines are left.

Once all of this is done click the red button again to stop the recording.

Hide the original layer to see your handy work and you are done.

And there is the button!! All you have to do is press play and it will do all of the previous work in one click.

Auto-action is an amazing tool, with a lot of uses. Other examples are making a folder, with the layer settings for character tones. Turning a photo into a manga background. Adding effects to text and so much more.

I personally have an auto action for every character in my manga. Each character has certain tone shades to there clothes, so my auto action renames layers. Adjust the opacity of said layers, and then put all of there layer into a folder. Making the first auto-action is a pain, but once it's done the time saved is worth it.