Download: workflows to batch convert Pixelmator brushes

In a previous post I explained how to manually convert .png brushes for use in Pixelmator. After many trials and errors, I was finally able to make an Automator workflow to convert batches of brushes automatically. As Pixelmator doesn’t have the actions I needed in Automator, I had to use the new “Watch Me Do” feature, so these scripts probably won’t work in Tiger.

I was unable to get Pixelmator to apply the specified actions to each images in a batch, so I got around this by having it repeat the actions multiple times. Unfortunately it will continue repeating these actions the specified number of times even if there are no more images, so I made multiple scripts to enable you to choose the one closest to the number of images to convert: this way you won’t waste too much time waiting for it to finish. Read under the cut for step by step intructions.

How to convert brushes for use in Pixelmator

Most brushes available for download are offered in both the .abr format of Photoshop brushes and in .png format, the latter of which Pixelmator should be able to use. However, if you've ever tried using these brushes in Pixelmator, you know that all you get is a solid block of color. The reason for this is that brushes in Pixelmator need to have a transparent background to work. Unfortunately Pixelmator doesn't yet have the ability to turn white backgrounds transparent - but it does have a "Mask To Alpha" filter, which makes black transparent. We can use this filter to manually convert brushes:

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