Here’s a 10-step process that includes several tips and shortcuts for better cloning:
1. Type S to activate the Clone Stamp tool.
2. Press Return/Enter to display the Options palette, if it is not already visible. If the Options palette is already visible, pressing Return/Enter will highlight the first configuration field (the Opacity field). Note that pressing Return/Enter activates the first Options palette field for all Photoshop tools and is a terrific time-saver. You can also Tab to other available Options palette fields and press Return/Enter again to apply your choices and return to the active tool.
3. I rarely work with a 100% opacity. I typically work at between 50% and 75% (here 75% opacity was used) to work over the clone areas a couple of times from at least two separate clone source locations. This prevents any obvious visual streaks from occurring. It is important to keep in mind that the edges of single cloning strokes that may be invisible onscreen may become apparent when printed.
4. To activate the Brushes dialog box, Control+click (Mac) or right-click near the area where you’d like to use the Clone tool.
5. Make the size of your Clone tool brush a bit larger than the width of the swath you want to cover. Here, most of the rooftop could be cloned with one stroke. So the starting width was about 15 pixels.
6. Because you are essentially using the Clone tool as an image-compositing tool, you want to make sure that the cloned edges blend in with the receiving area. This means that a gradational edge—a soft edge—is in order. You can control the hardness of your cloned edge by adjusting the edge hardness of your brush (here about 50%). This too will help prevent any obvious edges from appearing on final output.
7. Use your [ and ] bracket keys to adjust the radius of the Clone tool on the fly. This is a quick and easy way to switch to a smaller radius brush for use with more-detailed cloning work. Here on the left side, where the roof edge is up against the reflective water, I moved to a much smaller brush to accomplish the clone.
8. Hold down the spacebar and F/Ctrl+drag to marquee over any detailed work areas that you’d like to zoom in on. Use your spacebar alone to temporarily access the Hand tool and move around locally. Then press F/Ctrl+0 to zoom out and fit the image onscreen. This sequence is so handy and time-saving in all of your Photoshop work. The bonus is that these navigation shortcuts work even when you have an active dialog box open.
9. Set your Clone tool Mode in the Options palette to match how you want the cloned area to look. Here, the cloned area is supposed to match the rest of the foreground; therefore, Normal was chosen so that the pixels would be cloned as is, without applying any blend mode effects.
10. It is worth emphasizing that standard cloning protocol uses 50% to 75% opacity and several source points from multiple clone locations. Doing so prevents the formation of obvious clone lines in your image. Sure, there are times when you might clone at 100% opacity, but only if you are sure that clone lines will not be produced. If there is ever a doubt, use multiple clone locations at reduced opacity. Always err on the side of redundancy to guarantee that high-quality final prints will be produced from your image edits.
1. Type S to activate the Clone Stamp tool.
2. Press Return/Enter to display the Options palette, if it is not already visible. If the Options palette is already visible, pressing Return/Enter will highlight the first configuration field (the Opacity field). Note that pressing Return/Enter activates the first Options palette field for all Photoshop tools and is a terrific time-saver. You can also Tab to other available Options palette fields and press Return/Enter again to apply your choices and return to the active tool.
3. I rarely work with a 100% opacity. I typically work at between 50% and 75% (here 75% opacity was used) to work over the clone areas a couple of times from at least two separate clone source locations. This prevents any obvious visual streaks from occurring. It is important to keep in mind that the edges of single cloning strokes that may be invisible onscreen may become apparent when printed.
4. To activate the Brushes dialog box, Control+click (Mac) or right-click near the area where you’d like to use the Clone tool.
5. Make the size of your Clone tool brush a bit larger than the width of the swath you want to cover. Here, most of the rooftop could be cloned with one stroke. So the starting width was about 15 pixels.
6. Because you are essentially using the Clone tool as an image-compositing tool, you want to make sure that the cloned edges blend in with the receiving area. This means that a gradational edge—a soft edge—is in order. You can control the hardness of your cloned edge by adjusting the edge hardness of your brush (here about 50%). This too will help prevent any obvious edges from appearing on final output.
7. Use your [ and ] bracket keys to adjust the radius of the Clone tool on the fly. This is a quick and easy way to switch to a smaller radius brush for use with more-detailed cloning work. Here on the left side, where the roof edge is up against the reflective water, I moved to a much smaller brush to accomplish the clone.
8. Hold down the spacebar and F/Ctrl+drag to marquee over any detailed work areas that you’d like to zoom in on. Use your spacebar alone to temporarily access the Hand tool and move around locally. Then press F/Ctrl+0 to zoom out and fit the image onscreen. This sequence is so handy and time-saving in all of your Photoshop work. The bonus is that these navigation shortcuts work even when you have an active dialog box open.
9. Set your Clone tool Mode in the Options palette to match how you want the cloned area to look. Here, the cloned area is supposed to match the rest of the foreground; therefore, Normal was chosen so that the pixels would be cloned as is, without applying any blend mode effects.
10. It is worth emphasizing that standard cloning protocol uses 50% to 75% opacity and several source points from multiple clone locations. Doing so prevents the formation of obvious clone lines in your image. Sure, there are times when you might clone at 100% opacity, but only if you are sure that clone lines will not be produced. If there is ever a doubt, use multiple clone locations at reduced opacity. Always err on the side of redundancy to guarantee that high-quality final prints will be produced from your image edits.
Cloning Prep
![Cloning Prep]()
Reviewed by Pepen2710
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