These brushes allow you to randomize the brush content as you paint with it, creating amazing effects that can also help hide the more repetitive signs of brush usage. GIMP has another type of brush called an ‘image hose’, also known as an animated brush, with the file extension GIH. GBR files cover basic image brushes using simple shapes and textures like those shown above, but that’s not all GIMP can do. The default GIMP brush format uses the GBR extension, but there are actually quite a few different types of brush files that you can install in GIMP.

The shortcut Shift+ Ctrl+ Balso opens the same palette ( Shift+ Command+ B on Mac). Open the Windows menu in the GIMP menu bar, choose the Dockable Dialogs sub-menu, then click Brushes.

If you can’t find the Brushes palette on your screen, don’t worry – it’s easy to enable it. But it’s pretty easy to accidentally relocate it, close it, or maybe the latest version release will change the default interface layout. The right pane will update with your brush folders.īy default, the Brushes palette is open in the upper right corner of your GIMP window. In the left pane of the Preferences window, expand the Folders category by clicking the small “ +“ sign if it’s not already opened, and then choose Brushes. Open GIMP, then open the Edit menu and choose Preferences. This method is best because it will always show you the correct path, even if you installed GIMP in a custom location. The only trick is knowing where to copy your files, and that depends on your platform.īut instead of trying to navigate your way through a maze of confusing directories, the simplest way to find your Brushes folder is through the GIMP Preferences window. All you have to do is copy your brush file into the proper brush folder, and click the Refresh Brushes button in the Brushes palette window.

It’s actually pretty simple to install new brushes in GIMP. You can even create your own brushes to really unleash your creative vision. Custom brushes let you completely change the way your drawing and editing tools work, providing new texture, style, and more. One of the most exciting features of GIMP is the ability to use custom brushes.

How to load photoshop brushes