Here is a run down on what the files look like.
Digital Brushes
These are small proprietary packages containing brush tip shapes, textures and behaviour settings.
Procreate:
- File: A single .brush file.
- Appearance: A small generic file icon (often a blank page) unless Procreate is installed. You don’t open this file directly; you import it into the app.
Adobe (Photoshop, Fresco):
- File: An .abr (Adobe Brush) file.
- Appearance: A generic file icon sometimes with a small brush preview. This is a library file containing one or hundreds of individual brush presets.
Affinity (Photo, Designer):
- File: An .afbrushes file.
- Appearance: A file with a distinct Affinity icon (a stylised “A”). Like the .abr, it’s a container for multiple brush presets.
Digital Stamps
Digital stamps come in various formats depending on their intended use.
1. Brush Sets:
Often, “stamps” are included as brush presets within a .brush .abr or .afbrushes file. These functions like a single-tap brush and are identified by a complex shape, such as a leaf or star, rather than a simple stroke.
2. Image Files (Most Common & Flexible):
These are the most versatile and widely used format. You import them onto your canvas as a layer.
Formats: .png (with a transparent background, highly recommended), .jpg, .tiff or .psd.
Appearance: Standard image files. You can preview the stamp icon in your computer’s file browser.
Typical Delivery: They’re usually provided in a ZIP folder containing dozens or hundreds of individual image files, often organised into subfolders like “Foliage” or “Clouds”.
3. Custom Shape Files (Less Common):
For Adobe Illustrator/Affinity Designer: You might receive .ai .eps or .svg files (vector shapes).
For Affinity Apps: You might get .afdesign or .afphoto files with stamps on layers.