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
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 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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Rosa
May 4th, 2009
Here’s were I get stumped:
“Step 1
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.”
I’m using Gimp 2.6 on a Mac OS X and cannot find a folder for brushes. There’s only 2 folders: Temporary folder and Swap Folder … and I can’t even find where those two are located on my computer. I’ve still very new to Mac, so I have no idea how GIMP installed on the Mac because my installation instructions were pretty much to drag GIMP from my downloads folder to my application folder – that’s awesome and I can move the program file from folder to folder and the program still works (unlike Windows) which is also awesome, however unlike Windows, I have no clue where to find anything for the programs that are running on my computer so I can make additions.
If any Mac users know how to I can find the “brushes folder” for Gimp 2.6 PLEASE let me know cuz a web search has turned up absolute nothing on the subject and the GIMP Help leaves MUCH to be desired.
Thanks in advance!
Rosa
May 4th, 2009
OMG – Never mind: I FOUND IT!!!
After looking at the image for step one, I tried clicking the little arrow next to “folders” (like a ZILLION times) to get the drop down list, but it never worked. So, I tried a zillion and ONE times and it worked this time!! For anyone else using GIMP 2.6: It has little glitches like this this where it will not respond to the button your click. If this happens, save your project, close down GIMP and them restart it. This usually works the first time … usually.
Thank you to the author of this article!!!
Amelia Shurley
February 2nd, 2010
Super site. You have brought in a recent regular reader. Please maintain the superb posts and I look forward to more of your fascinating writings.
Aaliyah :D
February 18th, 2010
For Mac Users
you could also do
Library-
Application Support-
Gimp-
Brushes….