Documentation

Complete guide to using BrushsetMaker

Overview

BrushsetMaker is a macOS application designed to compile Procreate brushsets from organized folder structures. This guide will help you get the most out of the application.

Getting Started

Installation

Follow the download instructions to install BrushsetMaker on your Mac. Once installed, the application will be available in your Applications folder.

First Launch

On your first launch, macOS may display a security warning. This is normal for applications not distributed through the Mac App Store. Simply:

  1. Right-click the application
  2. Select “Open”
  3. Click “Open” again in the confirmation dialog

How to Use BrushsetMaker

Basic Workflow

The typical workflow for using BrushsetMaker involves these steps:

  1. Organize Your Brushes: Create a folder structure where each subfolder contains the brush files you want to package
  2. Select Root Folder: Launch BrushsetMaker and select the parent folder containing your brush subfolders
  3. Process: Click the process button and watch the status log
  4. Import: Use the generated .brushset files in Procreate

Folder Structure

BrushsetMaker expects a specific folder structure:

Root Folder/
├── Brush Set 1/
│   ├── brush1.brush
│   ├── brush2.brush
│   └── brush3.brush
├── Brush Set 2/
│   ├── brush4.brush
│   └── brush5.brush
└── Brush Set 3/
    └── brush6.brush

Output:

  • Brush Set 1.brushset
  • Brush Set 2.brushset
  • Brush Set 3.brushset

Selecting Folders

  1. Click the “Select Folder” button in the application
  2. Navigate to your root brush folder
  3. Click “Choose” to confirm your selection

The application will display the selected path in the interface.

Processing Brushsets

Once you’ve selected a folder:

  1. Click the “Process” or “Create Brushsets” button
  2. Watch the status log for real-time progress updates
  3. Wait for the “Complete” message

The application will:

  • Scan all subfolders in your selected directory
  • Create a zip archive of each subfolder’s contents
  • Rename the archives with the .brushset extension
  • Display success or error messages in the log

Status Log

The status log provides detailed information about the processing:

  • Info messages: General progress updates
  • Success messages: Completed operations
  • Warning messages: Non-critical issues
  • Error messages: Problems that need attention

The log is scrollable and automatically focuses on the most recent message.

Advanced Usage

Custom Naming

The brushset files are automatically named after their parent folder. To customize names:

  1. Rename the source folders before processing
  2. The output .brushset files will reflect the new names

Batch Processing

BrushsetMaker processes all subfolders in the selected directory. For batch operations:

  1. Organize multiple brush collections in subfolders
  2. Select the parent folder
  3. Process once to create all brushsets simultaneously

File Locations

By default, BrushsetMaker creates .brushset files in the same directory as their source folders.

Importing to Procreate

After creating brushsets:

  1. Transfer to iPad: Use AirDrop, iCloud Drive, or any file transfer method
  2. Open in Procreate: Tap the .brushset file on your iPad
  3. Import: Procreate will automatically import the brush collection
  4. Verify: Check the brush library to confirm successful import

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

“Permission Denied” Errors

Problem: The application can’t access the selected folder.

Solution:

  • Ensure the folder isn’t in a restricted location (like System directories)
  • Grant full disk access to BrushsetMaker in System Preferences > Security & Privacy
  • Try selecting a folder in your user directory (Documents, Desktop, etc.)

“No Subfolders Found”

Problem: The application doesn’t detect any subfolders to process.

Solution:

  • Verify your folder structure matches the expected format
  • Ensure subfolders exist in the selected directory
  • Check that subfolders contain brush files

Brushsets Won’t Import to Procreate

Problem: The generated .brushset files don’t work in Procreate.

Solution:

  • Verify the source files are valid Procreate brush files (.brush extension)
  • Check that the .brushset files aren’t corrupted
  • Try regenerating the brushset
  • Ensure you’re using a compatible version of Procreate

Application Crashes on Launch

Problem: BrushsetMaker won’t start or crashes immediately.

Solution:

  • Check system requirements (macOS 11.0 or later)
  • Remove and reinstall the application
  • Check Console.app for error messages
  • Report the issue on GitHub with crash logs

Performance Issues

If processing is slow:

  • Reduce the number of subfolders processed at once
  • Close other resource-intensive applications
  • Ensure adequate disk space is available
  • Process smaller brush collections individually

Getting Help

If you can’t resolve your issue:

  1. Check existing documentation: Review all sections of this guide
  2. Search GitHub Issues: Look for similar problems and solutions
  3. Open a new issue: Provide detailed information about your problem
  4. Include system details: macOS version, application version, error messages

Technical Details

Built With

BrushsetMaker is built using modern Python tools:

  • Python 3.12+: Core programming language
  • Toga: Native GUI framework
  • Briefcase: Application packaging and distribution
  • uv: Fast, reliable Python package management

File Format

The .brushset format is essentially a renamed .zip archive containing individual .brush files and metadata. BrushsetMaker creates standards-compliant archives that Procreate recognizes and imports.

Source Code

The full source code is available on GitHub. Contributions, bug reports, and feature requests are welcome!

Best Practices

Organization Tips

  1. Use descriptive folder names: These become your brushset names
  2. Group related brushes: Keep similar brushes in the same folder
  3. Test small batches first: Verify the process works before processing large collections
  4. Keep backups: Always maintain copies of your original brush files

Workflow Optimization

  1. Prepare folders in advance: Organize all brush files before launching the app
  2. Process in stages: Break large collections into manageable batches
  3. Verify output: Check generated brushsets before transferring to iPad
  4. Document your organization: Keep notes on your folder structure for future reference

FAQ

Is BrushsetMaker free?

Yes! BrushsetMaker is completely free and open source.

Does it work on Windows or Linux?

Currently, BrushsetMaker is macOS-only. However, the source code is available if you want to adapt it for other platforms.

Can I distribute brushsets created with BrushsetMaker?

Yes! The brushsets you create are yours to use, share, or sell as you wish.

How do I update BrushsetMaker?

Download the latest version from the releases page and replace the old application in your Applications folder.

Can I contribute to the project?

Absolutely! Visit the GitHub repository to contribute code, report bugs, or suggest features. Read the Contributor Documentation to read about the guidelines and best practices for contributing to the project.

📚 Need More Help?

Still have questions? Check out our GitHub Issues page or start a discussion with the community.