Presets and libraries

Select the tool you want to use.

In the Tool Options bar, open the pop‑up panel. (Only certain tools have pop‑up panels.)

Do any of the following:

• To view and select currently loaded preset libraries, click the panel menu icon.

• To select a preset, click an item in the library.

• To save a brush, open the pop‑up panel menu, choose the Save Brush command, then enter a name in the dialog box provided and click OK.

• To save a gradient or pattern, open the panel menu, choose the New Gradient or New Pattern command, then enter a name in the dialog box provided and click OK.

• To rename a brush, gradient, or pattern in a panel, open the pop‑up panel menu, choose the Rename command, then enter a new name and click OK.

• To delete a brush, gradient, or pattern from a panel, select an item, open the pop‑up panel menu and choose the Delete command. You can also hold down Alt (Option key in Mac OS) and click a brush or gradient.

• To save a library of brushes, gradients, or patterns, open the pop‑up panel menu. From the menu, choose the Save Brushes, Save Gradients, or Save Patterns command, then enter a name for the library file, and click Save.

• To load a library of brushes, gradients, or patterns, open the pop‑up panel menu, choose the Load command, then select the library file you want to add and click Load.

• To add assets from a library to an existing library, click Append. Select the library file you want to add and click Append.
• To replace the current set of gradients in a panel, open the pop‑up panel menu, choose a library file from the bottom section of the menu, and click OK. You can also choose the Replace command, browse to select a library file, and click Load.
• To replace the current set of brushes or patterns in a panel, choose a library from the Brushes menu.

• To load the default set of brushes, gradients, or patterns, open the pop‑up panel menu and choose the Reset command.

Do one of the following:

• To change the display of one panel, open the pop‑up panel menu by clicking the menu icon in the upper-right corner of the pop‑up panel.

• To change the display for all panels, choose Edit > Preset Manager to open the Preset Manager, and then click the More button.

Select a view option:

Displays the name of each item.

Displays a thumbnail of each item.

Displays the name and thumbnail of each item.

Displays a sample brush stroke and brush thumbnail. (This option is available for brushes only.)

In the Preset Manager, choose Brushes, Swatches, Gradients, Styles, Patterns, or Effects, from the Preset Type menu.

Do one of the following:

• Click Add, select a library from the list, and then click Load. If you want to load a library located in another folder, navigate to that folder, then select the library. By default, preset files are installed on your computer inside the Presets folder in the Photoshop Elements program folder.

• Click the More button and choose a library from the bottom section of the menu.

Click the Done button when you’re finished.

In the Preset Manager, click the More button and choose a command from the menu:

Restores the default library for that type.

In the Preset Manager, Shift-click to select multiple contiguous presets or Ctrl-click (Command-click in Mac OS) to select multiple noncontiguous presets. Only the selected presets are saved in the new library.

Click Save Set, then enter a name for the library. If you want to save the library in a folder other than the default, navigate to the new folder before saving.

In the Preset Manager, do one of the following:

• Select a preset in the list, and click Rename.

• Double-click a preset in the list.

Enter a new name for the preset. If you selected multiple presets, you are prompted to enter multiple names.