How To Install Lightroom Brushes

How to Install Brushes in Lightroom

Welcome to Pretty Presets for Lightroom!  We have the best Lightroom brush install video and written tutorial below.  These basic instructions will teach you How to Install Lightroom Brushes into Adobe Lightroom in just 2-3 minutes.  We'll have you using your wonderful brushes in no time!

Step 1.  Open Lightroom & Navigate to Preferences

On a PC, open Lightroom and click on Edit at the top (next to File), then click on Preferences in the drop down menu. 

On a Mac, open Lightroom and click on Lightroom at the top, (to the left of File), then click on Preferences in the drop down menu.

Step 2.  Click on the Presets Tab

When your Preferences box opens, there will be several tabs at the top; click on the Presets tab (second tab over).

Step 3.  Click on "Show All Other Lightroom Presets" Button

Next, click on the box titled "Show All Other Lightroom Presets" button for the most current versions of Lightroom or click on “Show Lightroom Presets Folder" if you have an older version of Lightroom.

Step 4.  Open the Lightroom Folder

When the next box opens, double click on the "Lightroom" folder.

Step 5.  Open the Local Adjustment Presets Folder

Next, double click on "Local Adjustment Presets" folder.

Step 6.  Copy and Paste Brushes to the Local Adjustment Presets Folder

Finally, copy the Lightroom Brushes (.lrtemplate files) from the location you downloaded them to your computer and paste them into the “Local Adjustment Presets” folder. 

Step 7.  Restart Lightroom

If Lightroom was open when you copied the Brush Presets, you will have to close Lightroom and restart it.  You're done!

Where to Find Brush Presets in Lightroom?

Brush presets are only available in Lightroom Classic. The Lightroom Mobile Desktop version doesn't have the ability to use brush presets yet.  To find your brush presets, follow the steps below for your version of Lightroom Classic.

Lightroom Classic (version 11+)

1. Click on the dotted circle at the far right of the tools panel.

2. After you click on this tool, choose "Brush" from the menu.

3. Click on the word next to "Preset" to locate all your installed brushes.

Lightroom Classic (versions 4-10)

1.  To use a brush, click on the brush tool and then click on the words (and double arrow) next to the word "Effect".

2.  A list of the brushes you installed will pop up and you can then choose the one you want.  

Lightroom Brush Troubleshooting Guide

Brush Download Issues:

• If the download isn't working, try a different internet browser.

• Do NOT choose to “open” the file after download.  Just hit save, then close that dialogue box.  Then go open your Windows Explorer window and locate the zip file, which is most likely in your Downloads folder.  Extract the file according to instructions in video tutorial or cheat sheet below.

• Can't Unzip?  If on a PC right clicking does not offer “extract files”, then you may need to download an external program to unzip.  We recommend trying WinRar, a free unzipping program.

• Still having trouble?  Contact us at support@prettypresets.com for further assistance.

Brushes Not Showing Up in Lightroom

• Try shutting down Lightroom and then restart it.

• Double check to make sure you copied the contents of the folder you downloaded into the "Local Adjustments" folder and not the "Develop" folder.

• Make sure what you copied into the "Local Adjustments" folder actually holds the brush presets and not another folder that contains those brush presets (i.e. folder within a folder).

• Do NOT check “Store Presets With Catalog.”  This setting will appear to the left of "Show Lightroom Presets Folder" in your Preferences menu.  

• Make sure that you EXTRACTED the zip file.  If you merely double-clicked on the folder (on a PC), you will get access to the presets, but those will NOT be extracted files and will NOT copy or paste correctly or show up in Lightroom for you.

Lightroom Brush Installation Cheat Sheet

If you would like a physical copy of our Lightroom brush install instructions, just click the "download here" button below and print.