Many digital artists build a brush library in Procreate on the iPad and then move some of their work to Affinity, whether that is Affinity Designer for vector illustration or Affinity Photo for raster editing. The natural next question: can you use Procreate brushes in Affinity, or do those carefully chosen and purchased brushes stay behind? The honest answer involves file formats, how each app describes a brush, and a manual workaround that recovers some, but not all, of the original behavior. Here is what is possible, what is not, and the most practical ways forward, including where to find digital painting brushes and packs that work across apps.
Quick answer: Can you use Procreate brushes in Affinity? Not directly. Affinity does not import Procreate’s .brush or .brushset files. You can, however, rebuild a similar brush by extracting the shape and grain images from a .brush file (it is a compressed archive) and using them to create a new raster brush in Affinity’s Pixel Persona or Affinity Photo. Dynamics and settings will not carry over, so expect to retune them. The simplest route is to get an Affinity version (.afbrushes) or a Photoshop .abr version from the brush maker, since Affinity can import those.
Why Procreate Brushes Do Not Import Into Affinity
Each app stores brushes in its own format and describes brush behavior in its own terms.
| App | Native brush format | What it contains |
|---|---|---|
| Procreate | .brush (single), .brushset (collection) | A compressed archive with a shape image, a grain image, and a settings file describing Procreate’s own dynamics |
| Affinity (Designer, Photo) | .afbrushes | Affinity’s raster and vector brush definitions |
| Photoshop | .abr | Photoshop brush tips and settings; Affinity can import many raster .abr brushes |
Because Procreate’s settings file describes features specific to Procreate, such as its StreamLine, Taper and Grain behavior, there is no direct one-to-one translation into Affinity’s Dynamics system. Affinity has no importer for .brush or .brushset files, so the formats simply do not meet. Renaming a .brush file to .afbrushes does not help either; Affinity will reject it or import nothing, because the contents are structured differently. The workarounds below all involve getting the brush into a format Affinity understands, either from the creator or by rebuilding it yourself.
If you are still deciding which brushes to invest in across apps, our guide on how to choose the right brushes for digital painting explains which brush types matter most and how to think about cross-app compatibility.
The Main Options at a Glance
| Option | Effort | Fidelity to original | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get an Affinity version from the brush maker | Low | High (if made for Affinity) | Many brush packs are sold in several formats |
| Get a Photoshop .abr version and import | Low | Moderate | Raster .abr imports into Affinity’s Pixel Persona or Affinity Photo; some settings may change |
| Rebuild from the .brush shape and grain images | Moderate to high | Moderate | Recreates the look of the tip and texture; dynamics must be set manually |
| Third-party conversion tools | Varies | Varies | Check reliability, safety and the brush license before using |
| Find a similar native Affinity brush | Low | Approximate | Affinity’s default and third-party packs include many similar styles |
Option 1: Ask for an Affinity or Photoshop Version
Many brush makers sell packs that include Procreate, Photoshop and Affinity formats in the same purchase, or offer them as separate downloads. Check:
- The product page or original download folder for .afbrushes or .abr files.
- Whether the maker offers a cross-app bundle.
- The license, to confirm you are allowed to use the brushes in more than one app.
An Affinity-native brush is built with Affinity’s Dynamics in mind, so it usually behaves closest to the intended design.
If you are shopping for new packs anyway, it is worth favoring sellers who include several formats, since that removes the conversion problem entirely.
Option 2: Rebuild a Procreate Brush in Affinity
If no Affinity version exists, you can recreate the brush’s look using the images inside the Procreate file. This works best for stamp-based and textured brushes, and less well for brushes that rely heavily on Procreate’s unique dynamics.
Step 1: Extract the images
- Copy the .brush file to a computer.
- Make a copy and rename the extension from .brush to .zip.
- Unzip it. Inside you typically find a shape image and a grain image (often named something like Shape.png and Grain.png), along with a settings file.
- For a .brushset, rename it to .zip and unzip it first; it contains folders for each brush.
Step 2: Prepare the shape image
Procreate shape images are usually white shapes on a black background. Affinity’s intensity brushes typically expect the opposite: dark areas paint, light areas do not. Open the shape image in Affinity Photo or another editor and invert it if needed. Save as a PNG.
Step 3: Create the brush in Affinity
- Open Affinity Photo, or the Pixel Persona in Affinity Designer.
- In the Brushes panel, create a new category if you like, to keep rebuilt brushes together.
- From the Brushes panel menu, choose New Intensity Brush and select your prepared shape image.
- Double-click the new brush to open the Brush Editor.
Step 4: Add the grain as texture
In the Brush Editor’s Texture tab, add the grain image as a texture. Adjust scale and blend so the grain looks similar to the Procreate version. If the grain looks wrong, try inverting it.
Step 5: Set dynamics manually
This is where most retuning happens.
- General tab: set width, spacing (start around 5 to 20 percent for continuous strokes), flow and hardness.
- Dynamics tab: set Size and Opacity controllers to Pressure for a pen-sensitive brush. Shape the curves to taste.
- Jitter: add small amounts of rotation or size jitter for organic texture brushes.
Test on a scratch layer and compare against strokes made in Procreate. Fine-tune until the look is close enough for your work.
Step 6: Save and back up
Your rebuilt brush is saved in Affinity’s brush library. Export the category from the Brushes panel menu as an .afbrushes file so you can back it up or move it to another device.
What You Can and Cannot Recreate
| Procreate feature | Recreatable in Affinity? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shape (brush tip) | Yes | Use the extracted shape image |
| Grain texture | Mostly | Use the Texture tab; behavior differs slightly |
| Pressure for size and opacity | Yes | Set via Dynamics controllers |
| Spacing and jitter | Yes | Values will need adjusting |
| StreamLine smoothing | Partly | Affinity’s Stabilizer is a different system |
| Taper settings | Partly | Approximate with pressure curves |
| Wet mix and color pull | Limited | Affinity’s options differ by version |
| Dual brush combinations | Limited | No identical feature |
Option 3: Find Native Affinity Brushes That Feel Familiar
Rebuilding every brush is slow. For many artists, a faster path is to identify the handful of Procreate brushes they actually use and find Affinity brushes that fill the same roles. Most working libraries boil down to a few categories:
- Sketching pencil: a grainy, pressure-sensitive brush with a slightly textured edge. Affinity’s default sets include several pencil-style raster brushes.
- Inking pen: a smooth, hard-edged brush with strong size response to pressure. In Designer, a vector inking brush often works better than a raster one because you can edit the line afterward.
- Soft airbrush: a low-hardness round with opacity tied to pressure. This is easy to set up from Affinity’s basic round brush.
- Textured painting brush: a dry-media or gouache-style brush with visible grain, used for blocking in and texture.
- Blender or smudge: Affinity handles blending with its own tools, which feel different from Procreate’s Smudge. Spend some time with them rather than expecting an identical feel.
Paint a quick test sheet in both apps with each role, then adjust the Affinity brush until it is close enough. A few well-tuned native brushes often serve better than dozens of imperfect conversions.
What about Affinity on iPad?
Affinity’s apps are also available on iPad, which makes it tempting to expect Procreate brushes to work there. The format barrier is the same: the iPad versions use Affinity’s brush system, not Procreate’s. Brush files can be imported through the Brushes panel on iPad, and rebuilt or purchased .afbrushes categories can be moved between desktop and iPad versions, which helps keep a consistent library across devices.
A Note on Brush Licenses
Many commercial brushes come with licenses that specify where and how they can be used. Before extracting or converting a purchased brush:
- Check whether the license allows use in other apps.
- Check whether modifying or rebuilding the brush is permitted.
- Do not share rebuilt versions of paid brushes unless the license explicitly allows it.
Free brushes often have licenses too. When in doubt, contact the creator.
How to Use Brushes in Affinity Photo and Designer After Importing
Once you have Affinity-compatible brushes, using them is straightforward.
- Import .afbrushes or .abr files from the Brushes panel menu with Import Brushes.
- Select the right persona or app. Raster brushes work in Affinity Photo and in Designer’s Pixel Persona. Vector brushes work in Designer’s Designer Persona.
- Add a pixel layer before painting with raster brushes.
- Adjust Width, Opacity, Flow and Hardness in the context toolbar.
- Use the Stabilizer for smoother lines if you miss Procreate’s StreamLine.
Tips for Artists Working in Both Apps
- Keep a core set in both apps. A few go-to brushes, such as a sketch pencil, an inking brush, a soft airbrush and a textured painting brush, cover most work. Recreate or buy versions for both.
- Move artwork via layered files. Procreate can export layered PSD files, which Affinity can open. Brush strokes come across as pixels, not editable brush data.
- Organize by purpose. Name and group brushes the same way in both apps, so switching feels familiar.
- Back up brushes. Export Procreate brushsets and Affinity brush categories regularly.
- Match your hardware. Pressure behavior depends on the stylus and tablet as well as the brush. Settings that feel right with one pen may need adjusting with another.
For a broader look at brushes that work well across digital painting apps, see our roundup of the best brushes for digital painting.
Common Problems When Rebuilding Brushes
- The brush paints a square or rectangle: the shape image was not inverted, or it has a solid background. Invert it so the shape paints and the background does not.
- The stroke looks dotted: spacing is too high. Lower it in the General tab.
- The texture looks stretched or blurry: adjust texture scale, or use a higher-resolution grain image.
- No pressure response: set Dynamics controllers to Pressure and check tablet drivers and preferences.
- The brush feels sluggish: reduce brush size or simplify dynamics; very large shape images can slow performance.
FAQs
Can Affinity open .brushset files?
No. Affinity does not support Procreate’s .brushset or .brush formats. You can extract the images inside and rebuild brushes manually.
How to use brushes in Affinity Photo that came from Photoshop?
Open the Brushes panel, choose Import Brushes from the panel menu, and select the .abr file. Many raster Photoshop brushes import, though some settings may differ.
How to use brushes in Affinity Designer for vector work?
Use the Vector Brush Tool in the Designer Persona with vector brushes from the Brushes panel. Procreate brushes are raster-based, so rebuilt versions belong in the Pixel Persona.
Can Procreate import Affinity brushes?
Not natively. Procreate imports its own formats and, in recent versions, many Photoshop .abr brushes. An .abr file can therefore be a useful common format if the brush maker provides one.
Will a rebuilt brush look exactly like the Procreate original?
Usually not exactly. The shape and texture can match closely, but dynamics, smoothing and blending behave differently, so expect some retuning.
Is it legal to convert brushes I bought?
That depends on the brush license. Check the terms or contact the creator before converting or modifying purchased brushes.
Final Thoughts
Procreate brushes cannot be imported into Affinity directly, but you have options: get an Affinity or Photoshop version from the creator, rebuild the brush from its extracted shape and grain images, or find a similar native Affinity brush. Expect to retune dynamics either way. To build a toolkit that works smoothly across apps, explore our picks for the top digital painting brushes for artists and beginners.
