Photoshop Elements > Retouching >

Healing Brush Tool > 2 - Advanced

Here are some ways you can improve your retouching with the Healing Brush 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 Healing Brush 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 Healing Brush 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 retouched 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.

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 Healing tool brush will now only work in the area where it's needed.

For an illustration of the above, go to Clone Stamp Tool / 2 - Advanced.

Make a Better Brush

You may find that an elliptically-shaped brush makes the Healing Brush tool work better.

With this brush, you'll click, hold, and drag the brush.

To make an elliptical brush, do the following.

1) Click the small black arrow in the options bar to the right of the depiction of the brush size.

2) Assuming that the direction of the brush will be left to right, change the Angle to 90°.

3) Change the Roundness to 20% to make an elliptically-shaped brush.

To change the brush back to the default settings, click the Healing Brush tool icon in the options bar, and select Reset Tool.

Back

2