Photoshop Elements >

Clone Stamp Tool > 2 - Advanced

Here are some ways you can improve your retouching with the Clone Stamp tool.

Sampling Isn't Sampling

If you haven't already done so, go to Sampling Isn't Sampling.

Change the Mode

Change the blending mode, in the options bar, if the imperfection is lighter or darker than the area surrounding the imperfection.

Look for the Mode box.

If the imperfections are lighter than the surrounding area, set the Mode to Darken in the options bar.

The Clone Stamp tool will now only affect pixels lighter than the surrounding area.

If the imperfections are darker than the surrounding area, set the Mode to Lighten in the options bar.

The Clone Stamp tool will now only affect pixels darker than the surrounding area.

Go to Lighten & Darken Blending Modes.

Use a Blank Layer

You can place the cloned pixels on a separate layer.

There are many advantages to using a blank layer.

You can:

• Delete it.

• Erase parts of it with the Eraser tool.

• Lower the opacity of the blank layer, blending it into the photograph.

• Use blending modes.

You can change the blending mode for the layer from Normal to a different one.

For example, the Luminosity blending mode will block the color information.

Only the tonal information will be visible.

If you're new to blending modes, go to Blending Modes.

• Resize it with the Free Transform Tool.

• Modify the blank layer with adjustment layers.

For example:

1) Create a Levels adjustment layer above the blank layer.

2) Press Ctrl + g to group the two layers together.

3) Edit with the Levels adjustment layer.

When you move the sliders in the Levels adjustment layer, only the blank layer is affected.

If you haven't already done so, go to With Blank Layers.

Blue Masking Tape

If you're retouching near an area that doesn't need retouching, you can use a selection to limit the retouching.

This is like using blue masking tape when painting a window.

Do the following.

1) Use a selection tool to select the area that you don't want to retouch.

2) Go to Select > Inverse.

The marching ants are now running along the edges of the photograph.

Everything is selected except the box on the tree.

The Clone Stamp tool brush will now only work in the selected area, the area outside the box on the tree.

Clone Overlay

If you're positioning something with the Clone Stamp tool, use the Clone Overlay.

Click the icon at the end of the options bar.

Select Show Overlay.

Opacity

You can change the opacity of the overlay.

Auto Hide

If the overlay is distracting while cloning, select Auto Hide.

The overlay is displayed when the mouse button is released.

When cloning, the overlay is hidden.

Clipped

To see the overlay only within the circle of your brush, select Clipped.

Invert

Invert reverses the overlay.