Tutorial: Making Custom Grid Brushes (v9)

[charliemc]

There seem to be requests on a regular basis, so let's make a few custom grid brushes, shall we? (smile)

Keep in mind that you can actually use any image when making a brush! It's an exciting concept, when you think about it...

Grid brushes create a nice effect when added to blends. Once you've made your new brushes, you can give them a try and see what I mean!

Here we go...

We'll make a number of grid brushes, using templates I'll provide. If you can turn one of these into a brush, you can easily turn them all into brushes, using the same techniques! (smile)


1. Open Paint Shop Pro 9 (PSP9).
   
   Make a copy of this image:
   
   
   (Right-click and Copy. Go to PSP and right-click and Paste As New Image.)
   
   
2. Go to Selections > Select All.
   
   IMPORTANT: You'll need to have your Tool Options Palette open to proceed. (Pressing the F4 key on your keyboard will toggle the Tool Options Palette open and closed.) By default this is docked at the top of the workspace, underneath the Standard Toolbar.
   
   
3. Go to your Tool Palette (on the left-hand side of the workspace by default) and select your Paint Brush.
   
   
4. Go to the Tool Options Palette. Click inside the small preview window. (This is located on the left-hand side of the palette, just to the right of the presets.) This will active the Brushes dropdown window.
   
   
5. Click on the Create brush tip from selection button.
   
   
   
   The Custom Brush window will now open.
   
   
   
   
6. You can now name your brush.
   
   
7. Click OK.

Using Your New Grid Brush

1. Now you're ready to actually use your new brush! Select your Brush Tool.
   
   Again, you'll need to have your Tool Options palette open to proceed. (If you've closed it, press the F4 key on your keyboard to toggle it back open.)
   
   
2. Go to the Tool Options Palette. Click on the preview/dropdown button to select your brush.
   
   Handy tip: With the exception of the default brushes which are at the top, all your brushes are listed in alphabetical order. Keep this in mind can make it easier for you to locate each of your custom brushes.
   
   
3. Scroll through until you locate your new grid brush. Click on it. Then click OK.
   
   You can now use your custom grid brush as you would any other brush -- with solid colors, gradients and patterns. You can use a new Raster Layer (transparent) and apply the brush, then go to your Layers Palette and lower the opacity or change the blend mode! Use your Eraser Tool to remove portions of the grid.
   
   There are simply endless possibilities!
   
   I'll include a few more grid templates for you to turn into brushes:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   And for the heck of it I'll toss in a checkerboard template, too!
   
   
   

Let me know how it goes -- and samples of your work are always encouraged!

==CharlieMC, assistant moderator