There are two main ways that I use Manga Studio 5’s color palette.
- Tip 1 is how I save the color swatches I use in Photoshop and import them into Manga Studio 5. This allows me to go back and forth between the two programs and keep the colors consistent.
- Tip 2 is about how I like to create new color palette files for each illustration project and save it for future use. I really like how quick and easy it is to create new palettes. It’s also nice that MS5 gives you options to save it as a MS5 file or as a Photoshop swatch file.
Tip 3 is from fellow Simply Messing About contributor, Christina Forshay:
- In her latest project, Christina made sure she named her swatches so she could use the correct color throughout her book.
Tip 1: Import Photoshop’s color swatch file:
I frequesntly import color swatches that I use in Photoshop into MS5. This is really useful when I move my illustration files back and forth from Photoshop to Manga Studio and want to keep the colors consistent.
In Photoshop: Save your swatch that you want to use in MS5.
Save the .aco file. This is Photoshop’s color swatch file extension.
Go to Manga Studio 5: Import the .aco file you just saved.
Select your .aco file.
Now you have your Photoshop color swatch in Manga Studio.
Tip 2: Create custom color palettes for each project
I like to create new color palettes for every illustration project I have and save it in the project folders. I do this because it’s easier to have the palette I use for each project accessible just in case changes are requested to an illustration weeks later.
Yes, I know that I can use the color picker but there are so many places where the colors are mixed that I want to know what original color I started with. That way I can make sure colors don’t gradually shift from the first page of a book illustration to the last.