How to Make Your Own Photoshop Brushes

First, let me start off by mentioning that there are literally tons of great free Photoshop brushes you can download on the internet if you just search Google for, "free Photoshop brushes." However, lots and lots of people download and use these brushes. So, if you want your work to stand out and be more original, it is best that you create your own brushes.

When most people think of brushes, they probably think of the airbrush that comes with Photoshop. The airbrush is great for touching up details in a photograph or for making original artwork. But when I think of Photoshop brushes, I think of them more as stencils and textures for adding cool effects and making graphic artwork.

Any photo or image can be turned into a Photoshop brush that you can then use at anytime as a stencil or texture. Here's how you do it:

Step #1. First things first, you want to open up an image that you would like to make into a brush.

Step #2. Next, you want to add a transparent layer underneath that image.

Step #3. Use the polygon lasso tool (best tool for removing backgrounds in my opinion) and use it to trace your image as if you were cutting out a stencil.

Step #4. Next, delete the background after you have traced out your image with the polygon lasso tool.

Step #5. Save your image as a transparent PNG file (Compuserve image in the drop down menu).

Step #6. Click on the "Edit" menu from the navigation bar at the top, right next to "File."

Step #7. Scroll down to "Define brush preset" and select that.

When you open up your brushes pallet, you should now see the custom brush you just created. This brush will be stored there permanently unless you reset your brushes. Next, I will explain how to save that brush file so you always have a backup.

Step #1. Open your brushes pallet again and click on the little arrow to the top right of the pallet.

Step #2. Scroll down the menu to "Preset manager" and select that.

Step #3. Select the custom brush or brushes you have created and click on "Save set."

Step #4. A new dialog box will open. Here you can choose the directory you would like to save your brush set in. I recommend creating a new folder called, "My custom brushes" or something like that, and saving your brushes there. That way you always know where to find your brushes easily and quickly.