Cloning

No, this isn’t about cloning yourself so one of you can do the housework and the other can scrapbook. While that would be useful, I’m talking about the handy Clone Stamp Tool you’ll find in your photo editing software. This great little tool is a true savior when it comes to post-photo shoot corrections.

What exactly does the Clone Stamp Tool do? The Clone Stamp Tool takes a sample of an image and allows you to apply this sample over another image or part of the same image.

There are a variety of tasks this tool can help you perform, from covering up a small spot in a photo to removing someone or something from the background of an image.

Hold down the option key and click the mouse to select the area to copy or clone.



Click the clone stamp tool over the area you want to remove to cover up the blemish.

Here’s a quick how-to:

See the black spot on the upper right of the sunset image above? This blemish in the photo was caused by a spot on the camera lens. Here’s how to correct it using the Clone Stamp Tool.

1. Save a copy of your photo to work on—never, ever save over the original, just in case.
2. Click on the Clone Stamp Tool to select it from the toolbar. It looks just like a little rubber stamp.
3. Find the area of the photo you want to copy—typically it’s best to use the area very close to the spot you’re covering to blend the shades. Hold down the “Option” key and click the mouse over the area you wish to copy, then let go of both the key and the mouse.
4. Zoom in on the area you wish to cover. Working in small sections, click the clone stamp tool (don’t hold down) over the area you want to remove until you are satisfied with the results.

See the result? A gorgeous sunset photo—no one would ever know the blemish was there!

If the amount of space you’re covering with each click of the tool is too large or too small, you may need to adjust the size of your brush by going to “Edit”, then “Define Brush…”.

Also, holding down Control and clicking the “Z” on your keyboard will undo your last action in case of any mistakes. To undo previous changes, you can select a previous action using your History palette.

Happy (clone) stamping!