Here is how you install brushes in Gimp, with instructions for Windows, Mac and Linux
Note: It usually does not matter if it’s a Gimp or Photoshop brush you’re going to install, both types should work, because Gimp 2.4 and up can make use of both types of brushes!
Download the brush, then place the brush file inside your Gimp brush folder, the brush folder is usually found here:
C:\Documents and Settings\myusername\.gimp-2.6\brushes
If you can’t find that folder, see if it’s here instead:
C:\Users\myusername\.gimp-2.6\brushes
Now click on the “Refresh Brushes” button. (On some older versions of Gimp you first have to press Shift+Ctrl+B to open the Brushes Dialog.)
That’s it, now you can select your new brush!
Zipped Brushes
Sometimes when you download file it might not be a brush file, but rather a .zip file, these files needs to be unpacked first. (usually by right-clicking on them and choosing Extract here or Unpack or something similar). Afterwards you can move the unpacked brush into the Gimp brush folder.
Download the brush and place it inside your Gimp brush folder.
That folder is found by first opening your Home folder, then press Ctrl-H to see hidden files, find the folder .gimp-2.6/brushes
After you have put the brush file inside that folder, you can press Ctrl-H to make the files invisible again.
Now click on the “Refresh Brushes” button. (On some older versions of Gimp you first have to press Shift+Ctrl+B to open the Brushes Dialog.)
That’s it, now you can select your new brush!
Zipped Brushes
Sometimes when you download a file it might not be a brush file (brush files end with either .abr, .gbr or .vbr), but rather a Zip file (ends with .zip), these Zip files needs to be unpacked first. To do that, right-click on the file and choose Extract here. Afterwards you can move the unpacked brush into the Gimp brush folder.
I must admit, I don’t actually own a Mac, but from what I’ve heard, this is the way to install Gimp brushes on a Mac:
Download the brush and place it inside your Gimp brush folder.
To find that folder, in Gimp, go to Edit->Preferences
Click on the little arrow next to Folders, and then click on Brushes.
On the right it should say where the Gimp brush folder is located.
Note:
If there are no folders listed, first create your own folder wherever you like, then inside the Gimp Preferences, add a folder by clicking the “New” button.
(the image below is from Ubuntu, but it should be about the same on Mac)
After you’ve placed the brush inside the brush folder, click on the “Refresh Brushes” button. (On some older versions of Gimp you first have to press Shift+Ctrl+B to open the Brushes Dialog.)
(the image below is from Ubuntu, but it should be about the same on Mac)
That’s it, now you can select your new brush!
If any of our readers who use Mac know a better way or want to help us with screenshots from Mac then please let us know in the comments!
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Steffi
August 6th, 2010
why are the brushes i add just black and white?
yay
August 6th, 2010
When you paint, the brushes are the same color as the color you choose in Gimp. So if your painting with black, your brush will be black, and if you paint with blue your brush will be blue.
Yogu
September 13th, 2010
There is another way, and it’s so simple a path I don’t think screenshots are needed. Note: when installing these brushes, if GIMP is open, you will need to restart it so that the brushes will be installed.
Install brushes wherever you can find them.
Like the DESKTOP.
Click on FINDER
Go to the HOME icon (looks like a little house)
Click on LIBRARY
Click on APPLICATION SUPPORT
Click on GIMP
Click on BRUSHES
Click AND Drag the brushes installed to the list of other brushes in the folder.
You have more brushes.
Working with Light Leaks & Textures – GIMP « Studio1026
October 13th, 2010
[...] Instructions to install brushes for GIMP. [...]
JoOs
January 27th, 2011
Oooooh THANK YOU so much! I looked so many tuto and just this one helped me…. Thank youuuu
Lynn
March 13th, 2011
I was wondering if there is a way to move brushes around in the panel, once thry are installed? I’m wondering this because a lot of times, brushes that match each other show up randomly throughout the brushes menu. That becomes a pain when you have over 300 brushes… Thanks for the help in advance.
Oswald
July 16th, 2011
i have been looking through a number of different sites for the proper tutorial for my current (problem (obviously with me being here, you can tell it has to do with installing GIMP 2.6 brushes…)), and for every one they say “put it in the GIMP folder”, tehy never explain/illustrate that part…i am having a hard time finding the “folder” in which it is directed to be in.
if it could possibly be illustrated, that would be awesome
Oswald
July 16th, 2011
COOL BEANS nvm i found it (i thought “documents” at the start button was it, but when i found the C:/ it suddenly made perfect sense!)
thank you! this has been long-since put off and a great help to a fellow artist– thank you
Seki
August 17th, 2011
Thanks for this tutorial!
:D:D
Denisse
November 25th, 2011
Wow… It’s that easy!
I can’t believe I couldn’t figure it out!
Thanks soo much.!
Bob
December 17th, 2011
Awesome!! All of the other tutorials I’ve seen tell you to put the folder where you keep the brushes.. but this one, you don’t have to add any folders to anything!!
Sara
December 18th, 2011
I don’t have a “.gimp-2.6″-map/file/something-at-all
Someone knows what to do?
Shane
January 7th, 2012
Thank you so much! I have a MAC and was able to figure this out because of your help! Thank you!
Grace
August 2nd, 2012
Thank you so much! Easy to follow and simple to do ^^
Sandrien
August 16th, 2012
IT WORKS! Thank you very much!
Kat
August 25th, 2012
I need the basic paint things, like the small brush, medium, and large brush. so the basic one
hazy cygnet
September 5th, 2012
smiles wow your amazing you make every thing sooo much more simple i soo love you made me soo happy yay i got new brushes
Dizzy
October 18th, 2012
Haha WONDERFUL tutorial. Finally helped me..:) I installed a bunch but had to quit and re-start GIMP before they came on….
Pewp.
December 7th, 2012
Somehow I forget how to install brushes every single time. Thanks!