How to make a gfx on mobile ibispaint is a question that pops up a lot in the Roblox community, especially for those of us who don't have a beast of a PC to run heavy 3D software like Blender. Let's be real—it's totally possible to create something that looks professional, glossy, and aesthetic using just your phone or tablet. You don't need fancy rendering engines to get that "wow" factor; you just need to know how to use layers, lighting, and overlays to your advantage.
If you've ever looked at those high-quality profile pictures or thumbnails and thought, "I could never do that on a mobile app," I'm here to tell you that's not true. IbisPaint X is actually an incredible tool for GFX artists because it gives you almost as much control as Photoshop does. Whether you're making a gift for a friend or trying to start a GFX commission shop, this guide is going to walk you through the process step-by-step.
Getting Your Character Ready
Before we even open IbisPaint, we need a clean shot of your character. Since we aren't using 3D software to "render" the character, we have to rely on a good screenshot. The best way to do this is to jump into a "Green Screen" or "Catalog Avatar Creator" game in Roblox.
Once you're in there, find a spot with a solid green or neon blue background. This is crucial because it makes it a million times easier to cut out your character later. Position your camera so you get a clear view of your avatar. Use an emote to get a cool pose—don't just stand there like a statue! Once you've got a pose you love, hide the UI and take a high-quality screenshot. Try to make sure your graphics are turned all the way up in the Roblox settings before you snap the photo so the edges aren't all pixelated.
Setting Up Your Canvas
Now, open up IbisPaint X. You'll want to start a new project. I usually recommend a 1:1 square canvas (like 2000x2000) if you're making a profile picture, or a 16:9 ratio if you're aiming for a YouTube thumbnail. A higher resolution is always better because it keeps things from looking blurry when you start adding filters.
Import your screenshot by clicking the layer button and selecting the camera icon. Once your character is on the canvas, it's time to get rid of that green background. You can use the Magic Wand tool to select the green area and then "Cut" it. If the wand leaves a weird green outline around your character, don't panic. You can use the "Eraser" tool to clean up the edges manually, or use the "Selection Area" tool to refine it. Taking your time here is important; a "messy" cut is the fastest way to make a GFX look amateur.
Background and Composition
Now that you have your character floating on a transparent background, you need a vibe. You can find "aesthetic GFX backgrounds" on Pinterest or Google, or you can create your own using gradients and brushes.
When you import your background, make sure it's on a layer underneath your character. A little trick to make your character pop is to add a slight Gaussian Blur to the background. This creates a "depth of field" effect, making the viewer focus on your avatar rather than the scenery behind it. It gives it that high-end camera look that everyone loves in 3D renders.
The Secret Sauce: Lighting and Shading
This is the part where the magic happens. If you just leave the screenshot as-is, it's going to look flat. To make it look like a real GFX, we need to fake some 3D lighting.
Start by creating a new layer above your character and set it to "Clipping Mask." This ensures that anything you paint on this layer stays strictly inside the lines of your character. Set this layer's blending mode to "Multiply." Pick a dark purple or deep blue color and use a soft "Airbrush" to add shadows to the sides of the character that are facing away from your light source.
Next, create another layer, also as a clipping mask, and set this one to "Add" or "Overlay." Pick a bright color—maybe a soft yellow or a light cyan depending on your theme—and brush some highlights onto the edges of the hair, shoulders, and face. This "rim lighting" is what gives GFX that professional, glowy look.
Adding the Glossy Effect
Everyone wants that "glossy" Roblox skin look, right? It's surprisingly easy to do on mobile. On a new layer (clipping mask again!), use a hard "Dip Pen" or "Felt Tip Pen" with white color. Draw thin, sharp lines on the most prominent parts of the character—like the forehead, the tip of the nose, the top of the hair, and the arms.
After drawing these lines, take the Smudge tool or the Blur tool and lightly soften the ends of the lines. This creates a reflection effect that makes the character look like it's made of polished plastic rather than just flat pixels. It's a small detail, but it makes a massive difference in the final result.
Overlays and Finishing Touches
At this point, your GFX should be looking pretty solid, but it might still feel a bit "empty." This is where overlays come in. You can search for "dust particles," "sparkles," or "lens flares" (with a black background) on the web.
When you import an overlay, set the layer blending mode to "Screen." This will make the black parts disappear, leaving only the sparkles or light effects over your image. Position these around your character to add some movement and life to the piece.
Don't forget about Color Correction. Go to the "Filter" menu (the FX icon) and play around with the "Tone Curve" or "Brightness & Contrast." Sometimes, just bumping up the saturation or adding a "Vignette" can tie the whole piece together. If the colors feel a bit disjointed, you can add a solid color layer over the entire project, set it to "Overlay" at a very low opacity (like 10-15%), and it will help harmonize all the different elements.
Final Export and Tips
Once you're happy with how it looks, save it as a Transparent PNG or a regular PNG. I always suggest saving a backup of the IbisPaint file itself just in case you notice a mistake later.
A few pro-tips to keep in mind: * Don't overdo the blur. It's tempting to blur everything to hide mistakes, but keep the character sharp. * Watch your light source. If your background has a sun on the left, make sure your highlights are on the left side of your character. * Use the "Liquify" tool. If your character's pose looks a little stiff in the screenshot, you can use the Liquify tool in IbisPaint to subtly move the arms or tilt the head to make it look more natural.
Learning how to make a gfx on mobile ibispaint takes a bit of practice, especially when it comes to manual shading, but it's honestly so rewarding. You aren't limited by what a 3D program can render; you're only limited by what you can draw and blend. Keep experimenting with different brushes and layer modes, and before you know it, people will be asking you which PC software you used to make your art!