DAUB Brushes

DAUB Brushes is a set of natural-media brush collections for Clip Studio Paint, Affinity, Procreate, and Photoshop. It suits artists who already know their preferred creative app and want digital tools that behave more like pencil, ink, paint, or paper. The strongest case is focused, one-time purchases with a free starting set; the main caveat is a single-user license that rules out casual sharing.

Overview

DAUB sells downloadable brush files rather than a drawing application. Paolo Limoncelli says he released the first set in 2014, and the range now covers sketching, painting, comic work, inking, dry media, and illustration across four creative platforms. Files arrive in .brush format, so the practical buying decision is app-specific: a useful collection for one program does not automatically serve another.

The commercial license is generous for finished artwork: you may use brush-made work commercially without a time limit or a cap on the number of uses. It is restrictive for distribution, however. One person holds the license, and the brushes may not be sublicensed, redistributed, or embedded in a commercial product. That is a sensible fit for an independent artist, but not a substitute for a shared studio asset library. Agencies and schools can ask the maker about multiple-license discounts.

Key features

Natural-media coverage

Clip Studio Paint collections span watercolor, oil, pastel, charcoal, chalk, ink, pencil, and marker tools. The Markers set responds to pen pressure, tilt, and axis rotation, giving compatible styluses more expressive stroke control. The Watercolors set combines realistic blending behavior with paper textures, making it the clearest choice for painters seeking a less synthetic surface.

Affinity collections cover essentials, pigment simulation, comic brushes, inking, halftone patterns, and dry media. Procreate's Expression collection contains 278 tools ranging from initial sketches to finished illustration, while Photoshop's Pro Set pairs 100 natural-media tools with 24 papers. These are distinct, purpose-built collections rather than one universal pack, so buyers can avoid paying for media they will not use.

Data and delivery

Downloads are the delivery method. DAUB says it collects no visitor data and uses no cookies. Gumroad handles and stores purchases; DAUB receives the transaction email address but not the payment method or card number. That arrangement keeps payment details with the storefront while still tying a purchase to an email account.

Pricing

DAUB uses freemium pricing, with one free Clip Studio Paint set and paid collections sold once rather than by subscription. Pencils costs €0.00 and includes 12 Clip Studio Paint tools, making it a low-risk introduction. Markers is €3.99 once for 18 tools; Joyful Bristle and BrushSet One are €4.99 once for 28 and 52 Clip Studio Paint tools respectively. Dry costs €5.99 once for 34 tools, while Watercolors is €6.99 once for 80 tools. Ink is €7.99 once for 86 tools.

Affinity buyers can choose Essentials at €7.99 once for 138 tools and 40 textures, or Pigmento at €12.99 once for 132 raster brushes. The Super Bundle costs €19.99 once and supplies Clip Studio Paint with more than 572 tools and 60-plus textures. The cheaper sets make sense when you need one medium; the bundle is better when your work crosses several traditional techniques. All prices are single purchases, and the single-user commercial terms still apply.

Platforms

Collections target Clip Studio Paint, Affinity, Procreate, and Photoshop. The listed platform coverage is iOS, with app-specific sets determining compatibility. Check the destination app before buying, especially when comparing Clip Studio Paint and Affinity packs.

Who it's for

Traditional artists moving into digital work, professional illustrators, and curious creators can all find a suitably narrow entry point. It is particularly well suited to solo users who want commercial rights and no recurring bill. Teams, schools, and agencies should contact the maker before purchase because the standard license is not multi-seat.

Pros and cons

• Pro: A broad choice of app-specific media, from watercolor and oil to halftone and comic tools, lets you buy for a real workflow instead of a generic bundle.
• Pro: One-time pricing avoids subscription renewals, and the free 12-tool Pencils set provides a genuine Clip Studio Paint starting point.
• Pro: Commercial artwork use has no stated time or usage-count limit.
• Con: The one-user license prohibits redistribution, sublicensing, and inclusion in commercial products, limiting team and template-library use.
• Con: Collections are tied to particular apps, so a purchase may not help if your workflow changes platforms.

Alternatives

Digital Brush Libraries is the broader directory choice when you want to compare brush collections rather than commit to DAUB's app-specific catalog. Choose Clip Studio Assets for a freemium library spanning Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows, with free materials. Frankentoon Studio is a better fit for Procreate users seeking a free starter pack or a $12 one-time sketch kit.

Pick Krita if you want a free, open-source painting application with no subscription or trial. LaneDraws suits buyers after a focused Photoshop inking pack, including a 120-plus-brush pressure- and tilt-sensitive option. Brusher offers free starter packs and a $4.99 weekly premium subscription for rotating collections.

TsaoShin Full Brush Set is the no-cost alternative with more than 100 brushes for Photoshop, Procreate, and Clip Studio Paint. MyPaint Brushes is free, though compatibility depends on the installed libmypaint version. Syntetyc Downloads is a web-based source for free brush downloads such as its 19-brush environment set.

Verdict

DAUB Brushes is a strong choice for solo artists who want convincing natural-media behavior in a specific creative app, especially when a small one-time purchase or the free Clip Studio Paint pencils is enough. Choose it for the focused sets, texture-oriented watercolor tools, and unrestricted commercial artwork use. Look elsewhere if you need shared licensing, cross-platform portability from one purchase, or a complete drawing application rather than downloadable brushes.