MyPaint Brushes review
A free, open-source .myb collection for developers building around libmypaint.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
MyPaint Brushes is the default brush collection for the MyPaint ecosystem, providing downloadable, versioned brush data for MyPaint and other applications built on libmypaint. It is aimed at developers integrating brush resources into libmypaint-compatible software, rather than artists looking for a broad marketplace with support across unrelated applications. Brush settings are stored in .myb files, and the collection is available as free, open-source software.
Compatibility is a central strength. The published releases include brush data for libmypaint 2.x, along with compatibility releases for libmypaint 1.3 and 1.5+. For application integration, the project supports pkg-config for locating brush data and provides the MYPAINT_BRUSHES_DIR mechanism for C/C++ software. That makes it a practical fit when a development project already uses libmypaint and needs a maintained brush-data component that can be located and included through established build tooling.
Installation is oriented toward technical users. The collection can be installed from source with autotools, while historical SCons installation scripts are also available. Licensing is split by component: brush settings are primarily released under CC0 or public-domain terms, while installation scripts use GPL-2+ licensing. The category specifications also identify a commercial license scope, supporting commercial use of the collection within the stated licensing boundaries. Choose MyPaint Brushes when your application depends on libmypaint, .myb files, and developer-facing integration. Choose another library when you need broad application compatibility or a general-purpose brush marketplace.
MyPaint Brushes pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Versioned brush data supports libmypaint 2.x and earlier releases.
- pkg-config and MYPAINT_BRUSHES_DIR support application integration.
- Brush settings use .myb files with CC0 or public-domain terms.
- Where it doesn't
- Its focus is limited to MyPaint and other libmypaint-based applications.
- Installation is source-oriented through autotools or historical SCons scripts.
- It is a brush-data repository rather than a general brush marketplace.
MyPaint Brushes fact sheet, pricing and score →
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