Clip Studio Paint

What Clip Studio Paint does

Clip Studio Paint is a proprietary digital art creation suite developed by CELSYS, Inc., a privately-held Japanese corporation headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with 51-100 employees and CEO Narushima Kei. The software targets professional and hobbyist illustrators, manga/comic creators, webtoon artists, and animators, and is differentiated by domain-specialized tooling for manga production (panel frames, speech bubbles, screentones, multi-page management) and frame-by-frame animation (light table, onion-skin, vector-based 4K animation). Its technical foundation combines vector layer technology with 3D pose-reference models, and the product is distributed across Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, Samsung Galaxy, and Chromebook in over 10 languages.

The platform spans more than the core paint application: it includes a community marketplace (CLIP STUDIO ASSETS) hosting over 100,000 user-generated materials and 40,000+ brushes, official learning resources (CLIP STUDIO TIPS, Art Rocket), a Q&A community (CLIP STUDIO ASK), a creator certification program, hardware accessories (TABMATE, TABMATE 2), and 10GB of integrated cloud storage. CELSYS monetizes through a hybrid model — one-time perpetual licenses (PRO at 6,900 JPY, EX at 28,900 JPY), monthly/annual subscriptions (PRO from 100 JPY/month, EX from 300 JPY/month), enterprise and education volume licensing, an in-app CLIPPY virtual currency for marketplace transactions, and an affiliate program via CJ Affiliate offering up to 50% commission. Go-to-market is product-led and community-led, supported by an official expert evangelist program, regular international illustration contests, regional pricing in markets such as China, Taiwan, Brazil, Indonesia, and Thailand, and confirmed enterprise adoption by Marvel Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, The Pokemon Company, WEBTOON Entertainment, and Behaviour Interactive. The product was recognized as Google Play Best of 2024 in the Tablet Category, and Version 5.0 was released in 2025.

Name

Clip Studio Paint

Legal name

CELSYS, Inc.

Website

https://clipstudio.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Clip Studio Paint, developed by Japan's CELSYS, Inc., is a cross-platform digital illustration, manga, and animation software sold via perpetual licenses, subscriptions, and volume licensing to professional and hobbyist artists globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Illustration Software

NAICS

Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

2D Character Animation (MPAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Look Development, Shading & Lighting (Animation) (MPAHACAI)

Keywords

• Digital illustration software
• Manga creation tools
• Animation production software
• Comic creation platform
• Digital art tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Shinjuku

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Perpetual License (One-time Purchase): One-time purchase license for Windows/macOS with no recurring fees. PRO version at 6,900 JPY (tax included), EX version at 28,900 JPY (tax included). Once purchased, version 5.0 can be used indefinitely.
2. Subscription Plans (Monthly/Annual): Monthly and annual subscription plans. PRO from 100 JPY/month, EX from 300 JPY/month. Subscription includes 10GB cloud storage, monthly free official materials downloads, and unlimited CLIPPY usage during subscription. EX subscribers also receive I-C SCREEN Digital materials monthly.
3. Volume Licensing: Enterprise and educational institution licenses for 5+ users. Allows use on up to 2 devices per person for office and home use. Includes latest features.
4. CLIPPY Points (Digital Currency): Points earned through community engagement and promotional activities that can be used to purchase materials in the Clip Studio Assets marketplace.
5. Affiliate Commission: Commission earned through the affiliate program (CJ Affiliate) - 25% for one-time license sales, 25-50% for monthly plans, 7% during promotional sales. Up to 50% share for affiliates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Clip Studio Paint is a proprietary digital art application developed by CELSYS, Inc. that enables illustration, manga/comic creation, webtoon production, and frame-by-frame animation. The software is offered in two tiers (PRO for illustration and EX for professional manga and animation) via one-time perpetual license, monthly/annual subscription, and enterprise volume licensing across Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, Galaxy, and Chromebook. The product suite also includes the TABMATE and TABMATE 2 hardware accessories for digital drawing input.

Product overview

Clip Studio Paint is a comprehensive digital art creation suite offered primarily as two product tiers: CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO (standard version for illustration and artwork) and CLIP STUDIO PAINT EX (premium version for professional manga and animation production). The portfolio includes hardware accessories (CLIP STUDIO TABMATE 2 and CLIP STUDIO TABMATE), community and marketplace platforms (CLIP STUDIO ASSETS, CLIP STUDIO START), educational resources (CLIP STUDIO TIPS, Art Rocket), a Q&A community (CLIP STUDIO ASK), creator certification program (CLIP STUDIO PAINT Creator Certification), and cloud storage services. Available through one-time purchase, monthly/annual subscriptions, and enterprise volume licensing. The software supports Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, Galaxy, and Chromebook platforms with over 100,000 brushes and materials available through its integrated marketplace.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CLIP STUDIO PAINT Professional digital art application for illustration, manga, comics, webtoons, and animation. Available in PRO and EX tiers across Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, Galaxy, and Chromebook platforms via one-time purchase, monthly/annual subscription, and enterprise volume licensing.
• CLIP STUDIO TABMATE 2 Input device that supports comfortable creation on any device, compatible with iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows, and macOS. Offered at preferential price of 9,900 JPY (regular price 12,800 JPY).
• CLIP STUDIO TABMATE Pen tablet accessory for more comfortable drawing operations on Windows, macOS, and Android devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ free materials available for immediate use
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Marvel StudiosflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarvel Studios uses Clip Studio Paint for animation production in the United States. This represents enterprise-level adoption of the software for professional commercial animation work.
• The Pokemon Company InternationalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Pokemon Company International uses Clip Studio Paint for game development work in the United States, utilizing the software for character and asset creation.
• Warner Bros. AnimationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarner Bros. Animation uses Clip Studio Paint for professional animation production in the United States.
• WEBTOON Entertainment IncflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEBTOON Entertainment uses Clip Studio Paint for webtoon creation in the United States. The software is recognized as ideal for webtoon production with excellent organization tools.
• Boston UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston University's College of Fine Arts uses Clip Studio Paint for digital art education in the United States.
• School of Visual Arts (SVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool of Visual Arts uses Clip Studio Paint for art education programs in the United States.
• Hongik UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHongik University in South Korea uses Clip Studio Paint for digital art education, particularly in their renowned illustration and comic programs.
• Tecnológico de MonterreycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico uses Clip Studio Paint for digital art education.
• Behaviour InteractiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehaviour Interactive uses Clip Studio Paint for game development in Canada, utilizing the software for character and asset creation.
• Cyber Group StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyber Group Studios uses Clip Studio Paint for animation production in France.
• RIDIBOOKSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIDIBOOKS webtoon studio in South Korea uses Clip Studio Paint for webtoon content creation.
• Pratt InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPratt Institute in the United States uses Clip Studio Paint for digital art and design education.
• Rayark International LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRayark International Limited (Taiwan) uses Clip Studio Paint for game development, particularly for character and visual asset creation.
• RED DOG CULTURE HOUSEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRED DOG CULTURE HOUSE in South Korea uses Clip Studio Paint for animation and webtoon production.
• Teesside UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeesside University in England uses Clip Studio Paint for digital art education.
• De Montfort UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Montfort University in England uses Clip Studio Paint for digital art education.
• MJM GRAPHIC DESIGN PARISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMJM GRAPHIC DESIGN PARIS in France uses Clip Studio Paint for graphic design education.
• Zen ProductionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZen Production in Malaysia uses Clip Studio Paint for professional animation production.
• ANIMONSTA STUDIOS SDN BHDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerANIMONSTA STUDIOS in Malaysia uses Clip Studio Paint for professional animation production.
• CJ Affiliate (Affiliate Program)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCJ Affiliate network powers the Clip Studio Paint affiliate program, enabling content creators to earn commissions by referring customers. Commission rates up to 50% for sales through affiliate links.
• Samsung GalaxycoreTechnology or IntegrationSpecial Galaxy-optimized version of Clip Studio Paint available through Samsung Galaxy Store, featuring 'Create with Galaxy' branding and promotional campaigns.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Adobe: Adobe offers Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fresco for digital illustration and animation. It is the dominant incumbent creative software suite and competes with Clip Studio Paint across professional illustration, painting, and increasingly in animation workflows.
• Corel Painter: Corel Painter is an established natural-media digital painting application used by professional illustrators and concept artists. It overlaps with Clip Studio Paint on illustration workflows as part of a broader creative software portfolio owned by Alludo.

Direct peers

• Procreate: Procreate is a leading digital illustration app for iPad with strong brush engine and is widely used by illustrators. It directly competes with Clip Studio Paint PRO on illustration workflows, particularly among professional and prosumer artists.
• Krita: Krita is an open-source digital painting application popular with concept artists, illustrators, and comic creators. It directly competes with Clip Studio Paint in the illustration and comic creation space, primarily on price-sensitive users.
• Affinity (Serif): Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo provide vector and raster illustration capabilities as a lower-cost alternative to Adobe. They overlap with Clip Studio Paint on illustration and design workflows, particularly for design-oriented professionals.
• MediBang Paint: MediBang Paint is a free digital painting and comic creation tool with strong manga/comic features. It directly competes with Clip Studio Paint in the manga and comic creation space, especially among hobbyist and student users.
• PaintTool SAI: PaintTool SAI is a lightweight, low-cost digital painting application particularly popular among anime and manga-style illustrators. It directly competes with Clip Studio Paint on core painting workflows for individual artists.
• Autodesk Sketchbook: Autodesk Sketchbook is a drawing and sketching application with cross-platform support. It competes with Clip Studio Paint on illustration and sketching workflows, particularly among concept artists and designers.
• Toon Boom Harmony: Toon Boom Harmony is a professional 2D animation production tool used across the animation industry. It directly competes with Clip Studio Paint's animation features for professional animation studios and educational institutions.

Emerging players

• Rebelle: Rebelle is a realistic digital painting software specializing in watercolor and traditional media simulation. It overlaps with Clip Studio Paint's natural-media brush capabilities but focuses on a narrower audience of fine artists and illustrators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clip_celsys
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCE05Loo-ADhXiofF6poA4SA
• Facebookfacebook.com/celsys.clipstudiopaint
• Instagraminstagram.com/clipstudioofficial
• TikToktiktok.com/@clipstudioofficial
• Pinterestjp.pinterest.com/clipstudioofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clipstudiopaint

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clip Studio Paint