You bought a gorgeous Procreate brush pack, then switched to Clip Studio Paint for comics or animation. Now the files sit in a folder and Clip Studio refuses to open them. The good news: the brush is not lost. The parts that make it look the way it does can be rebuilt.
Quick answer: You cannot import Procreate brushes into Clip Studio Paint directly. Clip Studio reads its own .sut files and, in recent versions, Photoshop .abr brushes, but not Procreate’s .brush or .brushset formats. You can rebuild a Procreate brush by renaming the .brush file to .zip, extracting its shape and grain images, and registering them as a brush tip and texture inside Clip Studio. Many brush makers also sell Clip Studio versions of the same pack, which is often the faster route.
This guide covers whether you can use Procreate brushes in Clip Studio, exactly how the manual rebuild works, and how the same question plays out in Photoshop, Krita, Affinity and Illustrator. If you are still building your Procreate collection, our list of the best Procreate brushes for beginners, including free sets is a good place to start.
Why Procreate Brushes Do Not Open in Clip Studio
Every painting app stores brushes in its own format. A brush is more than a picture; it is a bundle of settings that tell the engine how to space stamps, respond to pressure and tilt, blend color and apply texture.
- Procreate uses .brush files for single brushes and .brushset files for collections.
- Clip Studio Paint uses .sut files for sub tools. Recent versions also accept Photoshop .abr brushes through import, with some settings lost in translation.
- Photoshop uses .abr.
- Krita uses .kpp presets and .bundle packs.
The two engines interpret settings differently, so even if Clip Studio could read the file, the dynamics would not translate one-to-one. What does transfer reliably is the artwork inside the brush: the shape image and the grain texture.
What Is Inside a Procreate .brush File
A .brush file is essentially a zip archive. If you change the extension and open it, you will usually find:
- Shape.png (sometimes another name): the stamp or tip image.
- Grain.png: the texture that is applied inside the stroke.
- Brush.archive: a settings file that only Procreate understands.
- QuickLook folder or thumbnail image: the preview.
A .brushset is a bigger zip holding several brush folders, each with its own shape and grain. The shape and grain images are what you will reuse.
Can You Use Procreate Brushes in Clip Studio? Step-by-Step Conversion
This process works on Windows, macOS and iPad (with the Files app), though it is easiest on a computer.
Step 1: Check the license
Before converting, read the brush maker’s license. Most personal-use licenses allow you to use brushes in your own art, but some restrict modifying or converting files. If a Clip Studio version exists, buying or downloading it respects the creator’s work and saves you time.
Step 2: Extract the images
- Make a copy of the .brush file so the original stays intact.
- Rename the copy from name.brush to name.zip. If you cannot see extensions, turn on “File name extensions” in Windows Explorer or “Show all filename extensions” in macOS Finder settings.
- Unzip it. For a .brushset, do the same and you will see one folder per brush.
- Locate the shape and grain PNG files.
Step 3: Prepare the images
Procreate treats white as paint and black as empty space in its shape images. Clip Studio, by default, reads darker or more opaque pixels as the painted area when you register an image as a brush tip. If your brush paints a solid square or an inverted shape later, invert the image first.
- Open Shape.png in Clip Studio as a new canvas.
- If the shape is white on black, use Edit > Tonal Correction > Reverse Gradient to invert it.
- Optionally convert the layer to grayscale and convert brightness to opacity (Edit > Convert brightness to opacity) so the background becomes transparent.
Step 4: Register the shape as a brush tip
- With the prepared image open, go to Edit > Register Material > Image.
- Name the material and tick “Use for brush tip shape”.
- Choose a location in the Material palette, such as an “Imported brushes” folder.
- Click OK.
Step 5: Register the grain as a texture
- Open Grain.png. Grain images are usually tileable textures.
- Go to Edit > Register Material > Image again.
- Tick “Use for paper texture” this time.
- Save it in the same folder.
Step 6: Build the brush
- In the Sub Tool palette, pick a brush close to the one you want (for example, a pencil for a dry sketching brush or a watercolor brush for a wet one) and choose Duplicate Sub Tool.
- Open the Sub Tool Detail palette (the wrench icon).
- Under Brush tip, choose “Material” and add your new shape.
- Under Texture, select your grain and adjust density and scale.
- Under Stroke, adjust spacing. Procreate brushes with visible stamping usually need wider spacing; smooth inking brushes need tight spacing.
- Under Brush size and Ink, link pressure to size and opacity to mimic the original feel.
- Test on a canvas, compare with the original in Procreate if you still have access, and tweak.
Step 7: Save and back up
Right-click the sub tool and export it as a .sut file. This gives you a portable copy you can reinstall later or move between devices.
What Transfers and What Does Not
| Brush element | Transfers to Clip Studio? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tip shape image | Yes | May need inverting |
| Grain texture | Yes | Register as paper texture |
| Spacing and jitter | Manual | Rebuild by eye in Sub Tool Detail |
| Pressure and tilt curves | Manual | Clip Studio uses different curve controls |
| Wet mix and color dynamics | Partial | Clip Studio has its own color-mixing options |
| Dual brush or multi-layer brush effects | Partial | Clip Studio supports dual brush tips, but behavior differs |
| Brush name and preview | No | Rename and set preview manually |
Expect simple brushes (pencils, inkers, basic textures) to convert well. Complex wet paint or smudge brushes may only ever be an approximation.
Matching Procreate Settings to Clip Studio Controls
The names differ between the two apps, which is where most people get lost during a rebuild. Use this as a rough translation guide while you work in the Sub Tool Detail palette.
| Procreate setting | Closest Clip Studio control | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke path: Spacing | Stroke > Gap | Lower values give smoother strokes |
| Stroke path: Jitter | Spraying effect or Brush tip > Direction random | Use sparingly for organic edges |
| Shape: Rotation / Randomized | Brush tip > Direction, set to Random | Helps textured stamps look less repetitive |
| Grain: Moving vs Texturized | Texture with “Apply texture to each dab” on or off | Off behaves like Procreate’s texturized grain |
| Grain scale | Texture > Scale ratio | Adjust after testing at your usual canvas size |
| Apple Pencil: Size and Opacity pressure | Brush size and Ink opacity pressure toggles with curves | Edit the curve to soften or harden the response |
| Wet mix: Dilution, Charge, Pull | Ink > Color mixing: Blend or Running color | Expect an approximation rather than a match |
| Taper | Starting and ending > Brush size | Set fade lengths in pixels or percent |
Converting a Whole .brushset Efficiently
Rebuilding thirty brushes one at a time is tedious. A little organization speeds it up considerably.
- Sort before you start. Unzip the set and group brushes by type: inkers, pencils, textures, paints. Brushes in the same group often share similar settings.
- Batch-register images. Register all shape images first, then all grains, into one clearly named Material folder.
- Build one template per group. Perfect one brush, duplicate it, and swap only the tip and texture for the others in the group.
- Skip near-duplicates. Many sets include small variations. Converting only the ones you actually use saves hours.
- Export as you go. Save each finished brush as .sut so nothing is lost if the app crashes or you reinstall.
Can You Use Procreate Brushes in Photoshop?
Not directly. Photoshop cannot open .brush or .brushset files. Procreate can import Photoshop .abr brushes, but the conversion does not run in the other direction.
How to use Procreate brushes in Photoshop (manual method)
- Rename and unzip the .brush file to get Shape.png and Grain.png.
- Open the shape in Photoshop. Invert it if needed so the painted area is black on white.
- Choose Edit > Define Brush Preset and name it.
- Open the grain image and choose Edit > Define Pattern.
- In the Brush Settings panel, enable Texture and select the pattern. Adjust spacing, shape dynamics and transfer for pressure response.
- Save the brush via the Brushes panel menu and export the set as .abr.
Once you have an .abr file, it can be imported into Clip Studio Paint too, which is a handy two-step route if you already work in Photoshop.
Can You Use Procreate Brushes in Krita?
Krita cannot read Procreate files either, but the same extraction method works. In Krita, add the shape as a predefined brush tip using the Brush Editor’s “Predefined” tab and import the image, then add the grain via the Texture option. Krita’s brush engines are extensive, so many brush styles can be recreated closely with patience.
Can You Use Procreate Brushes in Affinity?
Affinity’s apps import .abr brushes and their own .afbrushes format. Procreate files are not supported. Extract the shape, create a new image brush from it in the Brushes panel, and set dynamics manually. If the brush maker offers an .abr version, importing that is easier.
Can You Use Procreate Brushes in Illustrator?
Illustrator is a vector program, so raster texture brushes do not translate well. You can create an Art or Pattern brush from a traced version of the shape, but the textured, painterly look is mostly lost. For textured work, a raster app is the better fit.
Quick Compatibility Overview
| App | Opens .brush directly? | Best workaround |
|---|---|---|
| Clip Studio Paint | No | Register shape and grain as materials; or import an .abr version |
| Photoshop | No | Define Brush Preset from shape; pattern from grain |
| Krita | No | Predefined brush tip plus texture |
| Affinity apps | No | Image brush from shape; or use .abr |
| Illustrator | No | Limited; vector-traced art brush |
| Fresco | No | Import .abr versions where available |
Faster Alternatives to Converting
- Look for cross-platform packs. Many brush creators sell bundles that include Procreate, Photoshop and Clip Studio versions together.
- Browse Clip Studio Assets. Clip Studio’s official asset store has a large number of free and paid brushes, including many that mimic popular Procreate styles.
- Use Photoshop brushes. Since recent Clip Studio versions import .abr files, the much larger Photoshop brush ecosystem is available to you.
- Recreate from scratch. For a simple inking or pencil brush, duplicating a Clip Studio default and adjusting it may be quicker than converting.
Troubleshooting Converted Brushes
The brush paints a solid square
The shape image has a solid background. Convert brightness to opacity or remove the background before registering.
The stroke looks inverted
Invert the shape image and re-register it.
Strokes look like a chain of stamps
Reduce spacing in the Stroke settings, or enable “Continuous spraying” if it is an airbrush-type brush.
No pressure response
Turn on pressure for size and opacity in the Sub Tool Detail palette, and check your tablet driver is installed correctly.
Texture looks too large or too small
Adjust the texture scale in the Texture section. Procreate grains are often designed for different canvas sizes.
FAQs
Can you use Procreate brushes in Clip Studio without converting?
No. Clip Studio does not read .brush or .brushset files. You need to rebuild the brush from its images or find a Clip Studio version.
Can I use Procreate brushes in Photoshop?
Not directly. Extract the shape and grain, define a brush preset and pattern, then rebuild the settings in Photoshop’s Brush Settings panel.
Can I use Procreate brushes in Krita?
Only by rebuilding. Use the shape image as a predefined brush tip and the grain as a texture, then adjust Krita’s settings.
Can Clip Studio Paint import Photoshop brushes?
Recent versions can import .abr files by dragging them into the Sub Tool palette or using the import command. Some dynamics may not carry over exactly.
Is converting Procreate brushes legal?
It depends on the creator’s license. Personal conversion for your own art is often allowed, but redistributing converted brushes is usually not. Check the license terms.
Will a converted brush feel the same as in Procreate?
Simple brushes can come close. Complex paint, smudge and wet-mix brushes usually feel different because the two brush engines work differently.
Final Thoughts
Procreate brushes do not open in Clip Studio Paint, but their core artwork does transfer. Extract the shape and grain, register them as materials, and rebuild the dynamics in the Sub Tool Detail palette. For many brushes, a cross-platform pack or an existing Clip Studio equivalent will get you there faster.
If most of your painting still happens on the iPad, it pays to start with brushes that perform well out of the box. Take a look at our curated Procreate brush picks, free and paid to build a set worth carrying across apps.
