Organize Custom Brush Libraries in CorelDRAW

Organizing custom brush libraries in CorelDRAW streamlines your digital illustration workflow by keeping your most-used strokes, textures, and vector patterns easily accessible. By using the Artistic Media tool, managing the preset files in CorelDRAW’s directory, and categorizing strokes within the Artistic Media docker, you can create a clutter-free workspace tailored to your specific design projects.

Access the Artistic Media Docker

The primary hub for managing brushes in CorelDRAW is the Artistic Media docker.

  1. Open CorelDRAW and navigate to the top menu.
  2. Go to Window > Dockers > Effects > Artistic Media (or press Ctrl + I / Ctrl + F11 depending on your version).
  3. Select the Brush icon at the top of the docker to view existing brush strokes.

Create and Save Custom Brushes

Before you can organize your library, you need to save your custom vector objects as reusable brush strokes.

  1. Draw or select the vector shape you want to convert into a brush on your canvas.
  2. Select the Artistic Media tool (shortcut I) from the toolbox.
  3. Click the Brush mode on the property bar.
  4. Click the Save (floppy disk) icon on the property bar.
  5. Enter a clear, descriptive name for your brush stroke (e.g., Inking_Fine_01 or Texture_Stipple).
  6. Click Save. CorelDRAW saves custom brushes as .cmx files in your user profile folder by default.

Group Brushes Using the File System

CorelDRAW populates its brush categories based on the directory structure where presets are stored. To organize them into distinct libraries:

  1. Close CorelDRAW to prevent file-locking issues.
  2. Navigate to your local CorelDRAW user content folder. Typically, the path is: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\Documents\Corel\Corel Content\Artistic Media\Brushes (Path may vary slightly depending on your version, such as AppData\Roaming\Corel\...)
  3. Create new subfolders for your specific libraries, such as Linework, Shading, Calligraphy, or Foliage.
  4. Move your saved .cmx brush files into their corresponding subfolders.
  5. Reopen CorelDRAW.

Categorize Brushes in the Docker

Once your files are arranged in folders, you can filter and select them inside the application:

  1. Open the Artistic Media docker.
  2. Click the Category drop-down menu at the top of the preset list.
  3. Select the folder or category you created to isolate only those brushes.
  4. Use the Custom category to quickly view any newly saved strokes that have not yet been moved into custom subfolders.

Delete or Remove Unwanted Brushes

To maintain an uncluttered library, regularly remove obsolete brushes:

  1. In the Artistic Media docker, find the brush you want to remove.
  2. Select the brush preset.
  3. Click the Delete (trash can) icon in the bottom corner of the docker, or navigate to your file directory and delete the corresponding .cmx file directly.

Backup and Share Brush Libraries

To transfer your organized libraries to another computer or protect them against updates:

  1. Copy the entire custom brush folder you created in your Corel Content directory.
  2. Save it to an external drive or cloud storage.
  3. On the target computer, paste the folder into the identical Corel Content brushes directory to immediately access your organized libraries.