diff --git a/libs/ui/kis_paintop_box.cc b/libs/ui/kis_paintop_box.cc
--- a/libs/ui/kis_paintop_box.cc
+++ b/libs/ui/kis_paintop_box.cc
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 #include <KoToolManager.h>
 #include <QTemporaryFile>
 #include <KoColorSpaceRegistry.h>
+#include <KoID.h>
 
 #include <kis_paint_device.h>
 #include <brushengine/kis_paintop_registry.h>
@@ -943,7 +944,35 @@
 
 void KisPaintopBox::slotSetupDefaultPreset()
 {
-    KisPaintOpPresetSP preset = defaultPreset(m_resourceProvider->currentPreset()->paintOp());
+    // This function is mostly used for when new brush engines are added. There are no presets that exist,
+    // so this is a convenience to help with creating the first preset as a base using the brush editor
+    // To accomplish this, we will need to get the new brush engine, then force the existing preset to act
+    // like it is part of the new brush engine by setting its paintOp ID.
+
+    // get the full name of the selected brush engine filter to get the ID
+    // the ID is passed around a lot, but the full name isn't
+    QString brushEngineFullName = "";
+    for (int i = 0; i < m_presetsPopup->brushEngineList().length(); i++) {
+        KisPaintOpInfo brushEngine = m_presetsPopup->brushEngineList().at(i);
+
+        if (brushEngine.id == m_presetsPopup->currentFilterPaintOpId() ) {
+            brushEngineFullName = brushEngine.name;
+        }
+    }
+    const KoID currentBrushEngineFilterId(m_presetsPopup->currentFilterPaintOpId(), brushEngineFullName);
+
+    // "All" option might be selected for the brush engine filter, which doesn't have "default" settings
+    if (currentBrushEngineFilterId.id() == "") {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // the part where we force the existing preset to act like it is part of a different brush engine
+    slotSetPaintop(m_presetsPopup->currentFilterPaintOpId());
+
+    m_optionWidget = m_paintopOptionWidgets[currentBrushEngineFilterId]; // the settings area on the right
+    m_presetsPopup->setPaintOpSettingsWidget(m_optionWidget);
+
+    KisPaintOpPresetSP preset = defaultPreset(currentBrushEngineFilterId); // forcing the preset to the fake brush engine
     preset->setOptionsWidget(m_optionWidget);
     m_resourceProvider->setPaintOpPreset(preset);
 }
diff --git a/libs/ui/widgets/kis_paintop_presets_popup.h b/libs/ui/widgets/kis_paintop_presets_popup.h
--- a/libs/ui/widgets/kis_paintop_presets_popup.h
+++ b/libs/ui/widgets/kis_paintop_presets_popup.h
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@
 
     /// returns the internal ID for the paint op (brush engine)
     QString currentPaintOpId();
+
+    QString currentFilterPaintOpId();
+
+    QList<KisPaintOpInfo> brushEngineList();
+
     
     ///fill the cutoutOverlay rect with the cotent of an image, used to get the image back when selecting a preset
     ///@param image image that will be used, should be image of an existing preset resource
diff --git a/libs/ui/widgets/kis_paintop_presets_popup.cpp b/libs/ui/widgets/kis_paintop_presets_popup.cpp
--- a/libs/ui/widgets/kis_paintop_presets_popup.cpp
+++ b/libs/ui/widgets/kis_paintop_presets_popup.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@
 #include <klocalizedstring.h>
 
 #include <KoDockRegistry.h>
+#include <KoResourceItemChooser.h>
+#include <KoResourceItemView.h>
 
 #include <kis_icon.h>
 #include <kis_icon.h>
@@ -489,6 +491,9 @@
 
 }
 
+QList<KisPaintOpInfo> KisPaintOpPresetsPopup::brushEngineList() {
+    return sortedBrushEnginesList;
+}
 
 void KisPaintOpPresetsPopup::setCurrentPaintOpId(const QString& paintOpId)
 {
@@ -550,17 +555,32 @@
     m_d->uiWdgPaintOpPresetSettings.presetsContainer->setVisible(visible);
 }
 
-void KisPaintOpPresetsPopup::slotUpdatePaintOpFilter() {
+QString KisPaintOpPresetsPopup::currentFilterPaintOpId()
+{
     QVariant userData = m_d->uiWdgPaintOpPresetSettings.brushEgineComboBox->currentData(); // grab paintOpID from data
-    QString filterPaintOpId = userData.toString();
 
+    QString filterPaintOpId = userData.toString();
 
     if (filterPaintOpId == "all_options") {
         filterPaintOpId = "";
     }
-    m_d->uiWdgPaintOpPresetSettings.presetWidget->setPresetFilter(filterPaintOpId);
+
+    return filterPaintOpId;
 }
 
+void KisPaintOpPresetsPopup::slotUpdatePaintOpFilter() {
+
+
+    m_d->uiWdgPaintOpPresetSettings.presetWidget->setPresetFilter(currentFilterPaintOpId());
+
+    // if the brush engine doesn't have any presets, load the default engine settings so it is easier to make presets
+    if (m_d->uiWdgPaintOpPresetSettings.presetWidget->smallPresetChooser->itemChooser()->itemView()->rowAt(0) == -1){
+        emit defaultPresetClicked();
+    }
+
+}
+
+
 void KisPaintOpPresetsPopup::updateViewSettings()
 {
     m_d->uiWdgPaintOpPresetSettings.presetWidget->smallPresetChooser->updateViewSettings();