Procreate can now use PSD brushes—awesome, right? If you enjoy digital illustration in both applications, this is really an exciting development. In this quick tip tutorial, we'll take a look at how you can use Photoshop brushes in Procreate, as of the Procreate 5 update.
Follow along on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel to answer the question, "Can you use Photoshop brushes in Procreate?"
What You'll Need to Use Procreate for Photoshop Brushes
I'll be using this Photoshop brush set in this tutorial; you're welcome to use it along with me, or use another PSD brush set of your choice.
I'll be specifically using an ABR file, which is the Photoshop brush file type. Make sure you are using a similar file to follow along and merge Procreate with Photoshop brushes.
New to Procreate or unfamiliar with Procreate brushes? I would recommend checking out this tutorial, as it goes through how to create and customize Procreate brushes of your own.
You can also find dedicated Procreate brushes on Envato Elements. Of course, you can also use Procreate brushes for Photoshop.
Ready to get started and find out if you can use Photoshop brushes in Procreate? Let's dig in!
1. How to Import Photoshop Brushes Into Procreate
Step 1
Before we jump into Procreate, make sure you have your Photoshop Brush ABR file downloaded and saved onto your iPad. It's the first step if you're wondering if you can use Procreate to open PSD brushes.
I would highly recommend saving your brush file to your Files. For example, in my Files, on my iPad, I have a folder called Procreate. Within that Procreate folder, I have a folder named Brushes. The Procreate folder and brushes label make everything more organized and easier to find.
Step 2
However, if you've just downloaded a brush from the Internet, it might be within a compressed ZIP document. If this is the case, we'll want to extract the contents so we can install the Photoshop brushes.
With the ZIP file in your Files, tap on it. Your iPad will then extract the contents, as seen below, into a new Procreate folder.
Step 3
That said, we're going to look at two different ways that we can import Photoshop brushes. Let's jump into Procreate and start there.
Start in any open document of your choice. Then, tap on the Brush icon to open up your brushes, and tap on the Plus Sign to create a new brush.
Step 4
This opens up the Brush Studio (our brush settings), where we can customize our brushes to our heart's content.
However, instead of customizing a new brush, tap on Import.
Step 5
Now, it's time to navigate to your saved ABR files.
Here's a look at my brushes folder, within my Procreate folder, in my Files.
Tap the ABR file that you'd like to import.
Step 6
Then, Procreate gives us visual confirmation that the brush (or brush set) is being installed. This ticker only takes a moment—then your brush will be active and installed.
Step 7
Once installed, you'll see your newly installed brushes in a new Brush Set, on the left-hand side of your Procreate brushes.
In the example below, notice how Inkers by Guerillacraft has been added as a new Brush Set in my brushes, as highlighted below.
Note that, now that we've imported this brush content, we can move, rename, and customize our Photoshop brushes—and you likely will want to.
On a personal note, drawing with an Apple Pencil just doesn't feel the same as drawing with a Wacom pen—the tool I personally use when drawing in Adobe Photoshop. Why do I mention it? Well, I find that this means a few little tweaks to my brushes to get them to feel similar. A different environment might warrant a few adjustments, just so you and your brush feel at home. Don't hesitate to adjust settings so they're just right for you.
Step 8
But this isn't the only way we can import Photoshop brushes into Procreate. Let's look at a second method, as well.
This time, instead of starting in Procreate, let's start by looking at our files. Navigate to the Procreate folder on your device where you have your Photoshop brushes saved.
Step 9
Once you've located your ABR file on your device, tap on it to open it up.
Step 10
Check it out! It jumps right to Procreate, where we get the visual confirmation that the brush is being imported. Handy, right? It's that simple to merge Procreate and Photoshop!
2. How to Customize Photoshop Brushes in Procreate
Step 1
Let's continue with this tutorial on how to merge Procreate and Photoshop brushes. Customizing your PSD brush is a breeze. Simply open up your brushes, and then tap on the brush you'd like to customize.
Step 2
This opens up the Brush Studio (the Brush Settings), where we can customize our brush to our heart's content.
Browse through the tabs on the left-hand side to view each category of settings that you can customize to your liking.
Not sure where to start? There are a lot of settings here to check out. Again, I would recommend this tutorial on How to Create and Customize Procreate Brushes if you'd like to dive deeper into these customization settings.
3. How to Delete Photoshop Brushes in Procreate
Step 1
By now you've learned that you can use Procreate to open PSD brushes. All right, so you've imported your Photoshop brushes—but what if you don't want them there anymore? Luckily, it's just as easy to delete them.
First, let's start with deleting individual Photoshop brushes.
Navigate to the brush set associated with your newly imported brushes. Then Swipe Left on the brush you'd like to delete. This will reveal a menu where we can Share, Duplicate, or Delete the brush.
Simply tap Delete, and the single brush will be removed from the set.
Step 2
Prefer to get rid of the entire set?
Tap on the Brush Set. This will open a menu on the left, where we can Rename, Delete, Share, and Duplicate the brush set.
Simply tap Delete to remove the brush set.
And There You Have It! That's How You Can Use Procreate to Open PSD Brushes
Using Photoshop brushes in Procreate is really quite simple, if you know where to tap and where to look. A lot of really cool brush sets out there are now Procreate-friendly! You can use Procreate brushes for Photoshop and vice versa. Good luck, and happy drawing!
Looking for more Procreate tips, tricks, and tutorials? Here are some articles to check out. And don't forget to check out the Procreate brushes available on Envato Elements.
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