How to Import Brushes Into Sketchbook Pro

If you want to add new Sketchbook Pro brushes or you're wondering how to add brushes to Sketchbook for iPad, you need just a few steps! In this short tutorial, I'll show you how to import brushes into Sketchbook Pro and Sketchbook for iPad using my own custom Sketchbook brush pack.

What You'll Learn in This Sketchbook Pro Brushes Tutorial

• How to import brushes into Sketchbook Pro


• How to get Sketchbook brushes for painting fur


• Where you can find the newly installed Sketchbook brushes


• How to put your new Sketchbook Pro brushes on the main palette


• How to manage your Sketchbook Pro brushes


• How to make it possible to import brushes in the iPad version of Sketchbook


• How to add brushes to Sketchbook for iPad (formerly Autodesk Sketchbook for iPad)


• How to add more Sketchbook brushes for iPad

What You Will Need

Sketchbook Pro brushes come in the .skbrushes format. You're going to need one of those to follow this tutorial. If you don't have any Sketchbook brush packs, I've created a nice collection of fur brushes for Sketchbook that you can use for free! You can download it here:

• Sketchbook Pro brushes (fur brushes)

If you're looking to install Autodesk Sketchbook brushes specifically, keep in mind that Sketchbook Pro is no longer a part of Autodesk, but the brushes should still be compatible—so if you have brushes created in Autodesk Sketchbook, they will work in Sketchbook Pro, and vice versa.

1. How to Import Brushes Into Sketchbook Pro (Windows & Mac)

Step 1

Download your Sketchbook Pro brushes and locate them on your disk.

Step 2

If it's a .zip or .rar file, make sure to extract it until you see the file in the .skbrushes format. To extract an archive in Windows, just right-click the file and select Extract All.

Step 3

Open Sketchbook Pro and drag the .skbrushes file into the canvas.

Step 4

Open the Brush Library.

Step 5

Scroll down. At the very bottom of the list, you'll find your new brush set!

Step 6

If you want to put the new brush set in a different place on the list, click and drag the two-arrows icon on the right.

Step 7

If you want to use the new brush set as your main brush palette, click and hold the circle icon in the upper-right corner. Then point to the pin icon on the right.

Step 8

If you like some of the brushes in the set, and you want them to become a part of the brush set you use the most often, here's what you can do. Click and hold the chosen brush. When it "jumps" under your cursor, drag it to its destination and let go.

2. How to Add Brushes to Sketchbook for iPad

The 6.0 update for Sketchbook for iPad has brought many new features, including the option to import brushes! Here's how a quick Sketchbook for iPad tutorial for adding new brushes.

Step 1

You don't need any special Sketchbook brushes for iPad—you can use the same brush sets as in the desktop versions. So download my Sketchbook brushes to your iPad. Don't forget to extract the file until you can see the .skbrushes extension.

Step 2

Although Sketchbook for iPad is a free app, some of its functions are only available as a part of the Premium Bundle. The ability to import brushes is one of them. So if you want to follow this Sketchbook iPad tutorial to import your Sketchbook brushes, you need to make sure you've purchased the bundle. Do this by going to Menu > Get More.

Step 3

Open the Brush Library using the icon below:

Step 4

Select any of the brush sets and click its Brush Menu.

Step 5

In this new menu, select Import.

Step 6

Go to the location where you've downloaded/extracted your Sketchbook brushes. Select these brushes to import them.

Step 7

That's all—your new Sketchbook brushes will now be available in the Brush Library! Now you can export all your other Sketchbook brushes to your iPad to make the mobile app much more powerful.

That's All!

Now you know how to import brushes into Sketchbook Pro and Sketchbook for iPad. I hope you'll find your new Sketchbook brushes very useful. And if you want to learn how to use your new brushes after you've uploaded them, check out this Sketchbook tutorial. 

Photo Textures for Your Sketchbook Brushes

Because Sketchbook Pro supports full-color brushes, you can use any photo as a base for your brushes. In fact, this is how I created the Sketchbook brushes used in this tutorial! I found all my photo textures on Envato Elements. If you like them and would like to use them in their full resolution for your project, here's where to find them:

Real Texture of Brown Bear Fur (JPG)

I used this texture for the Fluff brush, but this photo has potential for multiple different brushes. Although it's a photo of a bear, I think it would work nicely for a wolf as well.

Trendy Brown Artificial Fur Texture (JPG)

This fur may be fake, but it's impossible to tell! I used this one for my Smooth brush. It's a nice, universal texture that will work for most animals.

Macro of a Dalmatian Puppy Fur (JPG)

I used only one spot for my Spot brush, but if you want to create a more realistic pattern, this whole texture will help you achieve this effect.

Real Fur Bison Skin Texture (JPG)

Although there's a brush called Wool in my set, I didn't actually use a photo of a sheep. My model was this bison! It's a great photo, with a variety of textures that would make some nice brushes.

Close-up of a Hairy Ginger Cat (JPG)

Can you recognize this photo? Probably not, because I turned it to grayscale to create a more universal Long Fur brush. However, I'm sure you can find some other uses for this beautiful golden coat as well.

Here are some other textures I used:

• 
  Real Fur Mouflon Skin Texture for the Short Fur brush


• 
  Real Fur Bison Skin Texture for the Undercoat brush

Want to Learn More?

Now you know how to install your Sketchbook brushes, but don't go yet! If you're interested in digital drawing and painting, you may also enjoy these tutorials:

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