Removing flaws and objects with the Clone Brush or Object Remover
Cloning to copy or fix image areas
The Clone Brush tool is a versatile correction and copy tool that lets you paint over one area of an image (target) with another part of the image (source). The paint source can be a part of the same layer, another layer in the image, a merged image, or a layer from another image.
By default, a semi-transparent overlay (Show Overlay option) of the source material displays as you hover over a target area. The overlay serves as a preview that helps you confirm the source as you work.
The Clone Brush tool was used to remove the cracks on the wall from the photo on the left.
Removing objects with the Object Remover
The Object Remover tool lets you remove objects when the surrounding area is fairly uniform in color and texture. This tool is similar to the Clone Brush tool in that it lets you identify the area to remove and then choose a background for covering that area.
The Object Remover tool was used to remove one boat from the water.
To clone a part of an image
1
On the Tools toolbar, choose the
Clone Brush tool
.
2
On the Tool Options palette, choose the brush tip, size, opacity, and other settings.
If you want the
Clone Brush tool to reset the source point each time you resume painting, mark the
Aligned mode check box. You can continue dragging over the target area to fill in the source image. Unmark the check box if you want every stroke to copy the same data from the original source point.
If you want to clone data from all layers merged together, mark the
Use all layers check box. If you want to clone data from the current layer only, unmark the check box.
3
On the source image, right-click the center point of the source area.
If the image has more than one layer, click the name of the layer on the Layers palette before you define the source area.
4
Drag in the image where you want to paint the cloned area.
If you want to hide or show the clone source overlay, click the
Show Overlay check box on the
Tool Options palette or press
Ctrl +
Alt +
C.
When you clone an image area, you must select a source area with data.
If your image contains a selection, you must right-click within the selection to set your clone source. If you are using a pen tablet, you can achieve the same result by holding down Shift.
You can also hold down Shift and click the image to set the source point.
You can resize the brush interactively by pressing Alt while dragging in the image window.
To remove objects from a photo
1
On the Tools toolbar, choose the
Object Remover tool
.
2
On the Tool Options palette, choose the
Selection Mode button
.
3
Drag around the object that you want to remove.
4
On the Tool Options palette, choose the
Source Mode button.
A rectangle is displayed in the image window.
5
Position the rectangle over the area that will replace the previous selection.
6
Drag the handles on the rectangle to resize it, or drag the rotation handle on the rectangle to rotate it.
It is recommended that you make the rectangle as large as, or slightly larger than, the area you are removing.
7
On the Tool Options palette, click the
Apply button
.
8
Choose
Selections 
Select None to deselect the selection.
|
|
|
Feather a selection made with the Freehand Selection tool |
Before making the selection, adjust the Feather control on the Tool Options palette. |
Adjust the opacity of the source material |
Before clicking the Apply button, adjust the Opacity control on the Tool Options palette. |
Choose source material from all layers or from the current layer |
Mark the Use all layers check box to choose source material from all layers as though they were merged. Do not mark this check box if you want to choose source material from the current layer only. |
Blend edges and use the object’s tonal ranges when applying the source material |
Choose the Smart Blending option on the Tool Options palette. |
You can also create a selection by using any of the selection tools before you activate the Object Remover tool.
You can deselect the selection by pressing Ctrl + D.
