Getting Rid of Grime

The Clone Tool

At this point, you can spruce up the image by removing any extra lint, dots, or zits with the clone tool. The clone tool will paint an area of the image that you specify onto another part of the image.

• create a new layer and name it clone layer (make sure that it is below the adjustment layers but above the base layer). Clone to this layer rather than the actual image, thus preserving the original image.
• access the clone tool by pressing S on the keyboard or selecting it in the tool palette
• select a brush from the tool bar
• set the area you want to copy from by pressing the option key and clicking that area
• click the area you want to paint over by clicking over the imperfection, it will be covered by a copy of the area previously selected

Cloning Pointers

• Brush selections make a big difference. Choose a brush size that is just big enough to cover your imperfection but not so big that it makes obvious differences. Use a soft edged brush when cloning in blurred areas or areas of one solid color. Use a hard edged brush to clone areas with a lot of contrast, such as patterns, hair, etc.
• When fixing scratches or large imperfections click repeatedly along the area rather than stroking with the brush. Stroking through the image usually makes obvious imperfections in the edited image.
• While cloning, keep in mind that the human eye perceives contrast and lines more sensitively than color. Pay attention the areas that you select from and choose areas with similar brightness and contrast.
• When cloning over lines, select an area to clone from along the line and line up the brush along the same area through the brush, this will keep your cloned line from zigzagging all over.
• The tool bar gives the option to pick from all layers visible or just from the layer you have selected. It also gives you the option of cloning from the same point no matter where you move the brush (not aligned) or having the sampled area move proportionally as you move the brush (aligned). For general work, I usually check the options aligned and use all layers.