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How do I change the brush tool in Photoshop?

Published in Photoshop Brushes 3 mins read

To change the brush tool in Photoshop, you'll primarily use the Tools Options bar and the Brush Settings panel. Here's a breakdown of how to do it:

1. Select the Brush Tool:

  • In the toolbar (usually on the left side of your screen), select the Brush tool icon. It looks like a paintbrush. You can also press the "B" key as a shortcut.

2. Access Brush Options:

  • Via the Options Bar: Once the Brush tool is selected, the options bar at the top of the Photoshop window will display brush-related settings.
  • Via the Brush Panel: Go to Window > Brush (or Window > Brush Settings). This opens the Brush panel or Brush Settings panel (depending on the specific version of Photoshop).

3. Choose a Different Brush:

  • Options Bar: Click the arrow next to the brush preview in the options bar. This will open a pop-up panel where you can:
    • Select a Brush Category: Choose a category from the drop-down menu (e.g., General Brushes, Special Effects Brushes).
    • Select a Brush: Within the chosen category, click on a specific brush to select it.
  • Brush Panel: The Brush panel shows a more comprehensive list of brushes and their settings. Click on a brush in the list to select it. You can also load new brushes from the panel menu (the icon with the four horizontal lines).

4. Modify Brush Settings:

  • Options Bar: The options bar allows you to quickly adjust:
    • Size: The diameter of the brush.
    • Hardness: How soft or sharp the edges of the brush are.
    • Opacity: How transparent the brush strokes are.
    • Flow: The rate at which paint is applied.
    • Mode: The blending mode of the brush (e.g., Normal, Multiply, Overlay).
  • Brush Settings Panel: For more advanced customization, use the Brush Settings panel (Window > Brush Settings). Here, you can adjust settings like:
    • Shape Dynamics: Control size jitter, angle jitter, roundness jitter, etc.
    • Scattering: Control how brush marks are scattered.
    • Texture: Add a texture to the brush.
    • Dual Brush: Combine two brushes.
    • Color Dynamics: Control color variations.
    • Transfer: Control opacity and flow jitter.

Example:

Let's say you want to use a soft, large brush.

  1. Select the Brush tool.
  2. In the options bar, click the brush preview to open the brush selection panel.
  3. Choose the "General Brushes" category.
  4. Select a soft round brush (e.g., "Soft Round").
  5. Adjust the "Size" slider in the options bar to make the brush larger.
  6. Ensure the "Hardness" is set to 0% for a soft edge.

In summary, you can change the brush tool in Photoshop by selecting the Brush tool, choosing a different brush preset from the Options Bar or Brush Panel, and then customizing the brush's size, hardness, and other settings in the Options Bar and more extensively within the Brush Settings Panel.

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