How to Install Photoshop Brushes

How to install Photoshop Brushes in Adobe Photoshop CC, CS6, CS5, CS4 and CS3.

Photoshop Brushes are like stamps. You can use them to stamp graphics, paint, add textures and just about anything else you can imagine. 

Here's how to install Photoshop Brushes:

Step. 1. Search for the best free of premium Photoshop brushes you can find.

If you're not sure where to look trying searching for "Free Photoshop Brushes" or "Best Photoshop Brushes". You're sure to find tons of options.

Step 2. Download the Photoshop Brush ZIP file to your hard drive.

Open the ZIP file by double-clicking on it. Just about any modern operating system will have software built-in to open ZIP files. If you can't open your Photoshop Brush ZIP file try searching online for "ZIP file extractor".

Step 3. Search for a Photoshop file that ends in .abr.

Photoshop brushes always come with the ending .abr. So they're easy to spot.

Step 4. In Photoshop click on the Brush Tool.

In the upper left corner of your Photoshop window you'll see brush settings. Click to open the Brush Preset Picker. Then click on the widget in the upper right-hand corner of the window.

Step 5. In the Photoshop Brush dropdown menu select "Load Brushes..."

Now navigate to the .abr file that you unzipped in Step 2. Select the .abr file and click "Open".

That's it! Your Photoshop brushes are now installed. When your Brush Tool is selected you'll be able to see your new brushes in the Brush Presets Picker in the upper left-hand corner of the Photoshop window or in the Brush Preset window.