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MyPaint Brushes
What it is
MyPaint Brushes is a free downloadable brush-data package for MyPaint and other applications using libmypaint. The master branch contains brushes for libmypaint 2.x. For versions below 1.5, the project directs users to the v1.3.x branch or a v1.x release instead. Listed releases include v1.3.1 for libmypaint 1.3 or later and v2.0.2 for libmypaint 1.5 or later. Brush files use the .myb format and the package is available for commercial use. Developers can locate the default brush directory through pkg-config: C and C++ programs can use the MYPAINT_BRUSHES_DIR macro, while other languages can use the brushesdir variable. Building and installing uses autogen.sh, configure, make, and make install. Historical SCons scripts are included, but they work with SCons 2.x rather than SCons 3. Official brush data uses public domain or CC0 1.0 licensing. Installation scripts and other non-brush-data components use GPL-2+ licensing. The package is delivered as a download, and compatibility depends on the libmypaint version in the application.
For and against
For
- Free brush package
- Supports MyPaint and libmypaint applications
- Pkg-config exposes the brush directory
- Commercial use is allowed
- Official brush data uses public domain or CC0
Against
- Master targets libmypaint 2.x
- Older libmypaint versions need another branch
- Legacy SCons scripts require SCons 2.x
- Non-brush components use GPL-2+
The verdict
MyPaint Brushes provides versioned .myb data with clear integration and licensing details. Check the application’s libmypaint version before choosing the master branch or an older release.
Who it suits
MyPaint Brushes suits developers and users of MyPaint or other libmypaint-based applications. It is especially relevant when selecting brush data for a specific libmypaint version.
Plans and prices
Free
Brush data package; version compatibility depends on libmypaint version
Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Brush licensing
- The official brush package accepts public domain or CC0 1.0 licensing for brush data.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Brush version
- The master branch contains brushes for libmypaint 2.x.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Build
- The package can be built and installed with autogen.sh followed by configure, make, and make install.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- C and C++ integration
- For C and C++ programs, pkg-config provides the MYPAINT_BRUSHES_DIR macro for locating the brushes.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Compatibility
- For libmypaint versions below 1.5, the project recommends the v1.3.x branch or a v1.x release instead of master.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limit
- The README says unchecked loading of 2.x brush data with older libmypaint versions can cause them to crash.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The package can be built and installed with its autotools scripts using autogen.sh, configure, make, and make install.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Integration
- Applications can use the mypaint-brushes-2.0 pkg-config module to locate the default brushes directory.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The package is intended for MyPaint and other applications that use libmypaint.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Legacy build option
- Historical SCons scripts are included, but the README says they work only with SCons 2.x and not SCons 3.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The README says official brush data must use public domain or CC0 1.0 licensing, while installation scripts and other package components use GPL-2+.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Other language integration
- For other languages, pkg-config exposes the brushes directory through the brushesdir variable.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Other package licensing
- The package's installation scripts and other non-brush-data components are GPL-2+ licensed.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- The package provides brushes used by MyPaint and other software using libmypaint.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Release compatibility
- The releases page lists v1.3.1 as usable with libmypaint 1.3 or later and v2.0.2 as usable with libmypaint 1.5 or later.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Release note
- The v2.0.2 release note says its changes only reduce preview icon file sizes and that v2.0.x brushes generally require libmypaint 1.5 or later to work correctly.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Versioning
- The brush data package is versioned, and the master branch contains brushes intended for libmypaint 2.x.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
