Installing GIMP plugins, brushes and gradients is one of the best ways to make GIMP more powerful. However, this can be difficult to do for a beginner. This quick tutorial will show you how to install them very easily on Windows.
Instructions are different for Windows, Mac OS X.
In Windows XP
GIMP Brushes and gradients are installed similarly – extract and drop the brushes into C:\Document and Settings\<username>\.gimp-<version>\brushes\ and gradients into C:\Document and Settings\<username>\.gimp-<version>\gradients\
Install GIMP plugins
Plugins are bits of code that work with GIMP to add to the functionality. They may offer several exciting ways to extend the utility of the program. Plugins can be saved by unzipping the downloaded folder (if it is in a .zip format), and placing them in C:\Document and Settings\<username>\.gimp-<version>\plug-ins\. Restart GIMP, and the plugin will be activated.
Install scripts in GIMP
Some of the plugins are actually scripts, ending with a .scm extension. In such cases, drop them to C:\Document and Settings\<username>\.gimp-<version>\scripts\ instead.
In Windows Vista
If you use Windows Vista, you might have to go to your profile folder (the folder under which your documents, pictures etc. are located) to find your brushes, scripts etc.
In Mac OS X
Brushes can be installed by dropping them (.gbr files) into the brush search path that is specified in GIMP’s preferences. If you have not tweaked anything, this is usually
/Users/username/.gimp-2.x/brushes/
where 2.x denotes the version number of GIMP you are using (version number is visible in the GIMP startup splash page). Note that you should replace ‘username’ with your short username (not the full name).
Install GIMP brushes in Linux
Go to your Home folder. You have to make hidden files/folders visible, so hit Ctrl+H. Go to the directory named .gimp-2.x (where 2.x is version number of GIMP you are using). Within that folder, there are subfolders, one of which is brushes. Drop your brushes to that folder.
Do Photoshop brushes work in GIMP?
GIMP is open-source, and is hence flexible in application. Many of the Photoshop plugins and brushes work with GIMP, and it is a matter of trial-and-error. Note that using Photoshop brushes in GIMP requires GIMP 2.4 or above.
Related reading
- Install Photoshop brushes, gradients, patterns and actions
- Download free GIMP brushes (1400 brushes)
- Free GIMP plugins
- 26 GIMP Plugins to get Photoshop’s best features
i just wondering will these brushes work on my mac version of gimp?
i want to keep the folder structure of the brushes, can it be done?
@a: I’m not sure what you mean by “keep the folder structure of the brushes, can it be done?”. Perhaps you can clarify?
I have a bunch of brushes moved into my GIMP brushes folder, but I can’t figure out how to access them in the application itself. They’re not in my brushes tab.
D: Halp?
How do you “unzip” a file?
hehe im not that good with all the tecnology stuff so i dont really get the explaination… -___-; i wonder if anybody can explain it simply.. :p
hehe thanks
i didnt mean simply, just step by step… thats all.. where to go, and btw, what is the x for? i dont get the explaination.. htoughi think im getting closeto solving the problem.. hehe thanks again ^^
i have found how to do it so thanks for ur help^^
i had download the Gimp brushes, and im using gimp 2.4.7
where should i extract the zip file into? and im using windows xp….thx alot…..
@lily: Read the post once more please
I have mentioned the steps required to download GIMP brushes very clearly.
I keep copying the location of my brush file in the extraction wizard like I’m supposed to…but for some reason it won’t work! What am I doing wrong?
I have extracted the brushes to the Brushes folder and just started up Gimp, but the brushes are not there. All the brushes are in folders, must they be out of the folders to work?
Please else, I downloaded many brushes..
@Emily: You have to place the extracted brush files (individual files, not folders) into the brushes folder.
How do you install them in Ubuntu???? As Gimp is the default image editor in Ubuntu I really don’t understand why you explain how to install brushes in Windows and not in Linux. Please help
In Ubuntu, go to /usr/share/gimp/2.0/brushes and add them there.
The 2.0 will change according to your version, I just use the one that’s in the repositories.
Thank you! That’s exactly what I was looking for. A simple explanation of where to put these files.
im lost help!
i just figured out how to unzip them but how do i get them into my brushes dialog box?
@Pinkeh if u operate windows it should unzip these files automatically or if not u need to download winrar or easyzip it will guide u through it at that point to unzip these files
I’m looking for plugins, brushes and patterns for gimp on a mac computer, but how can I install them??
IM NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO DO ANY OF THIS,I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TELL ME HOW TO GET SOME NEW BRUSHES.
I’m trying to extract the files in Windows Vista. I looked for the file path to extract the brushes into. I don’t have a Document and Settings folder. I found the brushes folder, under my computer name, and then under the gimp version that is directly under that. But it doesn’t give me a path to put in to extract it. Please help
I haven’t got any fonts in my Gimp is there a plug-in please?
Mandi, you can get fonts for GIMP by downloading them and installing on the system. You do not need a plugin to get fonts.
I defintatly do NOT know what to do. I dont have a Document and Settings folder either. I cant even find a brushes folder for heavens sake. So yeah…plaease help
Sara, if you use Windows Vista, you might be able to find the file under your profile folder (the one that is the parent folder for your documents, pictures etc). That’s where I found my GIMP folder + brushes. In explorer – it’s under the Desktop icon. Hope this helps!
TO MODERATOR
hi could you please amend my previous comment – it should say YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND THE FILE UNDER YOUR profile FOLDER. the word missing is profile as I had put the word in brackets and it doesnt show. many thanks! ^_^
I’ve edited the previous comment to say what you wanted it to – thanks for the clarification regarding Windows Vista, I will update the post soon (been a long time since I used Vista).
I have unzipped the files into the brushes folder and they show in my brushes window, but they are all black and white, no colour, why is that?
You can change your background/foreground colors to use the brushes in color. Only the previews are in black and white (unless the brush is specifically designed to be B&W).
changing the background/foreground colours makes no difference… the brushes are all black and white, not just in the previews… they actually apply as black and white. Does anyone else experience this?
I have a MacBook with OS X version 10.5.7, and I cannot figure out where to download the brushes to. I have them on my computer, in my specific gimp folder, but I cannot access my brushes folder -even if I go to the finder=>go=>go to folder and search “~/gimp2.6.4/brushes”. Help please.
I am using Mac OSX and have recently decided to download a lot of brushes. I have not tampered with GIMP before…and I can’t seem to find a “brushes” folder anywhere…
I own two MacBooks, one a 10.4.10 and one a 10.5.6. I’ve installed brushes on my older computer by just entering Gimp into the search and finding the Gimp folder and the brushes worked just fine. On my newer computer, however, I can’t figure out how to put the brushes on. I’ve done what worked on my older computer, just searching Gimp or Brushes and getting the correct folder, and it won’t work. I don’t know how to find it a different way. Help?
I’m kinda lost here. I don’t really get how to get to the brushes folder in the first place. I keep putting in the one provided, and typed in my user name and GIMP version, yet it still won’t let me. Help please?
i have the brushes in my brush folder but when i use it ..puts white behind the brush help???????????????? on the pic i want to place it on a photo how
Fix for you who can’t get the the new downloaded brushes to display in Gimp.
In Gimp: Go to
- Edit – Properties – folders – brushes
Here you can see what folder gimp is using for brushes.
Put you downloaded files here and restart Gimp…tadaaa
For the brushes folder in mac, in GIMP go Edit>Preferences, then in the window that opens click the arrow next to ‘>Folders’ then open ‘Brushes’.
The window to the right should show the path to the GIMP brushes folder. Use the folder that is ticked as being writable in ‘Application Support’ and not the other one as I read somewhere that it should be left untouched.
You then have to Refresh your brushes in the toolbar.
Hope this helps
KELSIB, For your text brush you have to use it on a new layer and make sure that it is transparent. Then place that layer on your photo layer
This doesn’t work!! I have read EVERY comment here.. i have Windows Vista- Home premuim..and i am trying to get the brushes onto the thingy on the side..so i can use them.. sure i found the file where it is..don’t exactly know how extracting goes..as far as that is..but when i click open the brushes file and drag it onto GIMP..its very small and is not with the photo i want..nor can i get it to that.
Anyone who knows let me know!
to be specific what i wanna know is..
A)Why its not working for Vista
B)How do i get the brush to work for the picture i want to use it with?
C)Anything(As in sites) that have brushes that actually work
I am a beginner when it comes to GIMP but NOT a beginner when it comes to editing photos(Colors, sizes, words..etc) i know all that..but when it comes to brushes..i don’t know what im doing.
SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP!! Your help will be greatfully appriaciated,
~Taking Time.
Please because i wont check here very often, email me this information, if you have it at DakNep@ymail.com thanks!