*Program Basic
PROGRAM BASIC: Create Your Own Simple Brush
By Shelleyrae Cusbert 2006
Mar 19, 2006, 03:56

The process for making your own brush is similar no matter how simple or complicated the image is, however it’s easiest to start with a fairly simple image.

Choose a photograph from your own collection or a stock photo site. It is best to choose a photograph where contrast between the image and the background is obvious for your first attempts.

Choose File> Open and browse to select a suitable photograph. I have selected this image of a rose. There is sufficient contrast between the flower and the background to make extraction simpler.

Make a duplicate of the photograph to avoid permanently affecting the original by choosing Image> Duplicate.

Choose the Marquee tool and select the area of the photo that you want to use as a brush.

Select Image> Crop to discard the unneeded background area.

For digital scrapping purposes you brush is best at a resolution of 300ppi but you may need to resize the image or you will find it to large to work comfortably with.

Select Image> Image Size

Change the pixel width to around 700pixels to create a reasonable sized brush. Ensure Scale Style and Constrain Proportions is selected.

Choose Image > Mode> Grayscale to remove the color from the image.

This has rendered the photograph rather flat so use Levels to adjust the contrast of the image and give it more definition.

Select Image> Adjustments> Levels

Manipulate the level controls until the result is satisfactory.

The next step is to remove the background. With a simple well contrasted image, you can use the Eraser to delete the background.

Zoom to see the whole image and select the Magic Eraser Tool from the tool palette. Click on background areas to erase portions but be careful not to erase any portion of your image. Choose Edit> Undo Magic Eraser to undo any selection made in error.

To fine tune the selection switch to the Eraser Tool

Select a brush of suitable size and erase the remaining portions of the background.

Alternatively use another mode of selection such as the magnetic lasso or the pen tool.

You should now have the flower as a single image.

If necessary adjust the contrast again (Image> Adjustments> Levels) and apply a small amount of sharpening Filters> Sharpen> Sharpen.

Select Edit> Define Brush preset

Name your brush as desired

Your new brush will now be available in the brush palette.

Choose your brush and make the adjustments desired.