You’ve probably found yourself watching an animation and wondered how they came up with such content, right? Well, you are not alone.
In this era of rapid technological advancement, it is no surprise how such videos and clips are made to look so real using modern digital art software. An excellent example of such software is Clip Studio Paint.
Well, Clip Studio Paint is a digital art software developed by Celsys that is popular among professional artists, manga artists, illustrators, and other art enthusiasts.
With over 25 million users since its launch in 2012, it has become popular due to its unique, customizable interface and extensive toolset that allows users to create a range of content from comics and illustrations to concept art and animations.
Clip Studio Paint features a lot of speech balloons, 3D effects, drawing tools, perspective rulers, and more that help you design different illustrations depending on your tastes.
Two versions of Clip Studio Paint are available in the market – Ex and Pro. Both versions are popular among artists and have different advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, determining which version suits your needs can be daunting.
For this reason, I did some research and highlighted the various features of both Clip Studio Paint Ex and Pro to help you make an informed decision and make the most out of your digital art experience.
Between Clip Studio Paint Ex and Pro, Clip Studio Paint Ex is better. To find out why I am saying so, read on.
What is Clip Studio Paint Ex?
Simply put, Clip Studio Paint Ex is Clip Studio Paint Pro’s upgraded version designed for professional studios and artists. It’s a more advanced digital software tool that features animation creation, 3D modeling, and multi-page management, thus making it ideal for creators looking for high-quality digital art.
With Clip Studio Paint Ex, you can choose from a variety of tools and brushes that are designed to satisfy different art techniques and styles. You can also customize and save brushes that you frequently use to streamline the art creation process.
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What is Clip Studio Paint Pro?
Clip Studio Paint Pro is basically the original version of the Clip Studio Paint software. Of the two, the Pro version is ideal for beginners and artists with lower-level skills in digital art.
The Clip Studio Paint Pro has more features and useful tools. The Clip Studio Paint Pro version boasts a free library with over 10,000 assets where you can access numerous coloring options and painting tools.
While it does not offer 3D modeling and animation creation, it is an excellent choice for creators searching for cost-effective Clip Studio Paint software.
Key Features
Clip Studio Paint Ex
Clip Studio Paint Ex, as discussed earlier, is an upgraded software version with more advanced features and increased functionality to work with comics, illustrations, animations, and manga.
The following are its key features.
3D Modeling
One of the most impressive features of the Clip Studio Paint Ex is the availability of 3D models. This feature enables you to view material in your artwork from different perspectives and angles all at once.
With this tool, you can also change the focal point and the camera position on the 3D layer. This means that when the camera position changes, the model on the canvas simultaneously adjusts too.
The powerful tool allows you to import existing 3D models or create your own intricate and complex designs from scratch. This means you can use the software’s range of settings and tools and manipulate the models to your liking.
The 3D modeling characteristic benefits artists with animation projects by allowing them to create objects, characters, and environments in three dimensions, providing their work with a greater sense of realism and depth.
Multi-page Management
The Ex version has a multi-page management system that allows you to create multiple pages in one document and view the entire project while making it.
This tool is especially critical to artists working on comic books and other projects that require multiple pages.
With this feature, you can create and view an entire page, change the order of the pages, and switch between different pages simply by using the drag-and-drop functionality.
Additionally, the feature allows you to view different thumbnails of the pages you have used before without leaving the current page you are working on.
This feature is appreciated by comic book artists and graphic novel artists who use its functionality to organize and rearrange different pages to create a narrative.
Collaboration
The Clip Studio Paint Ex has a unique teamwork feature that enables different users to create a multi-page project. This means team members can collaborate online with each other and work on the same task while on individual pages.
The collaboration feature works not only on macOS and Windows but also on smartphones and tablets.
Export Options
The Clip Studio Paint Ex version lets you print and export multi-page documents in various formats. These formats include PDF, Kindle, and EPUB ebook formats, including self-publishing and commercial e-books.
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Animation Creation
The animation creation feature of the Clip Studio Paint Ex version is an essential tool for artists working on television shows, web series, or animated films.
With this feature, you can create unlimited frames per animation. An increase in the number of frames per second increases the length and speed of the clip.
This, therefore, means that users of the Ex version of Clip Studio Paint can create long and faster animations with unlimited frames.
Animation tools, such as keyframe editing and onion skinning, make it easy for you to create smooth, fluid animations.
Line Diagrams
While creating any artwork, drawing one object multiple times can be exhausting and time-consuming. However, this Clip Studio Paint Ex feature allows you to convert 3D and 2D objects into screen tones and lines.
It enables you to convert any 3D models and images into line diagrams that can then be customized using different brush and pen tools.
Book Preview
The Ex version of Clip Studio Paint feature enables you to create a 3D book preview of the project you’ve been working on before actually printing it.
Liquify Tool
This feature of the Ex version allows you to adjust your drawings accurately without affecting the brushwork or texture.
You can also select multiple layers and adjust them simultaneously.
Clip Studio Paint Pro
The features found in Clip Studio Paint Pro are all found in the upgraded version Ex. These features include:
Vector Layers
This Clip Studio Paint Pro feature lets you lay vector strokes on created vector layers instead of raster strokes.
Lines drawn in vector layer format enable you to edit lines already drawn while recording each line’s start point, curvature, and end point without using pixels found in the raster layers.
This means you can zoom in and out of scale lines without losing the quality of the image.
Animation Frames
The Clip Studio Paint Pro allows only 24 frames per animation. This means you are only limited to creating a video or clip with a maximum of 24 drawings.
The number of frames per second decreases as the length of the clip increases, making it slow. For example, a four-second clip will have only six frames per second, while a three-second clip will only have eight frames per second.
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Customizable Pens and Brushes
By default, the Clip Studio Paint Pro has numerous tools, markers, pens, and brushes. One of the tools includes drawing pencils that have different pressure sensitivity.
The pen pressure wizard assists in arranging your pen with a few strokes to create a high-quality and natural feel of pen and paper.
The Pro version can be optimized to use a digital mouse or pen, especially when drawing lines. A hard press on the pen makes thick and bold lines, while a soft press creates beautiful smooth lines.
Different painting brush options and adjustments are also available and are used to blend colors well when making the strokes. There is a good selection of brushes for oil paint, watercolors, pastels, ink, and more on Clip Studio Assets.
Stabilization and Correction Features
Using the Clip Studio Paint Pro, you can remove the inorganic look that is common with digital drawing. This version has stabilization and correctional features that make it easy for you to draw clean lines.
The tool works by narrowing the beginning and end of brushstrokes and suppressing wavering and shaky lines.
Color Mixing
This feature allows users of the Clip Studio Paint Pro version to mix, blend, and add color changes just like they would do using the traditional paint palette.
You are simply required to connect your tablet device or computer to your smartphone in Companion Mode and watch your phone become a digital paint palette.
Tonal Correctional Layers
The tonal correctional layer adds finishing touches at the end of your artwork. It allows you to adjust contrast, saturation, brightness, and hue while leaving the original art intact.
You can also apply color balance, tone curves, posterization, and more to make your artwork as detailed as possible.
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Blending Modes
The Clip Studio Paint Pro enables you to express your art more using different blending modes on the layers that add more effects.
There are 29 blending modes available for you to create various effects like stunning highlights and colorful shadows.
OS Compatibility
Clip Studio Paint Ex
The Clip Studio Paint Ex is compatible with macOS, Windows, iPad, iPhone, Chromebooks, and Android devices.
For the software to work correctly, 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 are required. However, for older Windows versions like 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 (32-bit), you are required to download the older version of Clip Studio Paint.
For MacBooks, a macOS of 11, 12, and 13 would be compatible with the software. Apple devices such as iPhones and iPad are required to have an iOS 15.0 or higher, and the app can be downloaded from the App Store.
On the other hand, Android devices require version 9.0 or higher to work correctly with Clip Studio Paint Ex, which can be downloaded from the Play Store.
Clip Studio Paint Pro
The Clip Studio Paint Pro version is also compatible with Windows, macOS, and Android. It requires the exact specifications and features as the Ex version.
The Clip Studio Paint Pro can be downloaded on the App Store for Apple devices with iOS 15.0 or higher and Play Store for Android devices with Android 9.0 or higher.
Verdict
In terms of OS compatibility, it’s a tie. They are compatible with the different operating systems available and can be found on both Play Store and App Store.
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Pricing and Subscription
The pricing and subscription options of the Clip Studio Paint software differ depending on whether it is a new purchase or an upgrade.
Different monthly and annual rates are charged depending on whether you purchase the Clip Studio Paint Ex or Pro versions.
Clip Studio Paint Ex
The one-time downloadable purchase for Clip Studio Paint Ex costs $219 for macOS and Windows. However, please note this plan doesn’t give you access to features past Ver. 2.0.
The annual subscription plan costs $28.99. First-time users enjoy one month free with this plan. Also, Ver. 1 users can use the Update Pass add-on, allowing them to access beyond Ver. 2 feature updates.
The monthly usage plan costs $6 per month and applies to a variety of platforms, including macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chromebook.
Check out the pricing page for more details.
Clip Studio Paint Pro
Like Ex, the Pro version is available under three pricing plans: download version, annual subscription, and monthly plans.
You can download Clip Studio Paint Pro at $49.99 to your Windows or Mac device. The annual plan is $9.99, with first-time users enjoying one month free.
Besides, Ver. 1 users can use the Update Pass add-on to enjoy early access to new features for Ver 2. and beyond.
On the other hand, the monthly plan costs only $2.09. Check out the pricing page for a plan that suits your needs.
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Verdict
Clip Studio Paint Pro wins. While it has similar features and pricing plans as Clip Studio Paint Ex, the plans are priced lower than those of Ex.
Software Version Upgrades
If you are a one-time buyer with version 1, you may want to upgrade to version 2 for additional features that enhance performance. Here’s how much it costs:
Clip Studio Paint Ex
Upgrading from Ex 1 to 2.0 costs $56.99.
Clip Studio Paint Pro
You can upgrade from Pro version 1 to version 2.0 for $19.99. Interestingly, you can also upgrade from Pro version 1 to Ex version 2.0 for $188.99.
The other possible upgrade is from Pro 2.0 to Ex 2.0 for $169 or from Debut version 1 to Pro version 2.0.
For more details on software upgrades, check out this page.
Verdict
Clip Studio Paint Pro comes with more upgrades and price flexibility than Clip Studio Paint.
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Clip Studio Paint Ex vs Pro: Similarities and Differences
Similarities
- Both platforms contain numerous customization tools used for editing
- In both versions, users can draw illustrations directly on vector layers
- Both versions can be accessed through mobile devices and web-based apps
- Both software versions are paid for during the purchase
Differences
- The Pro version supports up to 24 frames per animation, while the Ex version supports unlimited frames
- The Clip Studio Paint Pro is cheaper than the Ex version
- The Pro version is only ideal for single-page illustrations and comics, while the Ex version can support multi-page projects
- The Clip Studio Paint Ex version has a teamwork functionality that allows more than one user to work on the same project – a feature not found in the Pro version
- With the Ex version, you can create a 3D book preview of your work before printing it, a feature not found in the Pro version
- The Clip Studio Paint Ex version allows you to export files in all formats, including PDF, Kindle, and EPUB, unlike the Pro version, which does not support the named formats.
Pros and Cons
Clip Studio Paint Ex
Pros
- Creates realistic 3D models
- Compatible with many devices
- Access to numerous functionalities and tools
- Has more attributes than the Pro version
Cons
- Much more expensive than the Ex version
Clip Studio Paint Pro
Pros
- More affordable than the Ex version
- Easy to use, even for beginners
- Has a large number of the asset library
Cons
- Lacks necessary publishing tools
- Has limited features compared to the Ex version
Wrapping Up
The Clip Studio Paint Pro has numerous features and tools that allow you to create different animations and illustrations. Besides being more affordable than the Ex version, it still has limited features that may not be suitable for all professionals and experts in the field.
That said, I prefer the Clip Studio Paint Ex, as it has a multi-page feature, allowing you to work on different pages simultaneously. Its advanced 3D modeling feature also gives you more than two perspectives of your artwork.
Despite its higher price, the Ex version offers more value for the money in the long run.
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