Preset Manager and Saved Brushes

[CEHARRIS3]

Can anyone steer me to a relatively in-depth treatment of Preset Manager and its relationship to saved brushes, etc. I know there is a video tutorial on the issue here, but I am running Vista, and the videos crash my computer 75% of the time (so badly I have to restore my system from an earlier date)..so I am afraid of using them. I just don't seem to understand how this relationship works...it never seems consistent. I raised this question once before and I thought I understood, but find that I don't.
I have no fewer than eight reference books on Photoshop Elements (4 and 5) and would you believe the only book which even references the Preset Manager is "Photoshop Elements 5 for Dummies" (and one paragraph at that!).:o
PS I originally erronously sent this post as a reply to the "Wendy's Plaids" thread ...sorry for the confusion:twisted:

[Diana]

Hi,

The Preset Manager for Brushes basically allows you to create your own brushes and save them in sets of their own and also allows you to load brushes saved on your computer that aren't installed.

Here are some websites that may give you more information:

http://www.photokaboom.com/photography/learn/Photoshop_Elements/brushes/5_brushes_advanced_menus_2_3_preset_manager.htm

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pselements/ss/custombrush_4.htm

http://safari.oreilly.com/9780321476715/ch10lev1sec7

http://www.easyelements.com/making-photoshop-brushes.html

Diana

[Kamaditz]

Diana, I visited the sites you had listed and I loved them. Thank you. :p

[Wendy]

Hi ...

The preset manager is used to save brushes that you have created in Elements ... and if you take a look in Wendy's Mini Tutorials (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3641)

you will find a tutorial showing you how to use it :)

Using Preset Manager to save brushes ... (Message No 19) (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3077)

Wendy

[Kathy]

Here is a link to a previous thread on Brushes Organization using the Preset Manager.

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19307

Wendy also provides a link to her tutorial on using the Preset Manager.

Hope this helps.

Kathy

[CEHARRIS3]

Thanks for the many replies on the Brush/Pre-set Manager issue. I thought it was just me, but I can see this is an issue for many folks. I have avoided taking this on like the plague, but now I think I have enough ammo to "lick it" this week with your many replies. The one thing I would like to do is place all of my custom brushes into one set, which would appear as a category much as does "basic brushes" (e.g. "my custom brushes"). This set would include the brushes I created as well as the ones I downloaded. My guess is this is done with the "define set" (or "save set"?) command. I may have to get back to you if I am wrong. :):D

In my opinion this is the most confusing topic in PSE, and the one least addressed by the reference books.

One further question. The nomenclature "default brushes" confuses me. Is the "default brushes" category a distinct category (as is "basic brushes" or "calligraphic brushes"). I mean , in a sense, these are all default brushes in the sense that they are prefabricated into the Elements program. I mean why are the brushes in the "default" group "singled out" as a category from the others. This may sound like a petty issue, but I have found when I come across an enigma like this, it is a sign I have failed to understand a major principle. Have I??:confused:

Thanking you all again. Could not make it without this forum and its kind folks:)

[sydneysnana]

On this subject, I found Jessica Sprague is doing two Photoshop Friday's on Brushes. Last Friday was creating, this Friday is saving and organizing brushes. I love her blog http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/

Michelle

[CEHARRIS3]

Michelle...that is a super website,,,many thanks for the tip!!:)

[Wendy]

Hi ...

The default brush set is just a mixture of brushes from several sets ... and they probably will cover you for most things you need brushes for so its useful having them as the default :)

Wendy

[Diana]

The one thing I would like to do is place all of my custom brushes into one set, which would appear as a category much as does "basic brushes" (e.g. "my custom brushes"). This set would include the brushes I created as well as the ones I downloaded. My guess is this is done with the "define set" (or "save set"?) command. I may have to get back to you if I am wrong.

This is the method that I use:

Adding Your Favorite Brushes Together in One Set

1) Select the Brush Tool

2) In the Brush Option Bar, click the dropdown arrow

3) From the menu that appears, click the second dropdown arrow

4) From the list of brushes that appears, choose a Brush Set that includes a particular brush or brushes you want put in your custom set, to make that brush set active.

5) From the Menu, go to Edit > Preset Manager

6) At Preset Type, select Brushes

7) Click on the Load button

8) From the Load window navigate to the folder where your brushes are stored

9) Click on another Brush Set containing a brush you want to add to your custom brush set, then click the Load button in that window. This will append that brush set to the end of the brush set you initially selected.

10) Repeat using the Load button from Preset Manager to add all the sets containing brushes you wish to put in your custom set.

11) Now, from the Preset Manager grid containing all the brushes you loaded, while holding the Control key down, click on each brush, and only each brush, that you want to keep in your custom set. The border of each brush selected should become bolder. If you want to include ALL of the brushes you've loaded, use Ctrl-A to select all.

12) Next click the Save Set button

13) From the Save dialog box that comes up, give your custom set a filename, such as My Favorite Brushes, or something. Do not name it the same as any other brush set or you will overwrite that set.

14) Make sure the Save In location at the top of the box indicates the path where the PSE brushes are located, such as C:/Program Files/Adobe/Photoshop Elements 5.0/Presets/Brushes

15) Then click Save. All brushes that you did not select will be excluded from the new saved set.

16) Click Done to close the Preset Manager

17) Now restart Elements and you should see your own custom set listed in the brushes palette.

18) Later, if you wish to add another brush from another set to your custom set, select the Brush tool and select your custom set from the brushes palette

19) From the Menu...Edit > Preset Manager, click the Load button and repeat the steps above, always making sure you select all brushes you want to remain in your custom set, including the original ones, before clicking Save Set. Then give the set the same filename you used for your custom set. When you click Save, it will ask if you wish to replace the existing file, answer OK. Then click the Done button to close Preset Manager and restart Elements.

20) Tip: If you wish to have your custom set at the top of the list in the brush palette, put an underscore before the name, such as _My Favorites.

Diana

[CEHARRIS3]

All I can say is a Big "Thank You" for such a complete reply! I will get back to you today to let me know how I made out. I would maintain that it puzzles me that the reference books seem so silent on this issue! Any procedure involving this many steps would certainly elude even a high level intermediate user of PSE5.

I can only hope that someday I will have your skill level so that I will be able to return the favor to some newer PSE user. That seems to be the way this forum works. I have never experienced this level of generous help-giving in any other area of interest I have ever had! :)

[CEHARRIS3]

Diana...you should have that set of instructions published in "Techniques". Seriously they were THAT clear. A September goal of mine has NOW been met! Many thanks for taking the time to do that.:)

[Diana]

You're very welcome!:D

Diana