How to Create a Custom Chain Brush in Photoshop

Custom chain brushes unlock creative possibilities for digital artwork, fantasy scenes, and decorative designs. This technique transforms a basic chain image into a seamless, paintable brush that automatically links segments together as you draw.

The process combines image preparation, background removal, and precise brush settings to create a tool that flows naturally along any path you paint.

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Practical Tips

These key adjustments ensure your chain brush paints smoothly and links properly:

• Use the Liquify filter to make chain links sharper and more defined before creating the brush preset
• Increase contrast with Curves adjustment to create stronger definition between chain segments and background
• Convert to Smart Object twice during the process to preserve quality and enable non-destructive editing
• Adjust brush spacing settings first, then enable Shape Dynamics with size jitter and roundness jitter set to zero
• Set angle jitter to "Direction" in Shape Dynamics to make chain segments automatically align with your brush stroke

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