How to Add New Tools in Photoshop
The basic tools included with Photoshop allow users to create unique graphic effects. Designers who wish to take their photo-editing skills to the next level can take advantage of the large number of tool downloads, font selections and plug-ins available online.
- Close Photoshop before attempting to install any new tools.
- Browse for new tools online. Many professional tool developers offer tools for free or for a flat fee. After locating the tool, download the zip file to your desktop.
- Right-click on the zip file and extract the files to your desktop or to a different location of your choice.
- Determine the type of file before proceeding. New brush files appear with the extension .abr, whereas filters operate as plug-ins.
- Move .abr brush files to the Adobe>Photoshop>Presets>Brushes folder. Add plugins to the folder located at Adobe>Photoshop>Presets>Plug-ins.
- Add new fonts by downloading and unzipping font files from any of the free font directories online. Once unzipped, move the font to the “Fonts” folder found at C:>Windows>Fonts.
- Open Photoshop once the new tools are downloaded, unzipped and moved to their appropriate folders. To load new brushes, click the brush tab on your toolbar and click “Load Brushes.” Filter plug-ins and fonts will automatically appear on their respective lists, so no further steps are necessary to begin using these new features.
- Close and re-open Photoshop if the new tools do not appear in your toolbar. If Photoshop was open at any point during this process, the tools will not load correctly until you restart the program.