INSTRUCTOR: xtine ...AIM Screen Name: hereisxtine

DAY/TIME: Wednesday 12:45 - 5pm

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday 3:30 - 5:30

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10/19/05

Stamping/Cloning Tools

The cloning tools provide an easy way to sample one area of an image and then repeat that sample in a different area of the same image. You can clone on the same layer or you can clone to a new layer. I recommend that you always clone to a new layer, but remember that you need to check the box in the clone tool options that says, "Use All Layers."

To use the clone tool, select the tool from your tool palette, create the new layer (call it "cloning"), make sure that Use All Layers is checked in the clone options bar, and then hold down the OPTION key as you sample the area of the image that you want to clone from (if you use a PC at home, you would use the ALT key). Let go of the mouse button and move your cursor to the area where you want to clone to (or on top of). Click your mouse to see the image replacement. There are a few things to consider:

1. When you are using the clone tool you are using the brushes. Look at the brush size and how hard or soft the brush is set to, as this will effect your results.

2. The clone tool also has two other options: aligned and not aligned. When you are cloning with "aligned" checked, the place where you are cloning from (the sample) is constantly updated when you drag your mouse while cloning. Not-aligned turns this off.

3. Sample frequently and do not drag the mouse often as you are cloning.

4. Use a hard brush at first to clone real data, then use a soft brush to fade or blend the cloned image back down to the remaining image area.

The Clone Tool tutorial on the web:

http://www.planetphotoshop.com/tutorials/spivey32.html

The healing and patch tools were new to PhotoShop 7. The healing tool blends the source (or sample) with the area that you are cloning to. It is great to use when you are repairing facial "imperfections" (if you buy into that stuff). It works just like the regular cloning tool. The patch tool is slightly different. You can only use the patch tool if you are working on the same layer (in other words, you can not use the patch tool on a separate layer). If you use the patch tool, you can select (with the patch tool) an area that you like and then drag that whole area to a part of the image that you don't like. There is an option that allows you to do this in reverse order (select what you don't like and drag and drop it over something you like). If the tool seems to be working backwards, check the options bar.

The Patch Tool tutorial on the web:
http://www.planetphotoshop.com/tutorials/alward72.html

Hot Keys:

Option key: Use Option + Click to tell PhotoShop which area of the image is the "target" or "clone source".

Shift key: Holding the shift key will constrain any brush or movement to a straight line.

Command-click on a layer: loads a selection of everything on that layer

NEXT WEEK
In class we will learn about layer masks.