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Sometimes simple boldface lettering just isn’t enough. Sometimes I want a character to shout so loud it pops out of the word balloon itself. Using Clip Studio Paint, I can make that happen.

Here’s a video tutorial with step-by-step instructions…

Exploding text word balloons

1. First, type the word(s) you want to emphasize. I like using a sound-effect font for this. In the example above, it’s Ratatatat by ComicCraft.
2. Using the Magic Wand tool, select the area outside the type, and then use Shift-Command-i (Selection -> Invert Selected Area) to invert the selection.
3. Expand the selection (Selection -> Expand Selected Area) by about 24 pixels
4. Create a new layer (below the text), and fill the selection with white
5. Expand the selection by another 12 pixels
6. Create a new layer and…
7. Fill the selection with black
8. Create a folder and put all of these elements into it. It will make this so much easier to move around later!
9. Create the rest of the word balloon
10. Drag the word-balloon layer into the folder — between the white layer and the black layer!

Now you’ve got an “exploding type” word balloon that really delivers on expressiveness!