Cloning and healing

Cloning is the process of duplicating samples from one part of an image to introduce replicated content for creative effect or to repair the original.

About cloning

The clone source

The Clone Brush Tool copies pixels from one part of an image (or layer) to another. The tool uses a source (shown as a '+' cursor) to clone from; this moves in relation to the tool's cursor (shown as an 'o' cursor) with its position being able to be redefined as you clone from different areas.

Before
After
Before and after cloning. Introducing a cloned object to your image.

The clone source can be one of the following context toolbar options:

Global source

You can define a global source in a secondary open document and paint the sampled pixels into your working document by selecting the clone source option 'Global'. The Sources panel stores all your global sources; you can then select any stored global source and clone from it. Any new documents can make use of the panel's global sources.

About healing

The Healing Brush Tool paints samples from one part of an image onto another. It's useful for removing defects and for general photo retouching. In many respects it works like the cloning, however, it blends the target pixels with the sample pixels by matching the texture, tone, and transparency of the sample pixels with the target pixels.

Before
After
Before and after healing of an unwanted line crossing an image.
Clone Brush Tool Healing Brush Tool To clone/heal a sample from the current image:
  1. Use the Layers panel to either select an existing pixel layer to copy to, or to create a new pixel layer.
  2. Select the Clone Brush Tool or Healing Brush Tool from the Tools panel.
  3. The tool uses a soft-round brush by default. To use a different brush style, choose one from the Brushes panel.
  4. Adjust the context toolbar settings.
  5. To define (or re-define) the cloning source, hold the and click on the area you wish to begin sampling from.
  6. (Optional) Rotate the sample by either using the left and right arrow keys or the Rotation control on the context toolbar.
  7. (Optional) Set the scale of the sample by either using the up and down arrow keys or the Scale control on the context toolbar.
  8. (Optional) Transform the sample by using the Flip pop-up menu on the context toolbar.
  9. Drag on the image to paint the sample.
Clone Brush Tool Healing Brush Tool To clone/heal a sample from one image to another:
  1. Open the image that you want to copy pixels from and use the Layers panel to select the pixel layer that you wish to copy from. To source from vector layers you need to rasterise it first.
  2. Click the Clone Brush Tool or Healing Brush Tool.
  3. To define (or re-define) the cloning source, hold the and click on the area you wish to begin sampling from.
  4. On the context toolbar, click Add Global Source.

The source is stored, along with other global sources, in the Sources panel. The panel can be switched on via the Window menu.

  1. Open the image that you want to paint the sample into.
  2. Use the Layers panel to either select an existing pixel layer to copy to, or to create a new pixel layer.
  3. Click the Clone Brush Tool or Healing Brush Tool.
  4. The tool uses a soft-round brush by default. To use a different brush style, choose one from the Brushes panel.
  5. Adjust the context toolbar settings.
  6. Select a stored global source from the Sources panel. If you only have one global source you can simply select the Global source from the pop-up menu on the context toolbar instead of using the panel.
  7. (Optional) Select rotate, scale or flip options as described above.
  8. Drag on the image to paint the sample.

SEE ALSO: