How to use the Material Separation Photoshop Plugin

Updated: 02/27/2025

Display of material separation panel

Open the Material Separation panel by selecting the [Plugin] menu -> [Live2D Cubism Material Separation] -> [Material Separation].

Alternatively, it can be accessed via the [Plugin] panel -> [Live2D Cubism Material Separation].

Structure of the Material Separation Panel

The [Material Separation] plugin is displayed in a panel like the one shown below.

番号	名前	説明
1	Cut Out	You can cut out recognized objects from an image by specifying a selection range.
2	Transparency Fill	Specify a selection range to fill in the image
3	Create New Group	When executing [Cut Out] or [Fill], a new group is created, and layers are created within it.
4	Create New Masked Layer	When executing [Cut Out] or [Fill], layers are created with layer masks applied.
5	Fill Cut Out Area	When executing [Cut Out], a layer filled with the background is created below the cut-out layer.
6	Expand Cut Out Area	When executing [Cut Out], the cut-out area is expanded, and the selected object is cut out slightly larger.
7	Use GPU if possible	Processing will use the GPU if the environment supports it.
８	Menu button	Clicking [About] in the menu will display the [About] dialog, where you can check if the current processing device is the GPU or CPU.

Cut Out and Fill:

The Material Separation plugin consists of two features: [Cut Out] and [Fill].
You need to specify a selection range before using them.

Specify a selection

Use tools like Photoshop’s selection tool to select the object you want to separate.
Below is an example where a selection range is specified to cut out a rabbit from a hat.

Cut Out

Click [Cut Out] with a selection specified to cut out the image with anti-aliasing applied, recognizing the exact shape of the target.
The cut out result is created on a separate pixel layer from the original layer (source image).

Select	Cut out result

Plugin Options:

Since [Cut Out] by itself only separates the layers, setting the check box option improves usability.
Each function is explained below.

Create New Group

With the [Cut out in a new group] check box selected, click [Cut Out].
A new group will be created and the layer resulting from the cut out will be stored in it.

Select	Cut out result

Create New Masked Layer

With the [Create New Masked Layer] check box selected, click [Cut Out].
The cut out result is saved as a layer mask.
If you want to modify the result, for example, you can adjust it in the layer mask.

Select	Cut out result

Fill Cut Out Area

With the [Fill Cut Out Area] check box selected, click [Cut Out].
The cut out area will be filled out to blend in with its surroundings, creating the result as a pixel layer.

Select	Cut out result

Select	Color filled state

Expand Cut Out Area

With the [Expand Cut Out Area] check box selected, click [Cut Out].
The cut out area is expanded, and the selected object is cut out a little larger.

Note: This option is intended for the manual reduction process after cutting to a little larger size.
If you want automatic cutout with high accuracy, please do not set this option.

Select	Normal result	Expanded result

Cut Out Multiple Layers & Groups

From beta1 onwards, the cut out and fill features can also be used on illustrations with a layer structure where lines, fills, and shadows are separated, in addition to single original drawings.

Example of Creation:

In the example below, suspenders are cut out from pants while the line and fill layers are separated.
(Note: The area outlined in red represents the suspenders.)

With the following plugin options checked, we will proceed to actually perform the cutout.

• Create layers within a new group
• Use layer masks
• Fill cutout area

Creation Steps:

1. Specify the area you want to cut out with a selection range.
2. Select the line and fill layers. (Selecting groups is also possible)
3. Click the [Cut Out] option in the plugin.
4. “Cut Out” and “Fill” will be created.

Specify Selection Range	Select Layer (A = Line, B = Fill)

Cutout Result	Created Group (C = Cut Out, D = Fill)

Structure of the Cut Out Group:
The cutout layer maintains the original group’s layer structure.
Depending on the “Create layers within a new group” option setting, the group structure will be as follows:

With Checkmark	Without Checkmark
A “Cut Out” and “Fill” group will be created at the same hierarchy level above the original group, and “Cut Out” and “Fill” layers will be created within them.	“Cut Out” and “Fill” layers will be created at the same hierarchy level above the original layer.

Transparency Fill

Clicking [Transparency Fill] with a selection specified will fill the selected area.
The transparency fill result is saved in a separate pixel layer from the original layer.

[Transparency Fill] characteristics:

• The fill is applied to the “transparent area” within the selection.
• A pixel layer is created below the original layer.

Select	Transparency fill result

Select	Transparency filled state

Fill Multiple Layers & Groups

Example of Creation:

In the example below, the “skin” is filled while the lines and fills (clothing and skin) layers are separated.

With the following plugin options checked, we will proceed to actually fill.

• Create layers within the group
• Use layer masks

Creation Steps:

1. Specify the area you want to fill by selecting it.
2. Select the fill group (in the example below, “Skin”).
3. Click the [Fill] option in the plugin.
4. A [Fill] group will be created.

Structure of the Fill Group:
The filled layers maintain the original group’s layer structure.
Depending on the “Create layers within a new group” option setting, the group structure will be as follows.

With Checkmark	Without Checkmark
A “Fill” group will be created at the same hierarchy level below the original group, with “Fill” layers created within it.	“Fill” layers will be created at the same hierarchy level below the original layer.