Create the artwork you want to use for the brush. For scatter and art brushes, select the complete artwork.
- What’s new
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Add and import files
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Start new files
- Create documents using presets
- Create and save custom document presets
- New Document dialog overview
- Create documents using blank templates
- Create files with large canvases
- Create documents using templates from Adobe Stock
- Rotate canvas view
- Organize, share, and collaborate using Projects
- Access projects in the Illustrator workspace and other apps
- Find and edit Adobe Express templates
- Import from other apps
- Import other file types
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Start new files
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Use generative AI
- Common questions about generative AI features in Illustrator
- Generate similar variations without text prompts
- Generate scenes, subjects, and icons
- Partner models in Adobe Illustrator
- Use Auto Select
- Generate patterns
- Manage pattern variations
- Edit generated patterns
- Generate shape fills
- Scenarios with repeat shape fill generation
- Recolor artwork with text prompts
- Generate vector graphics to expand artwork
- Options to expand the expanded artwork
- Generate print bleed
- View 2D objects from new angles
- Scenarios with linked variations
- Manage generated variations
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Create and manage artboards
- Add and edit artboards
- Organize and manage artboards
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Paint and fill
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Learn painting basics
- About fills and strokes
- Fill and stroke controls
- Apply fill colors
- Apply stroke colors
- Create multiple fills and strokes
- Convert strokes to compound paths
- Remove fills or strokes
- Select objects with same fill and stroke
- Paint tools overview
- Paint with the Live Paint Bucket tool
- Live Paint Bucket tool options
- Create Live Paint groups
- Isolate Live Paint groups
- Merge paths using the Blob Brush tool
- Blob brush options and best practices
- About Live Paint
- Find and close gaps in Live Paint groups
- Expand and release Live Paint groups
- Resize objects or paths within Live Paint groups
- Select faces, edges, and paths in Live Paint groups
- Add paths to a Live Paint group
- Live Paint limitations
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Apply and edit strokes
- About brushes
- Brushes panel overview
- Draw paths with brush strokes
- Apply brush strokes to paths
- Remove brush strokes
- Customize arrowheads
- Add arrowheads to paths
- Paintbrush tool options
- Create brush libraries
- Import brushes
- Create brushes
- Create dotted or dashed lines
- Modify brushes
- Change the caps or joins of a line
- Convert brush strokes to outlines
- Create and edit gradients
- Create and edit meshes
- Create and edit patterns
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Learn painting basics
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Manage colors
- Select and adjust colors
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Manage layers
- Lock and hide layers
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Design with text
- Edit and format text
- Work with fonts and scripts
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Manage objects
- Reshape and transform objects
- Measure and align
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Apply special effects and styles
- Apply filter effects
- Create 3D graphics
- Apply graphic styles
- Automate and visualize data
- Troubleshoot
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Save and export
- Export files to different formats
- Export to other apps
- Get started
Create brushes
Learn how to create custom brushes to apply personalized strokes and textures to your artwork.
You can use your own designs to create calligraphic, scatter, art, pattern, or bristle brushes. Prepare your artwork before creating a custom brush to ensure compatibility. Avoid unsupported elements like gradients, blends, brush strokes, mesh objects, bitmap images, graphs, placed files, and masks. When creating art or pattern brushes, convert any text to outlines.
Select Window > Brushes to open the Brushes panel.
Select the artwork, then select the New Brush icon in the Brushes panel.
Select the brush type you want and then select OK.
In the brush options dialog box, enter a name, set your desired brush settings, and select OK. Brushes that you create and save in the Brushes panel are associated only with the current file. Each Illustrator file has a different set of brushes in its Brushes panel.
To avoid visible seams in pattern brushes, turn off Anti-aliased Artwork under Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (macOS).