Where to find and import brushes in Pixlr

Pixlr stores custom brushes in the Brushes panel on the right side of the editor. To add a new brush, open the Brushes panel, click the menu icon (three dots or lines) in the top corner, and select "Import Brushes" or "Add Brushes" depending on your Pixlr version. You will then navigate to a folder on your computer where you have saved a brush file — Pixlr accepts .abr files (the standard Adobe brush format) and .png files that you want to use as custom brushes.

The exact location of this menu changes slightly between Pixlr's web version and desktop app, but the principle is the same: find the Brushes panel, look for an import or add option, and point Pixlr to the file on your computer. Once imported, the brush appears in your Brushes panel and stays there until you remove it.

Key Takeaways

  • Custom brushes in Pixlr must be in .abr format (Adobe brush files) or .png format to import successfully.
  • The Brushes panel sits on the right side of the Pixlr editor and has a menu icon where you find the import option.
  • After you import a brush once, it remains in your Brushes panel for all future projects without needing to import it again.
  • If a brush file does not import, check that it is actually a .abr or .png file and not a different format like .psd or .zip.

Finding and downloading brush files before you import

Before you can import a brush into Pixlr, you need to have the brush file saved on your computer. Brush files come from design websites, artist portfolios, and free resource sites. Common sources include DeviantArt, Gumroad, Creative Market, and brush-specific sites like Brusheezy. When you read a brush, it usually arrives as a .zip file that you must unzip first — the actual brush file inside will be .abr or .png.

After you unzip the file, note where you saved it. You will need to navigate to that folder when Pixlr asks you to choose a brush file to import. Many people save brushes in a dedicated folder on their desktop or in their Documents folder to keep them organized and straightforward to find later.

Step-by-step import process in Pixlr web

Open Pixlr in your web browser and load an image or create a new project. On the right side of the screen, locate the Brushes panel — it shows thumbnail images of available brushes. At the top of the Brushes panel, click the three-dot menu icon. A dropdown menu appears with several options; select "Import Brushes" or "Add Brushes" (the exact wording depends on your Pixlr version).

A file browser window opens on your computer. Navigate to the folder where you saved your brush file, select the .abr or .png file, and click "Open" or "Import". Pixlr processes the file for a few seconds, then the new brush appears at the bottom of your Brushes panel. You can now select it and paint with it like any built-in brush.

If nothing happens after you select a file, the file may be corrupted or in an unsupported format. Try downloading the brush again from the original source, or check that the file extension is actually .abr or .png and not something else.

Importing brushes in the Pixlr desktop app

The Pixlr desktop process (available for Windows and Mac) follows the same import process as the web version, but the menu location may be slightly different depending on which version you have. Open the app, load or create a project, and find the Brushes panel on the right. Click the menu icon at the top of the Brushes panel and look for "Import" or "Add Brushes".

Select your brush file from your computer and click to import. The brush then appears in your panel. One advantage of the desktop app is that imported brushes sync across all your projects on that computer, so you only import each brush once.

Organizing and managing imported brushes

As you import more brushes, your Brushes panel can become crowded. Pixlr does not have built-in folders for organizing brushes the way some other programs do, but you can manage them by removing brushes you no longer use. Right-click or long-press on any brush thumbnail in the panel and select "Delete" or "Remove" to take it out. You can always re-import it later if you change your mind.

To keep track of which brushes you have, take a screenshot of your Brushes panel after importing a new set, or keep a text file listing the brush names and what you use them for. This becomes helpful when you have dozens of brushes and need to find the right one quickly.

Troubleshooting brushes that will not import

If Pixlr rejects a brush file, the most common reason is that the file is not actually in .abr or .png format. Some brush downloads come as .zip files that contain a folder, and you need to unzip that folder first to reach the actual brush file inside. Check your Downloads folder or wherever you saved the file, and look for a .zip file you may have missed.

Another reason import fails is that the brush file is corrupted or incomplete. If you downloaded it from a website and the import fails, try downloading it again from the same source. If it fails a second time, the file itself may be broken, and you should try a different brush from a different source.

Pixlr's web version sometimes has temporary glitches with file uploads. If import fails in the web version, try closing your browser tab, reopening Pixlr, and attempting the import again. If you continue to have trouble, try the desktop app instead, which tends to be more reliable for file operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Adobe Photoshop brushes in Pixlr?

Yes. Photoshop brushes are saved as .abr files, which Pixlr imports directly. read or create a .abr brush file, then use the import process described above. Pixlr handles most standard Photoshop brushes without any conversion needed.

What happens to my imported brushes if I clear my browser cache?

In the web version, clearing your browser cache may remove imported brushes because they are stored locally in your browser. If this happens, you will need to re-import them. The desktop app stores brushes on your computer itself, so clearing cache does not affect them.

Can I create my own brush and import it into Pixlr?

Yes, if you save it as a .png file. Create an image in any program, save it as a .png, and import it into Pixlr using the same process. Pixlr will use the shape and colors of your image as the brush texture.

How many brushes can I import?

Pixlr does not have a hard limit on the number of brushes you can import, but importing hundreds of brushes may slow down the Brushes panel. Start with the brushes you actually use, and add more as needed.

Do imported brushes work the same way as Pixlr's built-in brushes?

Yes. Once imported, custom brushes behave identically to the brushes that come with Pixlr. You adjust size, opacity, and other settings the same way, and they work with all of Pixlr's painting and drawing tools.