Quick answer: To add brushes to ibis Paint, open a brush’s share link or QR code on the same device, or open a .ibisbrush file, and ibis Paint X will offer to import it into your custom brush list. You can also create your own by opening the brush tool, choosing Custom, tapping the + icon and editing an existing brush’s settings or loading a pattern image. Imported brushes appear under the Custom tab in the brush window.
ibis Paint X ships with a large built-in brush library, but many artists want a specific inking pen, a watercolor bleed or a texture that matches their style. The app supports importing brushes made by other people and building your own from scratch.
This guide walks through how to add brushes to ibis Paint on Android and iPhone or iPad, the different file and link types you will run into, how to make a custom brush and what to do when an import fails. App menus change between versions, so if a button looks slightly different on your device, look for the closest equivalent. For ready-to-use sets once you know the process, see our list of the top ibis Paint X brushes for 2026.
How Custom Brushes Work in ibis Paint X
Before importing anything, it helps to know where brushes live. The brush window in ibis Paint X has separate areas for the default brushes and for custom ones. Custom brushes are those you created or imported, and they appear in their own list where you can rename, reorder, duplicate or delete them.
A custom brush in ibis Paint is essentially a set of parameters, such as thickness, opacity, spacing, angle, pressure behavior and sometimes a pattern or texture image. When someone shares a brush, they share those settings, packaged as a link, a QR code or a .ibisbrush file.
That is also why some brushes made for other apps do not transfer. ibis Paint cannot open Photoshop .abr files or Procreate .brushset files directly. You can, however, recreate many of those looks using the pattern brush option described later.
How to Add Brushes to ibis Paint: Step by Step
There are three common ways brushes are shared. The steps for each are below.
Method 1: Import from a share link
- Find the brush link from the creator, often on a social media post, a creator’s website or a brush-sharing community.
- Open the link on the same phone or tablet where ibis Paint X is installed. Use the default browser if the app does not open automatically.
- The link should prompt you to open it in ibis Paint X. Tap to allow.
- ibis Paint asks whether you want to import the brush. Confirm.
- Open any canvas, tap the brush tool and switch to the Custom tab. The new brush should appear at the bottom or top of the custom list.
If tapping the link inside a social media app does nothing, long-press it, choose to open in your browser, and try again. In-app browsers sometimes block links that hand off to other apps.
Method 2: Import from a QR code
Many brush makers share a QR code image instead of a link.
- If the QR code is on another screen, scan it with your device’s camera app, then tap the link that appears.
- If the QR code is saved as an image on your device, open ibis Paint X, go to the brush tool and look for the import or QR option within the Custom brush area. Recent versions let you read a QR code from an image in your gallery.
- Select the saved QR image. The app reads it and asks to import the brush.
- Confirm, and check the Custom tab for the result.
Screenshots of QR codes must be sharp and uncropped. A blurry or partially cut code will fail to read.
Method 3: Import a .ibisbrush file
- Download the .ibisbrush file to your device.
- On Android, open your file manager, tap the file and choose ibis Paint X as the app to open it with.
- On iPhone or iPad, open the Files app, tap the file, then use the share sheet to send it to ibis Paint X.
- Confirm the import, then check your Custom brushes.
If the file arrives in a .zip archive, extract it first. iOS Files and most Android file managers can unzip archives.
How to Download ibis Paint Brushes Safely
Brushes are shared widely and most are free. A few precautions keep downloads painless:
- Get brushes from the creator. Reposted brush codes sometimes break or remove credit. Following the original creator also means you see updates.
- Check usage terms. Some free brushes are for personal use only. If you sell artwork or do commissions, read the creator’s terms.
- Avoid installing extra apps just to obtain a brush. Brushes need only ibis Paint itself, a browser or a file manager.
- Do not paste brush codes into unfamiliar websites that ask for logins or payment details.
- Back up your custom list after importing many brushes, using ibis Paint’s account or backup features where available.
How to Make an ibis Paint Brush From Scratch
Creating your own brush lets you tune it exactly to your hand. ibis Paint offers two main routes: editing an existing brush’s parameters, or creating a pattern brush from an image.
Editing parameters
- Open a canvas and tap the brush tool.
- Select a default brush close to what you want, such as a dip pen or soft airbrush.
- Look for the option to copy or add it to Custom. Editing a copy protects the original.
- Open the brush settings and adjust the parameters.
- Test strokes on the preview pad, then rename the brush so you can find it later.
| Parameter | What it changes | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness / Size | Default stroke width | Pair with pressure so lines taper naturally |
| Opacity | How transparent each stroke is | Lower opacity helps for gradual shading |
| Spacing | Distance between stamps along a stroke | Lower spacing gives smoother lines; higher gives dotted or textured effects |
| Pressure settings | How pen pressure affects size and opacity | Turn on pressure for thickness for natural inking |
| Start/End fade | Tapering at stroke ends | Useful for hair, grass and line art |
| Angle and jitter | Rotation and randomness of the stamp | Small jitter adds an organic feel |
| Stabilization | Smooths shaky strokes | Very helpful for line art with a finger or basic stylus |
Making a pattern brush
Pattern brushes use an image as the brush tip, which is how many texture brushes are built.
- Create the tip on a square canvas, such as 256 × 256 or 512 × 512 pixels. Paint in black on a transparent or white background. Black usually becomes the opaque part.
- Save that image to your gallery.
- In the Custom brush area, choose to add a new brush and select the pattern or image option.
- Pick your saved tip image.
- Adjust spacing, size, rotation and scatter until strokes look right.
Texture photographs of paper, sponge or bristle marks can make convincing tips once converted to high-contrast grayscale. Only use images you created or have rights to use.
Sharing Your Own Brushes
Once you build a brush you like, you can share it. In the custom list, select the brush and look for the share option, which typically generates a link or QR code. Post that code with clear terms of use. Name brushes clearly, since people who import many sets struggle to tell “Brush 12” from “Brush 13”.
ibis Paint X vs ibis Paint: Does It Matter for Brushes?
“ibis Paint X” is the name of the main app on mobile stores. “ibis Paint” is often used casually for the same thing, and there have been separate paid and free listings over the years. The free version shows ads and locks some features behind a subscription, while the paid or Prime options remove ads and unlock extras.
For brushes, the practical point is that importing and creating custom brushes is available in the standard app, though certain premium brushes and features may require a subscription. If a shared brush relies on a premium feature, it may not behave the same on the free version. Check the creator’s notes if a brush looks different from their preview.
Troubleshooting: When a Brush Will Not Import
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Link opens a browser page but nothing happens | In-app browser blocking handoff | Open the link in Chrome or Safari directly |
| “Cannot read QR code” | Blurry, cropped or compressed image | Get the original image or scan from another screen |
| File will not open in ibis Paint | Wrong file type (.abr, .brushset) or still zipped | Unzip; use only ibis Paint brush files or codes |
| Brush imported but looks wrong | Different canvas size or premium feature | Adjust size for your canvas; check subscription requirements |
| Imported brush disappeared | App reinstall without backup | Restore from backup or reimport from the original link |
| Brush feels laggy | Very large tip or low spacing | Increase spacing slightly or reduce brush size |
Updating ibis Paint X to the latest version fixes many import issues, because brushes made in newer versions may use parameters older versions do not recognize.
Organizing a Growing Brush Collection
- Delete brushes you have not used in a month. A short list is faster to work with.
- Rename imports using a prefix system, such as “INK –”, “TEX –” or “PAINT –”, so similar brushes sit together.
- Move favorites to the top of your Custom list.
- Keep a note of where each brush came from so you can credit creators and find updates.
Testing a New Brush Before You Rely on It
Imported brushes often behave differently on your device than in the creator’s preview, because canvas size, stylus and pressure settings all vary. A quick test routine saves frustration mid-drawing.
- Open a canvas at your usual size. A brush tuned for a 1,000-pixel canvas can look tiny on a 4,000-pixel one.
- Draw a pressure ladder. Press lightly, then gradually harder, across one long stroke to see how size and opacity respond.
- Try fast and slow strokes. Some brushes skip or blob at different speeds, which hints at spacing or stabilization settings to adjust.
- Layer it over color. Paint on top of a mid-tone fill to check how texture and edges look in real use.
- Adjust and save a copy. If you tweak an imported brush, duplicate it first so you can return to the creator’s original.
If you paint with a finger rather than a stylus, pressure-based brushes may not respond as intended. ibis Paint offers settings to simulate pressure from stroke speed, which can help in that situation.
FAQs
How do I add brushes to ibis Paint on iPhone?
Open the brush link or QR code on the iPhone, allow it to open in ibis Paint X and confirm the import. For .ibisbrush files, open them from the Files app and share them to ibis Paint X.
Can I use Procreate or Photoshop brushes in ibis Paint?
Not directly. ibis Paint does not read .brushset or .abr files. You can recreate similar looks by exporting a brush tip image and building a pattern brush in ibis Paint.
Where do imported brushes go in ibis Paint?
They go into the Custom section of the brush window. Open the brush tool on any canvas and switch to the Custom tab.
Are ibis Paint brushes free?
Many creators share brushes for free, and the app includes a large built-in library. Some brushes and features require a paid subscription, and some creators sell premium sets.
Why can’t I import brushes on ibis Paint X?
The most common reasons are links opening in an in-app browser, unreadable QR codes, unsupported file types or an outdated app version. Try opening links in your main browser and updating the app.
Can I share brushes I made in ibis Paint?
Yes. Select your custom brush and use the share option to generate a link or QR code others can import.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to add brushes to ibis Paint takes about five minutes once you know whether you are dealing with a link, a QR code or a file. Building your own brushes takes longer but pays off in a toolset that fits your style. If you would rather start with sets other artists already rely on, browse our guide to the best ibis Paint X brushes and import a few to test on your next sketch.
