Tool manual

How to use the Mixer Brush tool

The Mixer Brush paints like real wet paint: the colour on the brush mixes with the colours already on the canvas as you drag.

Where to find it

It is in the toolbar, in one slot with Brush and Pencil. Right-click the slot, or press and hold it, to choose between them. Press Shift+B until it is selected (B on its own picks Brush).

How to use it

1. Choose the tool. Press Shift+B until it is selected, or right-click the brush slot and pick Mixer Brush.
2. Pick a mix. Choose a preset in Mix, such as Wet, or set the sliders yourself.
3. Paint. Drag over the picture. Strokes pick up and smear the colours under them and fade as the paint runs out.

Options bar settings

• Mix presets: Dry, Moist, Wet and Very Wet set the three sliders below together.
• Wet: How much colour the brush picks up from the canvas.
• Load: How much paint the brush holds before it runs dry.
• Mix (slider): How much of the stroke is canvas colour against brush colour.
• Flow and Clean: Flow is how much is laid down per dab. Clean carries no colour of its own, so the brush only smears what is there.

Tips and common mistakes

• Turn on Clean and use a soft wet mix to turn a photo into a painted look stroke by stroke.
• Work on a copy of the layer so you can lower its opacity or undo parts later.

Related

• How to use the Brush tool
• How to use the Smudge tool
• How to use the Art History Brush tool

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Checked 13 November 2026 in the current editor.

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