Create a brush tip from an image

Last updated on Oct 27, 2025

Learn how to convert an image selection into a custom brush tip in Adobe Photoshop to add unique textures and effects to your artwork.

Custom brush tips from images offer distinct textures and painting styles. Use any image with interesting details to create brushes for digital art, photo retouching, and pattern design.

Adobe Photoshop deeplink

Try it in the app
Use the Brush Settings panel to customize brushes in a few simple steps.  

Open an image in Photoshop.

Using a selection tool, select the area you want to convert into a brush. The selection can be up to 2500 x 2500 pixels in size.

Adjust the Feather setting in the Options bar to control the edge quality of your brush:

  • For sharp-edged brushes, set Feather to 0 pixels.
  • For soft-edged brushes, increase the Feather value.

Select Edit > Define Brush Preset.

Enter a name for your new brush in the dialog box that appears.

Select OK to save your new brush tip. Your new brush appears in the Brushes panel.

Note

Photoshop converts color images to grayscale when defining a brush tip.