How to Install and Organize Procreate Brushes

In this tutorial, we are going to install brushes in Procreate. We will be using the Procreate Marker Brush and Procreate Lettering Brushes.

Note: In order to use Procreate Brushes, you’ll need the Procreate App installed on your iPad or iPhone. Procreate is an iOS only app so the Procreate brushes will only work on an iPad or iPhone with the Procreate App installed. Procreate requires iOS 10.0 or later and if you are installing a .brushet file format, you will need iOS 11 and Procreate version 4.1 or higher. There are two types of Procreate brush files .brush and .brushset. We are providing instructions for both of them.

Procreate brush files come in two formats, the ones ending in .brush (individual brush) and .brushset (a brush library for Procreate 4.1 or higher) which contains many individual brushes.

Installing Procreate Brushes (.brush)

Step 1: Locate and unzip your brush files

First, we will explore how to install the individual brushes (.brush files). This format allows you to install one brush at a time and is the way to go if you have an older iPad or an older Procreate version (4.0 or lower).

Navigate to the location where the .brush file is, (they are normally inside the Downloads folder in the On my iPad location). Click the files to unzip them and then click on the .brush file to open it in Procreate.

Step 2: Locate imported brushes in the Brush Library

Now, when you open Procreate, your new brush(es) should appear in a set named Imported near the bottom of the Brush Library

Installing Procreate Brush Sets (.brushsets)

Now, we will install the Brush Sets (.brushset files). This format allows you to install a set of brushes all at once and is the way to go if you have Procreate version 4.1 or higher.

Step 1: Locate and unzip your brushet files

Navigate to the location where the .brush file is, (they are normally inside the Downloads folder in the On my iPad location). Click the files to unzip them and then click on the .brushset file to open it in Procreate.

The Brush Sets may create a folder that contains multiple files in it, just open it and click the brush you want to open in Procreate.

Step 2: Locate imported brushes in the Brush Library

Now, when you open Procreate, your new brushes should appear in a set named as the imported Brush Set file at the top of the Brush Library.

Importing brushes from Procreate

Both .brush and .brushset files can be imported from within Procreate.

Step 1: Add brush from within Brush Library

To do it, open the Brush Library and tap the white + (plus) icon on the top right corner.

Click on Import.

Navigate to where your brushes are located.

The imported brush/es (.brush files) should appear in a set named Imported near the bottom of the Brush Library

And the .brushset files should appear in a set named as the imported Brush Set file at the top of the Brush Library.

Step 2: Importing by File Association

Also, if you have any type of compatible brush (.brush, .brushset and .ABR) online or as an e-mail attachment, tap on it and you will get a prompt to import it into Procreate.

Step 3: Importing by Drag and Drop

Finally, you can press and hold on a compatible brush (.brush, .brushset and .ABR) in any compatible application (such as the Files app) then drag and drop the file into Procreate. You can import many of them by picking up one and then tapping the rest to drag and drop them together.

Organizing your imported brushes in Procreate

Now that you have learned how to import and install brushes in Procreate, it's a good idea to organize your brushes inside the Brush Library so you can have better access to them. You can organize your brushes by style, or by how frequently you use them, or according to your projects.

It’s a good idea to organize them as soon as you import them into Procreate and to have a special folder for your brush experiments (creation/modification). It is also better to duplicate a brush if you are planning to modify it and fiddle with the duplicate so you will always have the original one.

With the Brush Sets you already have them grouped together in sets, but to create sets for your individual brushes you can do the following.

Step 1: Create New Set

Open the Brush Library by tapping on the small brush icon on the right side of the menu. Make sure you are at the beginning of the brush list. Tap on the blue button with a + on it to create an “Untitled Set".

Rename the new set.

If you want to move the new set just press on it and gently drag it up or down to the desired location. If you have an Apple Pencil or a stylus you use, it is better to use it for these steps since it will get a more precise movement.

To Rename, Delete, Share or Duplicate the set, just tap on top of it to open a pop-up menu with these options.

Step 2: Move brushes into New Set

To move your brushes into the newly created set, navigate to the Imported set (or any other one from the list), select your brush, press on it, and gently drag it up or down onto the new set. As before, if you have an Apple Pencil or a stylus you use, it is better to use it for these steps since it will get a more precise movement).

In case you want to Share, Duplicate or Delete the brush, just tap on top of it and drag to the left to show these options.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, feel free to leave a comment. You can also let us know if there is any topic you would want us to cover in future tutorials.

Procreate is a very versatile app and it can be used in a huge variety of ways, like illustration, image manipulation, calligraphy, and lettering. If you're just getting started with Procreate, we have some Free Procreate Brushes you can test out. You can also check out our tutorial on how toinstall Procreate stamps.