December 15, 2010
When using the Clone Stamp tool, we know to Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) -click to set the sample point and then position the cursor over the area to be removed and click (drag, paint etc.) to remove it. However, aligning the tool over the exact area can be difficult (especially when trying to match patterns and lines). Here are a few shortcuts that may help:
• In the Clone Stamp panel, be sure to have both “Show Overlay” (to preview your sampled source) and “Clipped” (to only display the source within the brush) checked.
• Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) + Shift + Arrow Keys (left, right, up and down) to nudge the Clone Source (move the X and Y offset).
• Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) + Shift + < or > to rotate the Clone Source.
• Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) + Shift + { or } to transform the Clone Source (set the W and H scale).
And don’t forget that Vanishing Point also has a Clone tool for times when you need to clone in perspective.
December 25, 2009
Using the Clone Source panel allows for multiple source points to be set within the same document. This can be very useful when trying to sample from multiple areas. To quickly move from one source point to another, set up your own custom keyboard shortcuts using the Keyboard Shortcut Editor (Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts).
December 22, 2009
Although cloning in perspective is most easily accomplished using the Vanishing Point feature, there are several other types of transformations that can be made when cloning using the options in the Clone Source panel. For example, you can choose to offset the cloned information by a certain value, change the width and height, and change the angle. here are the corresponding keyboard shortcuts:
Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) + Shift + left/right arrow keys move the clone source.
Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) + Shift + will rotate the clone source.
Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) + Shift + [ or ] will scale (increase or reduce size) the clone source.
December 21, 2009
When cloning in previous versions of Photoshop, it was often difficult to align an area containing a repeating pattern (such as a picket fence or a brick wall). The work-around was to add a new (empty) layer and (with the Clone Stamp tool selected) check the option “Use All Layers” on the Options bar. This enabled the cloning information (from the other layers) onto the empty layer and then, if necessary repositioning the layer to align the information.
In PSCS4, the Clone Stamp panel added the ability to display and overlay of the sampled area “Clipped” to the size of the brush making it much easier to align the information to be cloned to the original layer. And you can still cone to an empty layer and select what you want to sample – “Current Layer”, “Current and Below” or “All Layers” from the Options bar.
If you prefer to uncheck the “Clipped” option on the Clone Source Panel, Option (Mac) / Alt (Win) + Shift will temporarily display the overlay.
In addition, checking the Show Overlay option and unchecking the “Clipped” option in the Clone Stamp panel displays all of the contents of the information set as the source – (which might be very helpful when working with video and “onion skinning” from one frame to another).
Finally, if you do decide to check the option to Show Overlay and don’t choose to check the Clipped option, it might be helpful to check the Auto Hide option – this will show the source information (to be cloned) as you align its position, but as you start to clone, the source information is hidden yet will be displayed as you mouse-up.
