Photoshop@ cloning and healing tool trick

12/24/2005 10:11:52 AM · #1

Did you know that beginning with PS version 7 that you could do all your cloning into a separate layer? I didn't. It blew me away!

Until this very morning I UNNECESSARILY and IRREVERSIBLY messed up a whole image data layer for cloning. Now I don't have to.

Here is how it is done:
1-Create new layer.
2-Select the clone tool and check the "Use all layers" checkbox.
(Yup, it is that easy!)
3-Clone to your heart's content. All the cloning will be in the new layer as long as it is selected!

I didn't know that until I upgraded from PSv7 to PSv9(CS2) and all the experts were raving about the fact you could use the healing brush in CS in a separate layer just like the clone tool. That was not possible for the healing tool before. I was an instant convert.

On to another tidbit...

And now, in CS2, there is an even better healing tool called the "Spot Healing Brush Tool" that is such a huge improvement over the old "Healing Brush Tool" that it has become the default. (The old tool is still there but probably won't be used much.) Life will never be the same again.

And that is just one tiny wonderful, new discovery in a PS upgrade filled with zillions of them! :)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

12/24/2005 10:49:01 AM · #2

Well, that's interesting and "duh" all at the same time: no, I wasn't aware of cloning onto an empty layer, BUT... the way I have always done it is to dupe off the BG layer and do my cloning on that, so it is reversible. I can see where doing it on several stacked, otherwise-empty layers would allow the selective merging of several different "tracks" of cloning...

Thanks for the tip :-)

R.

Marjo

Canon EOS-7D

12/24/2005 10:50:34 AM · #3

Well, I certainly appreciate this tip. I'm planning on devoting some time to learning more about CS after the first. Added this to my notepad for future reference. I'm signed up for a portrait class, too. :)

12/24/2005 11:08:05 AM · #4

Originally posted by bear_music:

Agreed about the "duh!" part. ;)

Yours is the way I've always cloned before to. I would clone, heal, perform noise reduction and sometimes other local and global pixel-level changes to the duplicated layer. So, yes it is reversible, but often for me a lot of extra work when I later decided to make a change to anything. Always best to do things in separate layers when you can. Now I have that option for the clone, heal, smudge, blur and sharpen tools(Those last three are also available in PSv7). :)

Message edited by author 2005-12-24 11:10:51.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/24/2005 11:42:22 AM · #5

Ayup :-) I can see some obvious advantages here, to say the least. A separate, free-floating layer for each little area-of-work, and the ability to change opacity and mode on each independently, is gonna be priceless. Except for BradP, who claims to have found virtue in NEVER using layers, jejejeâ�¢

R.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

12/24/2005 11:50:51 AM · #6

I believe this technique has been available even longer -- I clone onto an empty layer in PS 5.0 all the time. Among other things, it lets me toggle the repair on-and-off to see whether the repair blends in well.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/24/2005 11:54:39 AM · #7

Originally posted by GeneralE:

I see no reason why it wouldn't have been; we are, like, "Duh!" here. I've been doing just what you do, except doing my work on a copy of the BG image, and that basically limits one to doing all "repair" work on a single layer. I have seen the light, however :-) Just tried it, works fine, less filling :-)

R.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

12/24/2005 12:23:51 PM · #8

Also, those mostly-empty layers add very little to the disk size of a .PSD file ... duping the Background layer essentially doubles the size.

12/24/2005 12:26:14 PM · #9

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Also, those mostly-empty layers add very little to the disk size of a .PSD file ... duping the Background layer essentially doubles the size.

Hence, "less filling" :-)

R.

12/24/2005 12:33:35 PM · #10

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Also, those mostly-empty layers add very little to the disk size of a .PSD file ... duping the Background layer essentially doubles the size.

Never thought of that but a SUPER arguement for doing it. makes an even greater difference if you work with 16-bit images.

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

12/24/2005 12:42:39 PM · #11

What I particularly like about this technique is the way that it lends itself to full reversibility. Just erase portions of the 'clone' layer that don't work too well and try again.

12/24/2005 12:47:26 PM · #12

Originally posted by AJAger:

What I particularly like about this technique is the way that it lends itself to full reversibility. Just erase portions of the 'clone' layer that don't work too well and try again.

Yup... that little tidbit of knowledge just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

12/24/2005 02:52:31 PM · #13

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Just tried it in PS6 and it works like a charm. Awesomely good tip!

Prof_Fate

12/24/2005 04:27:18 PM · #14

I've seen that 'use all layers' thing and wondered what it might be used for.

Hmm...have to remember this one and see what all it can do. I'm still trying to get the right layers merging when i want.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

12/24/2005 05:22:26 PM · #15

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by AJAger:
What I particularly like about this technique is the way that it lends itself to full reversibility. Just erase portions of the 'clone' layer that don't work too well and try again.

Yup... that little tidbit of knowledge just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?

Gets even BETTER: I just used an empty layer to lay down a gradient, and then adjusted the layer mode to "multiply" and it only darkened the parts of the image that had density to begin with! This is gonna open up whole new areas of exploration for me :-)

R.

Pedro

Nikon D200

12/24/2005 05:27:09 PM · #16

the highlight of this technique for me is I can be really heavy-handed in my cloning, then use different blending modes and/or opacity to make it juuuuuussst right.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

12/24/2005 06:11:22 PM · #17

Anyone feel the gumption to start a cloning Mentorship thread after new years?

oOWonderBreadOo

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

12/24/2005 06:17:35 PM · #18

hehe that would be cool but it's kinda limited do you think? I by the way am a cloning goddess and I am very happy about this very awesome tip! ;0)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/24/2005 06:20:49 PM · #19

Originally posted by wavelength:

Anyone feel the gumption to start a cloning Mentorship thread after new years?

I'll be gone until the 4th ...

#1 tip: if you are going to do much cloning/retouching, you should strongly consider getting a tablet/stylus combo -- it is many times more efficient/effective than using a mouse.

klkitchens

Pentax K-1

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

12/27/2005 01:38:44 AM · #20

FYI, this works in PSP X as well. Not sure about previous versions of PSP.

gloda