How to Download and Install Custom Brushes for PSP9 Using Windows XP

When you install PaintShopPro9 onto your Windows XP computer, it comes with a handful of preinstalled brushes. However, you may see graphics with cool effects - sometimes these come in the form of brushes. There are people who make brushes so that we can download, install, and use them. Sometimes all they ask in return is credit. But how does one download and install these brushes?

DOWNLOADING

01. First of all, you must know where to obtain these brushes. Search around using Google to find brushes that you like. Make sure the brush you are trying to download is made for PSP9 or it won't import into your collection of brushes.

02. Make a folder on your desktop (or another easily accessible area) called "Brushes" or "PSP Brushes." In this folder, you will download the brushes you want.

03. To download brushes, right click and then click Save Target As. From the dropdown menu, select desktop, and then double click your Brushes folder. If you made your folder somewhere else on your computer, choose that area from the dropdown menu to find your Brushes folder.

INSTALLING

04. Once the download is complete, double click the zip file. You'll be taken to the contents of it. On the left side of the screen near the top, it says, "extract all files." Click to extract the files.

05. An Extraction Wizard box will pop up. Click next.

06. There is a white box with a directory link in it. Underneath the box is a button that says "Browse."

07. Click the browse button and another box pops up telling you to choose your location.

08. Click the little plus beside My Documents, and then click the little plus beside My PSP Files.

09. Click Brushes, and then click OK at the bottom of the box. The directory of the extraction has been changed to C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My PSP Files\Brushes. This is where your brushes will be located after they are extracted. Click next to extract them.

10. Your Extraction Wizard box should tell you that your extraction has been successful. If you would like to see the folder in which your brushes have been extracted, make sure there is a checkmark in the box. If you do not want to open the folder, uncheck it. Then click finish.

IMPORTING

11. Open your PSP9 program. Click File > Import > Custom Brushes.

12. A list of your brushes should appear in the left box. Click the ones you would like to import and then click the Add button in the middle. Or, if you would like to import all of your downloaded brushes at once, click Add All.

13. Once you have all the brushes you want selected for import, click OK at the bottom. Your brushes will now be imported into your PSP9 program.

14. Open a graphic or a blank page [File > New].

15. Click your Paint Brush Tool on the left [it looks like a little paint brush. If you do not have a tool bar at your left, go to View > Toolbars > Tools].

16. There should be a toolbar at the top for your paintbrush option. The second button from the left is a drop down menu with a circle [or other shape] showing. Click it, and a drop down box will show you all of your imported brushes. Pick the one you want to use, and enjoy.

17. You can play with size, density, and color among other things. Play around until you get the effect you are looking for.