A question about the clone tool

[Moonbreze]

I generally use a soft-edged brush and sample from areas close by the target area that I want to clone over. My problem is that I sometimes end up with a "fuzzy" looking area. This is especially true when trying to clone something like shrubbery. I would appreciate some tips on using the clone tool better.
Thanks,
Deb

 

[dwalby]

I don't know how much more you can do than what you already know. Random shapes like shrubbery are sometimes difficult because the texture changes from area to area. One thing you could try is to mask the entire shrub area and give it a light blur, like Gaussian blur, that might obscure the cloned differences a bit if you can live with the blurriness.

I generally use a soft-edged brush and sample from areas close by the target area that I want to clone over. My problem is that I sometimes end up with a "fuzzy" looking area. This is especially true when trying to clone something like shrubbery. I would appreciate some tips on using the clone tool better.
Thanks,
Deb

 

[AMAllan]

If the area to clone is a well focused shrub, you might try a harder edge brush and some selective blurring and/or Healing Brush at the edges.

--
Alastair

http://www.pbase.com/alastair
'Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then.'
...Bob Seger

 

[Silverfox63]

You might try the Patch tool if you have access to Photoshop. It does a good job without damaging pixels. You can fade the patch to change opacity to help blend in with the existing surroundings. Seems to work well where there are no sharply defined edges.

Regards, Tom B.
--
Older, but still learning!

 

[drh681]

also consider using a smaller sample and take them from different areas around the area you are trying to patch.
--
Member of The Pet Rock Owners and Breeders Association
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Photons by the bag.
Gravitons no longer shipped outside US or Canada
-----.....------

if I mock you, it may be well deserved.

 

[Spoz2Bwrkn]

I've had decent success using the clone tool for different purposes, but sometimes, the results you want are found by playing with the opacity and flow settings. Also, try using different Mode settings. Good Luck.

 

[pdqgp]

Do you have a photo/sample that you would like to post for use to "see" what you're referencing? Happy to help.

--
-tim

NW Columbus/Dublin, Ohio
Family Photo Site
http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro

RIP Sir Ares of Sedgewick 2000-2010
RIP our Sweet Lady Jasmine II 1997-2008

 

[Moonbreze]

Here is a before and after.... I know it looks awfully rough. Thanks for taking your time to help me out here.





Deb

 

[Moonbreze]

I will try out the blur option to see if it helps. Thanks for the suggestion.

Deb

 

[Moonbreze]

I have not thought about using the healing tool in conjunction with the clone tool. That may be just what I need. I will give it a try. Thanks for your help.

Deb

 

[Moonbreze]

I am using elements and not sure that I have the patch tool to use. I do have a healing brush that another person suggested that I try out. Thanks for your help.

Deb

 

[Moonbreze]

I think that your suggestion may really help me out .... I do not always select a small section (lazy mode) but can see where that would give me a better result. Thanks for your help.

Deb

 

[Moonbreze]

I have always used the normal mode and then adjusted the brush size but will experiment with different modes as you suggest. Do you have a mode that you prefer to use?
Thanks for your help,

Deb

 

[AMAllan]

That's actually pretty good.

Try Gaussian blur and a gradient (or mask & brush) to blur the distance, and the end of the road will just look slightly out of focus. Good job.

--
Alastair

http://www.pbase.com/alastair
'Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then.'
...Bob Seger

 

[Spoz2Bwrkn]

Normal mode has been the default one I've generally used, but dive in there and try some others. The each have their unique (weird) effect. Photoshop seems like a bottomless pit sometimes with menus and options that go on forever, but the saving grace is the "Undo" feature!
Good Luck!

 

[WineO]

With Photoshop there are many ways to achieve a result and I almost always clone onto a Blank Layer. This is non destructive and allows for more flexibility. It may not help you in all cases but, for instance, you can select the cloned area on a blank layer and use Refine Edge on it. You can also try different blend modes to see the effect. I sometimes use Content Aware Fill and jut clone, heal or patch the result till I get what I want. I sometimes have to use a duplicate image and blend it in with the original to get what I want. I hope this gives you some ideas to experiment with. Remember that if you use a blank layer you must check Sample all Layers.
Claude

 

[Moonbreze]

I have never cloned on a separate layer but can really see the benefits of doing so. I will try that along with your other suggestions. You and the other folks on the forum have given me some great options to try. Thanks so much!

Deb

 

[DavidH202]

That looks pretty good actually.

Another tip would be to actually put more grain back in the softened area where you took out the center signs, to make that area less obviously soft.

In photshop you can actually do a feathered selection of that entire area, go to filter- noise-add noise -unform and in the dialoge box check the bottom monochromatic box.

adjust the resultant 'grain' to blend with the rest of the background to your liking.
Some overall contrast enhancement would improve that image even more ;-)

 

[pixil studio]

some times the delete content aware works pretty good for these type things