How to Sell Procreate Brushes
StyleFrame Team7 min read
To sell Procreate brushes, build a focused set in Brush Studio, test it on a clean install, export it as a .brushset file, and zip it with install instructions and a license. Then list it on a storefront such as Etsy, Creative Market, Payhip, or your own site. Most of your sales will depend on the preview images and the quality of the set, so the packaging and presentation deserve as much effort as the brushes.
For motion designers and animators, brushes tuned for frame-by-frame work, such as boiling ink lines, grain, and paint textures, are a natural niche.
The Process at a Glance
- Pick a niche and a clear use case.
- Build and test the brushes.
- Export and package the files with instructions and a license.
- Make previews that show the brushes in real work.
- Choose a platform and set a price.
- Launch, then support your customers.
Step 1: Pick a Niche Before You Build
A set called "Ultimate Brush Pack" competes with many others. A set with a specific job is easier to describe and easier to find: a dry-media set for character animation, stamp brushes for borders and vines, or textured inkers for animatics.
Build from what you already use. The brushes you reach for on client projects have been tested under deadline pressure, which makes them better candidates than ones made speculatively. One brush-making educator recommends a curated set of around 20 to 30 brushes with distinct purposes over a bloated pack. Each brush should have a reason to exist, and if two feel the same in use, cut one.
If you work in motion, think about how brushes behave across frames. A texture that looks great in a single still can shimmer or clump when you draw consecutive frames. Animators will notice that, and say so in reviews.
Step 2: Build and Test the Brushes
Procreate's Brush Studio lets you adjust stroke behavior, shape, grain, dynamics, and Apple Pencil response. A few practical points:
- Shape and grain sources: Procreate's brush maker expects square source images. Work in pure black and white unless you intentionally want transparency. Black is the solid part, and white is the open part that lets ink through, like a stencil.
- Stamp brushes: For repeating elements like vines, borders, or ornaments, draw the shape on a square canvas at high resolution (one tutorial uses 3000 × 3000 px, though any square size works), import it as the shape source, then tune spacing, jitter, and maximum size.
- Size limits: Set sensible maximum and minimum sizes so the brush stays crisp when someone scales it up.
- Pressure and tilt: Test with an Apple Pencil at light, medium, and heavy pressure. Reset anything that behaves unpredictably.
- Canvas sizes: Try each brush on small and large canvases. Resolution-dependent textures can look completely different at 4K than at screen size.
Test in a fresh state. Import the finished set into a clean Procreate install or another device, with none of your custom settings, and draw with every brush. Anything that depends on your own setup will show up quickly.
Step 3: Export and Package the Files
In the Brush Library, tap a set's name and choose Share to export a .brushset file. Individual brushes can be shared as .brush files. Do this for the finished set rather than relying on your working library, which tends to accumulate experiments.
A clean download usually contains:
- The
.brushsetfile (and any.procreatesample files, swatches, or textures you're including) - A short PDF or text guide explaining how to download, unzip, and import
- A license file stating what customers can and can't do with the brushes
Zip everything into a single archive. Some marketplaces limit which file types you can upload directly. Community advice for Etsy sellers has included zipping the files or distributing through a PDF that links to a cloud-hosted download. Policies change, so check your platform's current digital-product rules before building your delivery around a workaround.
Don't skip the instructions. Not all buyers are tech-savvy, and some struggle with downloading, unzipping a folder, and importing brushes on an iPad. Clear, step-by-step instructions help you earn positive reviews.
Licensing and Originality
Decide your terms before you list. Common options are personal use only, commercial use for finished artwork, or an extended license. Spell out that customers can't resell or redistribute the brushes themselves.
Also make sure everything inside the brush is yours. Scanned textures, stock shapes, and bundled fonts all carry their own licenses. If a texture came from a free resource, check that its terms allow inclusion in a commercial product.
Step 4: Make Previews That Sell
Buyers can't try your brushes before purchase, so your images carry the sale. Good listings typically show:
- A stroke sheet with every brush named, drawn on a plain background
- Finished artwork made with the set, not just scribbles
- Close-ups of texture and pressure response
- A clear statement of compatibility (iPad, Procreate version, and any other requirements)
For animators and motion designers, consider showing a short loop of frame-by-frame work made with the brushes. Motion previews communicate how a brush feels in a way static sheets can't.
Be honest in your listing. If a preview uses processed or generated footage, make sure it still represents what the brushes actually do in Procreate. Misleading previews lead to refunds and bad reviews.
Step 5: Choose Where to Sell
Each option involves a tradeoff between built-in traffic and control.
Etsy is a marketplace where you can list digital downloads. The cost is heavy competition, platform fees, and rules about file delivery.
Creative Market is another marketplace for design assets, where you compete with other shops.
Payhip and similar storefront tools let you run your own shop with your branding. One Procreate brush maker who uses Payhip cites its handling of digital delivery and tax collection, plus email-marketing integrations. You supply the traffic yourself, from social media, YouTube, newsletters, or search.
Your own website gives you the most control over brand and customer relationships, but you handle discovery, payments, and support setup.
Many sellers combine them: a marketplace for discovery and an owned shop for returning customers and higher margins. If you go that route, keep your product versions and license terms consistent across platforms.
Step 6: Price and Launch
Research comparable sets in your niche before setting a price. New sellers often price slightly under established creators to attract first buyers and early reviews, then raise prices as their reputation grows. Bundling a larger set with a smaller one, or offering a launch discount, are common ways to build momentum.
A free mini-set is another tactic some creators use. It lets people test your brushes, can help build an email list, and gives you a reason to show up in search and social feeds. Make sure the free set is good enough to represent the paid one.
For the launch itself:
- Share process videos showing how you built and use the brushes
- Post short clips on social platforms, and link to the listing
- Ask early buyers for reviews, and respond to feedback quickly
Step 7: Support Customers and Maintain the Set
Selling brushes doesn't end at checkout. Expect questions about installation, missing files, and compatibility with different Procreate versions. A short FAQ in the download and a canned reply for common problems will save you hours.
Update the set when Procreate changes in ways that affect behavior, and let past buyers know through your platform's update tools. Collect requests, since they're a free source of ideas for your next product, such as a companion texture pack, a stamp set, or a color palette bundle.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Too many near-duplicate brushes. Quantity doesn't make up for overlap.
- Weak previews. If the listing images look like test scribbles, buyers will assume the brushes are too.
- Unclear licensing. Ambiguity invites misuse and disputes.
- Untested exports. Always install the final file as a customer would.
- Ignoring non-technical buyers. Good instructions are part of the product.
Final Thoughts
Selling Procreate brushes is straightforward once you separate the work into stages: design a focused set, test it thoroughly, package it with clear instructions and a license, and present it honestly. Your platform choice affects reach and margins, but the product and previews decide whether people buy. If you work in motion, lean into that strength. Animated demos and brushes designed for frame-by-frame consistency set you apart from generic packs.