How to Flip a Selection and Layer in Clip Studio Paint

Maybe you’ve created an awesome piece of art, but start to wonder if the positioning is correct. Maybe an object, or an entire layer would look better if it was flipped. 

To flip a selection in Clip Studio Paint, use the selection tool to isolate the object you want to flip. Use the Transform tool to flip your selection vertically or horizontally. To flip a layer, select the layer in your layers panel. Use the Transform tool to flip your layer vertically or horizontally.

I talk a lot about the magic of digital art. Having started as a traditional artist, I still get a kick out of everytime that I erase something, move something, flip something, or do anything that would be impossible to do with traditional paper and pencils.

Flipping selections and layers is yet another one of those amazing digital art features. And we’re going to walk through how to do this in Clip Studio Paint!

Before we get started, it’s important to note that resizing raster-based work can result in quality loss. If you plan to flip, rotate, resize, free transform, or adjust your work, it’s important to keep this in mind. I have a full guide on limiting quality loss when resizing that can be helpful to read before making changes to your work.

Alrighty, let’s get started with flipping. To begin with, let’s start with how to flip selections.

How to Flip a Selection in Clip Studio Paint

To flip a selection in Clip Studio Paint, use the selection tool to isolate the object you want to flip. Next, click on the Transform tool and choose the option to either flip your selection horizontally or vertically.

Let’s walk through this, step-by-step.

1. Use the selection tool to isolate your object

If you want to flip a selection, you need a selection to flip. So, we need to get started by creating your selection.

Click on the selection tool and choose the selection option that works best for the object you want to isolate. 

In my example below, I used the Lasso tool to isolate my leaf. Since it was an irregularly shaped object, the Lasso tool gave me the freedom I needed to fully select my leaf without including other objects I didn’t want in my selection.

2. Click on the Transform tool

Once you have your selection finalized, click on the Transformation tool.

There are three options for this.

You can open the Edit menu and scroll down to the Transformation option.

Or, you can click on the Transformation icon in the top toolbar and then open the Tool Property menu. The Transformation icon is the one that has the square icon with the “Scale/Rotate” label. Once you click on this button, the Tool Property menu will include the Transform settings you’ll need.

Or, you can use the Cmd+T keyboard shortcut.

3. Choose to flip your selection vertically or horizontally

Now it’s time to flip your selection!

If you used the Edit menu to access the Transform button, simply click on the appropriate button to flip your selection vertically or horizontally within your Transformation options.

If you clicked on the Transformation icon in your top toolbar, find the flip vertically or flip horizontally buttons in your Tool Property menu.

I know it looks like it’s still in selection mode but, once you click on the Transformation tool, the Tool Property menu will have the Transformation settings in it.

The flip horizontal button is the one that has an icon of two triangles, side-by-side. 

The flip vertical button is the one that has an icon of two triangles, one on top of the other.

Once you’re done, confirm your changes and enjoy your flipped selection!

So, we’ve talked about flipping a selection in Clip Studio Paint, but what if you want to flip an entire layer? Let’s dive into that next!

How to Flip a Layer in Clip Studio Paint

To flip a layer in Clip Studio Paint, select the layer in your layers panel. Next, click on the Transform tool and choose the option to either flip your selection horizontally or vertically.

Flipping an entire layer in Clip Studio Paint is similar to flipping a selection. It’s less work because you don’t have to go through the steps of establishing your selection but, after that, the steps are similar.

Let’s walk through it, step-by-step.

1. Select your layer in your layers panel

Navigate to your list of layers in Clip Studio Paint. Select the layer you want to flip. You’ll know it’s selected when it’s highlighted.

It’s possible to flip multiple layers at once. To do this, you’ll need to select all of the layers you’ll want to flip. You can do this by clicking on the checkmark next to each layer you want to select.

Or, hold down on the command button and click on each layer you want to select. 

If you’re using an iPad, drag your finger out from the left side of your screen to access the keyboard.

2. Click on the Transform tool

Once you have your selection finalized, click on the Transformation tool.

There are two options for this.

You can either open the Edit menu and scroll down to the Transformation option.

Or, you can click on the Transformation icon in the top toolbar and then open the Tool Property menu. The Transformation icon is the one that has the square icon with the “Scale/Rotate” label. Once you click on this button, the Tool Property menu will include the Transform settings you’ll need. 

3. Choose to flip your selection vertically or horizontally

Now it’s time to flip your layer!

If you used the Edit menu to access the Transform button, simply click on the appropriate button to flip your layer vertically or horizontally within your Transformation options.

If you clicked on the Transformation icon in your top toolbar, find the flip vertically or flip horizontally buttons in your Tool Property menu.

The flip horizontally button is the one that has an icon of two triangles, side-by-side. 

The flip vertically button is the one that has an icon of two triangles, one on top of the other.

Once you’re done, confirm your changes and enjoy your flipped layer!

Flipping your selections and layers in Clip Studio Paint can be a great way to make adjustments to your art. It’s one of those awesome features that makes digital art such a fun adventure!