Photoshop 101 - The Clone Tool

The clone tool allows you to retouch images and remove blemishes. Understanding how it works will allow you to adapt images to your requirements.

• November 19, 2006
• Updated September 19, 2024

Cloning parts of images ¶

The clone tool allows you to select an area of a photo and use it to paint with as if it were a brush. This allows you to correct blemishes in a photo or to remove sections of a photo entirely. To do this hold ALT and click to define the target area. You will the icon change to a target icon.

Tip: For many tasks the Healing Brush is a better option. Instead of copying a selection exactly it merges the selection with the pixels already on the page.

To select the clone tool hit S on the keyboard. In order to use the tool you must first define a selection. This provides Photoshop with a reference of where you want to start. You should also choose an appropriate brush. If you want to clone a large area choose a large brush. If you are doing very precise work you should choose a small brush.

In the video below we are going to remove one of the birds. The photo is by eMotionBlogster. Watch as the selection point is defined and then the brush strokes removes the bird whilst keeping the correct sky colours behind it. As you use the clone tool you may need to resample as you go - you will see this happening in the video as the cursor turns to a target icon.

Photoshop 101 - The Clone Tool from George Ornbo on Vimeo.

You might also wish to try this technique with the Healing Brush Tool. It may save you time. Which tool you use for this purpose is personal choice.

Clone Tool Options ¶

There are a large number of options available to you with the Clone Tool:

• Mode - This is the mode of the brush. There are many options here and you are best to play with them to discover them. For the majority of uses of the Clone Tool normal is best.
• Opacity - This is how transparent the pixels that you paint on the canvas are. If you set this to 0 you won’t be able to see your work at all. If it is at 100 then you won’t see anything underneath the area you paint.
• Flow - This is similar to opacity but if you paint over the same area twice without releasing the mouse it has the effect of painting on top again. So if you set the Flow to 50 the first time you paint you will see the image underneath at 50%, but if you pass over it again it will be removed.
• Airbrush - This enables airbrush capabilities
• Aligned - This means you can release the mouse button without losing the current sampling point.
• Sample All Layers - If you have a document with more than one layer this means the sample point will include all layers.

Pattern Stamp Tool ¶

The pattern stamp tool lets you paint with a pattern. To define a pattern use the Marquee Tool to define the area that you want to use. Then select the Pattern Stamp Tool. Then go to Edit > Define Pattern. You will be asked to give your Pattern a name. In the toolbar at the top you will see an additional option box with Pattern in. As before you have the same options. This tool is useful in applying textured overlays to images. Try lowering the opacity and painting over an image to give it a grainy effect.

Tags

• Photoshop
• Photoshop 101

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See Also

• Photoshop 101 - The Brush Tool
  Nov 11, 2006
  The brush tool is one of Photoshop's most basic tools allowing you to draw freehand shapes and lines. The tool allows precision and correction abilities as well as some tricks using brushes.

• Photoshop 101 - The Healing Brush Tool
  Nov 5, 2006
  Primarily an artworking and retouching tool, the Healing Brush allows you to correct blemishes and errors and remove parts of your photos and images.

• Photoshop 101 - The Slice Tool
  Oct 30, 2006
  For precise interpretation of PSDs to XHTML I recommend avoiding this tool. But there may well be a time when you can use this tool so here's a quick overview.