How do you reset system brushes?

[dmstraker]

When I use system brushes, I sometimes change elements from flow to jitter for the purpose in hand. However, I'd like to be able to return them to their default settings. How do I do this?

Thanks

[Lee D]

If you double click on the brush on the Brushes Panels, adjust settings and use the Reset button this will reset them to default. We are aware of an issue with the Reset button not working if you use the More button on the Context Toolbar. The Reset button doesn't reset the brush, this has been resolved in the in 1.7 beta.

[lepr]

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[dmstraker]

Thanks! Looks like Reset is limited in scope. If I exit AP and return, I can't reset to system default.

Best overall fudge at the moment seems to be to export brush sets immediately after installation then import them again if needed. Though this puts the category at the bottom of the drop-down list (is there a way to reorder this?).

Also for limited scope use, I'll duplicate a brush before changing the duplicate (and deleting when finished). I'll still keep the exports, though it is indeed a fudge.

Is there a folder where the brushes are kept or are they imported into a database?

[Lee D]

You can reset the app/brushes back to default in Preferences > Misc or by holding down CTRL and opening the app. When the new windows appears, release the key and you can then select what you want to reset back to default settings.

[dmstraker]

2 minutes ago, Lee D said:

You can reset the app/brushes back to default in Preferences > Misc or by holding down CTRL and opening the app. When the new windows appears, release the key and you can then select what you want to reset back to default settings.

That's helpful. Thanks, Lee! It seems to remove brush categories already installed, so I guess needs to be used with care.

It would be handy if there was a 'don't remove category x' choice along the way.

[lepr]

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[R C-R]

1 hour ago, dmstraker said:

Is there a folder where the brushes are kept or are they imported into a database?

According to this post, the brush data is stored in a .propcol file, for Windows at path C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Affinity\Photo\1.0\user\.

Because these "propcol" (I guess short for "property collection"?) files apparently are stored in a proprietary binary format, there does not seem to be a way to extract or modify individual brushes or brush categories from them, if that is what you were hoping for. 

If it is the same for Windows as for Macs, there are vector_brushes.propcol and raster_brushes.propcol files for both Photo & Designer, even though you can't access vector brushes stored in Photo & that app will import vector brush categories. I think the 'nuclear' reset option resets both brush types, but it is easy enough to delete the vector_brushes.propcol file in Photo if you want to keep the raster brushes & just get rid of any useless vector brush data that might have been imported into Photo by accident. Just make sure Photo isn't running when you do that.