Restoring Part of an Image in Photoshop

Although the concept may seem like quantum physics, you can erase and brush on an image by using previously saved states or snapshots. What? Okay, let me try this again. You can erase portions of an image to a history state, as well as paint on an image from a history state. This means that traveling through time doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing thing; you can erase or paint portions of a different state onto your currently active state.

For example, suppose you applied a blur filter to a face and decide later you want to make the eyes sharp again. You can use the Eraser tool with the Erase to History option, or the History Brush tool, to paint over the eyes with information from an earlier state before you blurred them.

Using the Eraser with the Erase to History option
You’d want to use the Eraser with the Erase to History option when a portion of an earlier state or snapshot contains information that you want to include in an image that has otherwise been extensively edited. To erase and restore to a portion of an earlier state or snapshot, just follow these steps:

1. In the History palette, click in the 4 far-left column of the state or snapshot you want to use as the source for the Eraser tool with the Erase to History option.
An icon appears, indicating that Photoshop will use this state as the source for the Eraser tool with the
Erase to History option.
2. Select the Eraser tool.
3. Choose the Erase to History option in the Options bar.
4. Choose any other Eraser tool options you want to use, such as brush size and type, blend mode, opacity and flow percentages, or airbrush.
5. Select the layer and state you want to erase.
6. Begin to erase.
Photoshop removes the image in the layer and replaces it with the image in the state you specified as the origin for the Eraser with the Erase to History option. You can convert the Eraser tool temporarily to use the Erase to History option by holding down the Alt key (Option key on the Mac) when you erase or paint.