How to Make Graphics Brushes

Graphic brush made from a single image.

Making graphic brushes provides you with permanent images, stored in the brushes folder of Adobe Photoshop or another graphic-editing program. These images are available for immediate recall whenever you need them. With the right photo and a few easy techniques, you’ll create a custom library of graphic brushes. Click on the images in the Steps below to enlarge.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Image
• Graphic-editing program like Photoshop

1. 

   Open the image you would like to make into a graphic brush. This can be nearly any image, but choose an image without a background, unless you want the background to be a part of your graphic brush. Choose an object that is easily recognizable.

2. 

   Remove the color from your photo by selecting “Image” and then choosing “Grayscale” from the “Mode” menu. Graphic brushes only appear in shades of black and white, but later you can choose to color your brush.

3. Select the object you want to save. The easiest way to do this is to use the Magic Brush and select the background and then invert the selection by using Ctrl+I. Now, the object you want to save as a brush is the only thing selected.

4. Name your selection by clicking on the “Edit” menu and choosing “Define Brush Preset.” A pop-up box will appear asking you to give your new graphic brush an identifiable name. Chose a short name so you can easily reference it later when looking through your brush pallet. Click “OK” and you’ve just saved the brush. Now you have to find it.

5. 

   Open a new file to test your brush. Choose a large area for testing purposes. With a white background, select the Brush Tool from your tool bar.

6. 

   Click with your right mouse button anywhere in your document. A Brush dialogue box will appear. Notice the brush choices in the box and scroll down to the bottom. There it is. The very last brush in the pallet will be your new brush. Select it and you’re ready to test it.

7. Enlarge or reduce the size of your brush and choose different colors. You’ve just created a permanent graphic brush.

Tips & Warnings

• Use this technique when you want to create an instant brush of your signature or a business logo. In this way, you can add the brush easily to a document.

• Try adding special effects to your brush. After you use the brush on a document, use the Layer Style button at the bottom of the Layers Pallet to add a drop shadow or a beveled effect.