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SPECIFICTION
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MyPaint Brushes

github.com

Free plan
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Spec score 7.4 #18 of 23 in Digital Brush Libraries

What it is

MyPaint Brushes is a free downloadable brush-data package for MyPaint and other applications that use libmypaint. The master branch contains brushes intended for libmypaint 2.x. For libmypaint versions below 1.5, the project recommends using 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. The brush files use the .myb format, and commercial use is permitted. Application developers can locate the brush directory through pkg-config: C and C++ programs use the MYPAINT_BRUSHES_DIR macro, while other languages can use the brushesdir variable. Building and installing the package uses autogen.sh, configure, make, and make install. Historical SCons scripts are included for SCons 2.x, but do not work with SCons 3. The official brush data uses public domain or CC0 1.0 licensing. Installation scripts and other non-brush-data components use GPL-2+ licensing. The v2.0.2 release note says its changes reduce preview icon file sizes and that v2.0.x brushes generally need libmypaint 1.5 or later to work correctly.

Spec sheet

Purpose
The package provides brushes used by MyPaint and other software using libmypaint.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Intended users
The package is intended for MyPaint and other applications that use libmypaint.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
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+.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Brush licensing
The official brush package accepts public domain or CC0 1.0 licensing for brush data.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Brush version
The master branch contains brushes for libmypaint 2.x.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Build
The package can be built and installed with autogen.sh followed by configure, make, and make install.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
C and C++ integration
For C and C++ programs, pkg-config provides the MYPAINT_BRUSHES_DIR macro for locating the brushes.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Compatibility
For libmypaint versions below 1.5, the project recommends the v1.3.x branch or a v1.x release instead of master.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Compatibility limit
The README says unchecked loading of 2.x brush data with older libmypaint versions can cause them to crash.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Installation
The package can be built and installed with its autotools scripts using autogen.sh, configure, make, and make install.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integration
Applications can use the mypaint-brushes-2.0 pkg-config module to locate the default brushes directory.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Legacy build option
Historical SCons scripts are included, but the README says they work only with SCons 2.x and not SCons 3.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Other language integration
For other languages, pkg-config exposes the brushes directory through the brushesdir variable.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Other package licensing
The package's installation scripts and other non-brush-data components are GPL-2+ licensed.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
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.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
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.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Versioning
The brush data package is versioned, and the master branch contains brushes intended for libmypaint 2.x.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Brush data package; version compatibility depends on libmypaint version Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every MyPaint Brushes plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free brush data for MyPaint and libmypaint applications.
  • Commercial use is permitted.
  • pkg-config exposes the brush directory.
  • Brush data uses .myb files.

Limits

  • Master branch brushes target libmypaint 2.x.
  • Versions below libmypaint 1.5 need an older branch or release.
  • Historical SCons scripts do not work with SCons 3.

Who it suits

This package suits users of MyPaint and other libmypaint-based applications. Developers integrating the brushes can use pkg-config to locate the data directory.

Verdict

MyPaint Brushes offers a free brush-data download, with compatibility tied to libmypaint versions. Check the appropriate branch or release before integrating it, and note the separate licenses for brush data and package components.

Where Specifiction places it

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