The quick answer
Open it in your browser with ClipPeak: choose the file at the top of this page and it appears in seconds, with all its layers. From there you can save it as PNG, JPG or a layered PSD. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, Android and iPad.
Option 1: Clip Studio Paint
If you draw regularly, Clip Studio Paint itself (Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, Chromebook) is the natural choice. The free trial and the limited free plans can open .clip files. Use File › Export (Single layer) for PNG/JPG or File › Save as with the .psd type to keep layers.
Option 2: in the browser, without installing anything
ClipPeak reads the .clip format directly and rebuilds the artwork from its layers. It's the fastest way when you just received a file, are on a borrowed or locked-down computer, or want to convert it for another program. The file stays on your device.
Option 3: ask for a different format
If someone sends you .clip files regularly, ask them to also export a PSD or PNG. For comics, the whole project can be exported from Clip Studio Paint with File › Export multiple pages.
Why other programs can't open .clip files
The .clip format is Clip Studio Paint's own container. Inside, it holds an SQLite database that describes the layers, and compressed image tiles that hold the pixels, plus data for vector strokes, text, rulers and animation. There is no public specification, so Photoshop, Krita and GIMP do not support it. Renaming the file to .psd or .png does not work.
Common problems
- “The file is a .cmc”
- That is the index of a multi-page project. The actual pages are page0001.clip, page0002.clip … in the same folder.
- “Text looks different”
- Text is drawn with the fonts on the viewing device. Install the same font, or ask the artist for a PNG export.
- “The file won't open at all”
- The file may be incomplete — for example a download or cloud sync that was interrupted. Try copying it again.
| Feature in the .clip file | How ClipPeak handles it |
|---|---|
| Raster layers, folders, opacity | Exact — drawn from the pixels saved in the file |
| All 28 blending modes (Multiply, Overlay, Add (Glow), Glow dodge, Divide, Hue…), "Through" folders | Exact |
| Layer masks, "Clip to layer below", reference/draft layers, paper layer | Exact |
| Image material layers (pasted photos), including scaled, rotated and tiled images | Exact |
| Gray and monochrome expression color | Exact |
| Correction layers: Levels, Tone curve, Brightness/Contrast, Hue/Saturation/Luminosity, Color balance, Posterization, Threshold, Reverse gradient, Gradient map | Very close — calibrated against Clip Studio Paint output |
| Gradient and fill layers, screentone (tone) effect, border effect | Very close — re-created from their settings |
| Vector layers | Close — strokes are redrawn; special brush textures are simplified |
| Text layers | Approximate — redrawn with the fonts installed on your device |
| 3D layers, animation timelines | Shown through the full image saved in the file |
Whenever a file contains layers that have to be re-created, ClipPeak tells you, marks them with ≈ in the layer list, and — if the file contains Clip Studio Paint's own full-size image — shows that exact image until you start switching layers on and off.