Script to Make Brush Preset from PNG File

[MiaKai]

Is there a script or action to make abr brush presets from single or layered png files?

[Chuck Uebele · Accepted solution]

Try this script:

#target photoshop
var bName = prompt ('Enter a name for the brush', 'brush 1', 'Create Brush')
if(bName != null){
    var idMk = charIDToTypeID( "Mk  " );
        var desc5 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
            var ref1 = new ActionReference();
            var idBrsh = charIDToTypeID( "Brsh" );
            ref1.putClass( idBrsh );
        desc5.putReference( idnull, ref1 );
        var idUsng = charIDToTypeID( "Usng" );
            var ref2 = new ActionReference();
            var idPrpr = charIDToTypeID( "Prpr" );
            var idfsel = charIDToTypeID( "fsel" );
            ref2.putProperty( idPrpr, idfsel );
            var idDcmn = charIDToTypeID( "Dcmn" );
            var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
            var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
            ref2.putEnumerated( idDcmn, idOrdn, idTrgt );
        desc5.putReference( idUsng, ref2 );
        var idNm = charIDToTypeID( "Nm  " );
        desc5.putString( idNm, bName );
    executeAction( idMk, desc5, DialogModes.NO );
    }

[MiaKai]

What you wrote works perfectly if I have one PNG file open, thank-you!  If I have a file open with multiple layers, the script will make a brush out of all the layers combined.  Is there a way around that, or would that require too many complicated changes to the script?

[Chuck Uebele]

So you want only the selected layer to be made into a brush? Also you want all open documents to be made into brushes?

[MiaKai]

I would like to be able to have a file open and maybe it has 10 layers, then have the script make a brush preset out of each layer.  I hope that makes sense. 

[Chuck Uebele]

Try this script:

#target photoshop
var doc = activeDocument;
doc.activeLayer = doc.layers[0];
var wkL
visLayers ();
for(var i=0;i<doc.layers.length;i++){
    wkL = doc.activeLayer = doc.layers;
    wkL.visible = true;
    var bName = prompt ('Enter a name for the brush', 'brush 1', 'Create Brush')
    if(bName != null){
        mkBrush ();
        };
    wkL.visible = false;
    }
for(var i=0;i<doc.layers.length;i++){
    doc.layers.visible = true;
    }
function mkBrush(){
    var idMk = charIDToTypeID( "Mk  " );
        var desc5 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
            var ref1 = new ActionReference();
            var idBrsh = charIDToTypeID( "Brsh" );
            ref1.putClass( idBrsh );
        desc5.putReference( idnull, ref1 );
        var idUsng = charIDToTypeID( "Usng" );
            var ref2 = new ActionReference();
            var idPrpr = charIDToTypeID( "Prpr" );
            var idfsel = charIDToTypeID( "fsel" );
            ref2.putProperty( idPrpr, idfsel );
            var idDcmn = charIDToTypeID( "Dcmn" );
            var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
            var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
            ref2.putEnumerated( idDcmn, idOrdn, idTrgt );
        desc5.putReference( idUsng, ref2 );
        var idNm = charIDToTypeID( "Nm  " );
        desc5.putString( idNm, bName );
    executeAction( idMk, desc5, DialogModes.NO );
    }
function visLayers(){
       var idShw = charIDToTypeID( "Shw " );
        var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
            var list1 = new ActionList();
                var ref1 = new ActionReference();
                var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
                var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
                var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
                ref1.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
            list1.putReference( ref1 );
        desc2.putList( idnull, list1 );
        var idTglO = charIDToTypeID( "TglO" );
        desc2.putBoolean( idTglO, true );
    executeAction( idShw, desc2, DialogModes.NO ); 
    }

[MiaKai]

Chuck,

Thank-you so much for this script.  Both of them work perfectly.  Sending you Merry Christmas wishes!

Paula