Beginners guide to the paint brush tool in Photoshop. A simple tutorial on how to change brush packs.

This is a simple tutorial on the basics of using and changing brush backs or brush sets in Adobe Photoshop. Aimed at beginners, this tutorial is probably common knowledge to many Photoshop users but I feel so many people are missing out on the true power and potential of the paint brush tool in Photoshop.

I used Photoshop for almost a year and felt quite comfortable with most of the features and felt I had an adequate working knowledge of the program. It was not until I read some online tutorial (which featured a brush pack) that I discovered the real potential behind this brushes in Photoshop. Brushes can be change and manipulated in so many ways as well as featuring the ability to load up preset brush packs (which are readily downloadable on the internet for free in many places.) which are mind blowing in their content compared to the standard supplied brush sets. The tutorial Itself will consist of simple step on how to change your brush packs from their default settings and how to revert back (I thought this would be a good idea since It can be quite confusing if you just want the original brushes back). I will also run through briefly at the end where you put your new brush packs that you acquire and how to make them active in Photoshop so that you can use them. After This you will find a list of resources where you can download and sample new brush packs from the internet and begin uncovering the new power of Photoshop brushes.

Changing Bush Packs In Photoshop

Ok So you want to change your brush pack. Start up Photoshop and open a new blank document.

Step 1: Click on the Paint Brush tool in Photoshop on the toolbar. (see Image A)

Step 2: Click the small downwards pointing arrow next to your brush to open the brush menu allowing you to choose different brushes from that set and change their basic settings (hardness and size). This is also the place where you will access your brush packs from.

Step 3: Click the small arrow which points right just next to the box which lists the size of the brush illustrated on Image B. This opens this list of your current loaded brush packs and from here you can select which pack you want to load.

Step 4: Simple click the pack the you want to load up I chose the Stars brush pack which is not a default set for Photoshop and so you probably will not have this one try Special Effect Brushes that’s a fun pack.

Step 5: When you select your chosen brush pack you will be faced with a dialog box that prompts: Replace current brushes with the brushes from [brushpackname], and the options ok, cancel, Append. This just confirms you want to apply the new brushes and it is very easy to switch back so feel safe to click ok.


Step 6: Thats It your new brushes are installed all you need to do is select a brush preset from the new set and your ready to begin youing them. (While most new brush packs meant for regular painting some are designed for one click patterns please check the brush with a single click first before painting with it to see which type it is both have a different effect, experiment and enjoy.)

Getting back to basics!

Getting back those basic brushes that we all know and love couldn’t be any easier. Using the same technique as to change brushes open your brush window, click the right pointing small arrow and select Basic Brushes. This will return your brush pack back to their default setting (note: you will have to select a brush from that back to activate the brushes otherwise your last selected brush will remain). See below Image E for how to change back to basic brush pack.