Quick answer: To organize brushes in Procreate, open the Brush Library, tap the + above your brush sets to create a new set and name it, then drag brushes into it: press and hold a brush, drag it over the target set until the set highlights, and release. Swipe right on several brushes to select them and move them together. Rename, duplicate, share or delete a set by tapping its name, and drag sets up or down to reorder them. Default brushes can’t be moved, so duplicate them first.
Procreate makes collecting brushes easy. Before long, the Brush Library holds dozens of imported sets, half-remembered favorites and duplicates with names like “Inking 1 (2)”. At that point, finding the right brush takes longer than using it.
This guide shows how to organize brushes in Procreate step by step, then lays out practical systems for structuring your library so your most-used brushes are always a tap away. Steps reflect recent Procreate versions on iPad; Procreate Pocket on iPhone works similarly with a smaller layout. If you are building out your collection at the same time, our roundup of the best Procreate brush packs highlights sets worth keeping in a tidy library.
How the Procreate Brush Library Is Structured
Tap the brush icon in the top-right toolbar to open the Brush Library. It has two columns:
- Brush sets (left column): Folders that group brushes. Procreate ships with default sets such as Sketching, Inking, Painting and Airbrushing. Imported .brushset files appear as new sets.
- Brushes (right column): The brushes inside the selected set, each with a stroke preview.
At the top of the sets list is Recent, which automatically shows brushes you have used lately. Recent versions of Procreate let you pin brushes there so they stay put.
When you import a single .brush file instead of a set, Procreate usually places it in a set called Imported. Over time that set becomes a catch-all, and sorting it is one of the first jobs in any cleanup.
How to Organize Brushes in Procreate: Core Actions
Create a new brush set
- Open the Brush Library.
- Scroll to the top of the brush sets column. Pull down slightly if the + is not visible.
- Tap the blue + icon.
- Type a name for the set and tap Done.
The new set appears at the top of the list, ready for brushes.
Move a brush to another set
- Open the set that currently holds the brush.
- Press and hold the brush until it lifts slightly.
- Drag it to the left column and hover over the target set.
- Wait for the set to highlight, which also opens it.
- Drop the brush into position within the set.
This moves the brush rather than copying it. If the brush came from an imported set, it leaves that set.
Move several brushes at once
- Swipe right on each brush you want to select. Selected brushes highlight.
- Press and hold one of the selected brushes. The others stack under your finger.
- Drag the stack onto the target set and release.
This multi-select trick saves a lot of time when sorting a large Imported set.
Duplicate a brush
Swipe left on a brush to reveal options such as Share, Duplicate and Delete. Tap Duplicate. The copy appears just above the original. Duplicating is the only way to move a default Procreate brush into your own set, since default brushes stay in their original sets.
Rename, share, duplicate or delete a set
Tap a set that is already selected to open its menu. You will see Rename, Delete, Share and Duplicate. Sharing exports the set as a .brushset file, which doubles as a backup. Default Procreate sets have limited options and cannot be deleted in the same way as custom ones.
Reorder sets and brushes
Press and hold a set, then drag it up or down the list. Inside a set, press and hold any brush and drag it to a new position. Put your most-used sets and brushes near the top.
Pin brushes in Recent
In the Recent set, swipe left on a brush and choose Pin. Pinned brushes stay at the top of Recent instead of being pushed out as you use others. This turns Recent into a quick-access favorites list.
Four Ways to Structure Your Procreate Brush Library
There is no single correct system. Choose the one that matches how you think when reaching for a brush.
| System | Example set names | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| By workflow stage | Sketch, Ink, Flat Color, Render, Texture, Finish | Illustrators with a consistent process |
| By medium | Pencils, Ink Pens, Watercolor, Gouache, Oil, Pastel | Painters who emulate traditional media |
| By project or client | Comic Project, Wedding Portraits, Lettering Commissions | Professionals juggling different styles |
| By effect | Blenders, Grain, Spatter, Foliage, Light FX | Artists who think in terms of effects |
Many artists combine systems: a workflow-based set of daily brushes at the top, followed by medium or effect sets for occasional use.
The “Daily Driver” set
Whatever system you choose, a small set of 8 to 15 brushes you use constantly is the single biggest time saver. Name it something like “00 Daily” so it sorts to the top, and duplicate your favorites into it. Everything else becomes a reference library you browse occasionally.
Naming conventions that help
- Number prefixes: “01 Sketch”, “02 Ink”, “03 Paint” keep sets in your preferred order even after imports.
- Short, descriptive brush names: “Ink – Tapered 2” beats “Brush Copy 7”. Rename brushes in Brush Studio under the About section.
- Creator tags: Adding a creator’s initials in brackets helps you credit them and find their other brushes.
How to Clean Up an Overgrown Brush Library
If your library is already chaotic, work through it in one focused session.
- Back up first. Share each custom set to the Files app so you can restore anything you delete by mistake.
- Create your new structure. Make your empty sets with clear names before moving anything.
- Empty the Imported set. Sort each brush into a new set or delete it.
- Review imported packs. Go through each pack and move keepers into your structure. Many packs contain three or four brushes you love and twenty you never use.
- Delete duplicates. Identical stroke previews usually mean duplicates.
- Delete empty sets. Once a pack is sorted, delete the original empty set.
- Pin favorites in Recent. Pin your top five to ten brushes.
A clean library also makes Procreate feel snappier when browsing, since there is less to scroll through.
How to Install Brushes in Procreate Without Making a Mess
Organization is easier when you control how brushes enter the library.
- Brush sets (.brushset): Tap the file in the Files app or drag it onto Procreate. It imports as a new set at the top of the list. Rename it right away with your numbering system.
- Single brushes (.brush): These go into Imported. Move them into the right set immediately rather than letting them pile up.
- Import button: The + in the top-right corner of the Brush Library also offers an Import option, which opens Files.
- Zipped downloads: Unzip in Files first. Procreate cannot read a .zip directly.
How to Make Custom Brushes in Procreate and Keep Them Organized
Custom brushes tend to multiply quickly as you experiment. A few habits help:
- Create a “Lab” or “Experiments” set for work-in-progress brushes.
- When a custom brush is finished, rename it properly and move it into your main structure.
- To create a brush, tap + in the Brush Library to open Brush Studio, or duplicate an existing brush and edit it.
- Note settings changes in the brush name, such as “Ink – Tapered – Streamline 40”, if you make variants.
- Delete failed experiments regularly.
Backing Up Your Organized Brushes
All that organizing is lost if your iPad is reset without a backup. Two layers of protection are sensible:
- Export each custom set: Tap the set, choose Share, and save the .brushset to Files, iCloud Drive or another cloud service.
- Device backups: iCloud or computer backups of your iPad typically include Procreate’s data, but restoring an entire device is less convenient than reimporting a few sets.
Exporting also makes it easy to move your organized library to a new iPad.
When to Merge or Split Sets
Merge two sets when you regularly hop between them for the same task, such as separate “Pencil” and “Sketch” sets. Split a set when it grows past about 20 brushes or when you catch yourself scrolling to find something. The goal is that you can predict which set a brush is in without thinking.
Common Organization Mistakes
- Keeping every imported pack as its own set. Twenty packs means twenty sets to scroll through.
- Never deleting anything. Unused brushes add clutter without value.
- Vague names. “Good Brushes” and “Misc” become dumping grounds.
- Skipping backups before cleanup. Deleted brushes cannot be recovered without a backup.
- Forgetting Recent pins. Pinning removes the need to dig for your top brushes.
Working Faster With an Organized Library
Organization pays off when you combine it with Procreate’s quick-access features:
- Use the same brush for smudge and erase: Long-press the smudge or eraser icon to apply your current brush, so you don’t need separate sets for each tool.
- Keep sets short: Sets with around 10 to 20 brushes are quick to scan. Split larger ones.
- Re-sort quarterly: Your style evolves. A few minutes every few months keeps the library aligned with how you actually work.
A Sample Organized Library
Here is what a tidy library might look like for an illustrator who paints digitally in a gouache-inspired style. Adapt the names to your own work.
| Set name | What goes in it | Approx. brushes |
|---|---|---|
| 00 Daily | Duplicates of the brushes used on almost every piece | 10–12 |
| 01 Sketch | Pencils and loose sketching pens | 6–8 |
| 02 Ink | Tapered inkers, monoline pens, lettering brushes | 8–10 |
| 03 Paint | Gouache, flat and textured painting brushes | 12–15 |
| 04 Blend | Smudge and blending brushes | 5–6 |
| 05 Texture | Grain, spatter, paper and noise brushes | 10–15 |
| 06 Nature | Foliage, grass, clouds, stars | 8–10 |
| Lab | Custom brushes in progress | Varies |
| Testing | New downloads waiting to be evaluated | Varies |
Default Procreate sets sit below these. You will still have access to them, but they no longer crowd your personal sets.
Organizing Brushes Across Multiple Devices
Procreate does not sync brush libraries automatically between devices. If you use more than one iPad, or Procreate Pocket on an iPhone alongside your iPad, organize on your main device first, then export each custom set and import it on the second device. Repeat this whenever you make major changes. Keeping a “Brush Backups” folder in iCloud Drive with dated subfolders makes it easy to see which version is current.
Organizing for Animation and Procreate Dreams
If you also animate in Procreate’s Animation Assist, a dedicated “Animation” set with consistent line brushes helps keep frames uniform. Use brushes with low jitter and steady StreamLine so lines look the same from frame to frame. Procreate Dreams is a separate app with its own brush handling, so brushes may need to be imported there separately.
FAQs
How do I move brushes into a new set in Procreate?
Press and hold the brush, drag it over the target set in the left column until it highlights, then release. Swipe right on several brushes first to move them together.
Can I move default Procreate brushes?
Not directly. Swipe left on a default brush, tap Duplicate and then move the duplicate into your own set.
How do I delete a brush set in Procreate?
Tap the selected set to open its menu and choose Delete. Back it up first by choosing Share if you might want it later.
How do I rename a brush in Procreate?
Tap the brush to open Brush Studio, go to the About section and tap the brush name to edit it.
Why do my imported brushes go to an “Imported” set?
Single .brush files land in Imported by default. Brush sets (.brushset) create their own named set. Move single brushes into your own sets right after importing.
How many brushes should I keep in Procreate?
There is no limit worth worrying about, but most artists work faster with a core set of 8 to 15 daily brushes and a modest reference library.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to organize brushes in Procreate turns a cluttered library into a fast, personal toolkit: a small daily set at the top, clear names, pinned favorites and regular backups. Once your structure is in place, adding new brushes stays tidy. When you are ready to fill a few gaps, explore our guide to the top Procreate brush packs, including free downloads, and slot the keepers into your new system.
