How to Import Brushes Into Sketchbook Pro

Final product imageFinal product imageFinal product image
What You’ll Be Creating

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

Disclaimer: this method works only for the desktop version of Sketchbook Pro (Windows and Mac). The mobile versions don’t have the functionality allowing you to import new Sketchbook brushes.

What You’ll Learn in This Sketchbook Pro Brushes Tutorial

  • How to import brushes into Sketchbook Pro
  • Where can you find the newly installed Sketchbook brushes
  • How to put your new Sketchbook Pro brushes on the main palette
  • How to manage your Sketchbook brush packs

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:

1. How to Import Brushes Into Sketchbook Pro

Step 1

Download your Sketchbook Pro brush pack and locate it on your disk.

find file on the diskfind file on the diskfind file on the 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.

extract the fileextract the fileextract the file

Step 3

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

drag the file into canvasdrag the file into canvasdrag the file into canvas

Step 4

Open the Brush Library.

open brush libraryopen brush libraryopen brush library

Step 5

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

scroll down to find the new brushesscroll down to find the new brushesscroll down to find the new brushes

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.

how to move the brush palettehow to move the brush palettehow to move the brush palette

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.

how to pin the brush set to the palettehow to pin the brush set to the palettehow to pin the brush set to the palette

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.

how to move a brush to a different packhow to move a brush to a different packhow to move a brush to a different pack

That’s All!

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

sketchbook pro fur brush packsketchbook pro fur brush packsketchbook pro fur brush pack

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 brushes in the Sketchbook brush pack 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

Real texture of brown bear furReal texture of brown bear furReal texture of brown bear fur

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

Trendy brown artificial fur textureTrendy brown artificial fur textureTrendy brown artificial fur texture

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

Macro of a Dalmatian puppy furMacro of a Dalmatian puppy furMacro of a Dalmatian puppy fur

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

Real fur bison skin textureReal fur bison skin textureReal fur bison skin texture

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

Close-up on a the hairy ginger catClose-up on a the hairy ginger catClose-up on a the hairy ginger cat

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 use for this beautiful golden coat as well!

Here are some other textures I used:

Want to Learn More?

If you’re interested in digital drawing and painting, you may also enjoy these tutorials:

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