How to use the Material Separation Photoshop Plugin

Updated: 03/18/2024

Display of material separation panel

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

Alternatively, you can view it by selecting [Plugin Panel] -> [Live2D Cubism Material Separation].

The following [Material Separation] panel will appear.

How to use plugins

Specify a selection

Using Photoshop’s Select Tool or other tools, select the object you wish to separate into materials.

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).
(Note: The name of the cut out layer will be “Cut Out.”)

SelectCut out result

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

Create New Group Layer

With the [Create New Group Layer] 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.

SelectCut 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.

SelectCut out result

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.

SelectNormal resultExpanded 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.

SelectCut out result
SelectColor filled state

Naming the cut out layer

Enter a string in the [Cut Out Layer Name] text field and click [Cut Out].
The cut out result will create a pixel layer and a group layer with the entered string as the layer name.

SelectCut out result

Color Fill

Clicking [Color Fill] with a selection specified fills the selection.
The color fill result is saved in a separate pixel layer from the original layer (source image).
(Note: The name of the color filled layer will be “Color Fill.”)

[Color Fill] characteristics:

  • The effect is applied to “all pixels” within the selection.
  • A pixel layer is created on top of the original layer.

Color Fill Layer Name:

For the [Color Fill Layer Name] as well as the Cut Out Layer Name, click “Color Fill” after entering a string in the text field.
A pixel layer is created with the layer name entered.

SelectColor fill result
SelectColor filled state

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.
(Note: The name of the transparency filled layer will be “Transparency Fill.”)

[Transparency Fill] characteristics:

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

Transparency Fill Layer Name:

For the “Transparency Fill Layer Name” as well as the Cut Out Layer Name, click “Transparency Fill” after entering a string in the text field.
A pixel layer is created with the layer name entered.
(Note: The default layer name is “Transparency Fill.”)

SelectTransparency fill result
SelectTransparency filled state
Tips

Clicking [About] from the menu button in the upper-right corner of the [Material Separation] panel displays the [About] dialog box, which allows you to check whether the current processing device is a GPU or CPU.
On PCs equipped with NVIDIA (CUDA-compatible) GPUs, the processing device is the GPU, which allows for faster processing.

Precautions

Note: Installing this plugin may increase the startup time of Photoshop by several tens of seconds. This problem will be fixed in alpha2.
Note: The size of the selection is limited to 1000 pixels or less per side.
Note: Undo/Redo is performed one operation at a time. Currently, it is not possible to perform batches of Undo/Redo operations.

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