How to Clone in Photoshop
While the term "cloning" may bring to mind a sheep named Dolly, who was the subject of a famous scientific DNA experiment, cloning is actually a common procedure used in digital photographs. The technique of cloning helps mask picture flaws, duplicate colors or patterns and transform images. The Photoshop graphics package, available as part of the Adobe Creative Suite, offers quick cloning functionality with just a couple of clicks.
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Instructions
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1
Open Photoshop, click "File" and select "Open." Navigate to a digital picture to clone and double-click the file name, which opens the image in the Photoshop workspace.
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Click the "Zoom" tool, which looks like a magnifying glass or lollipop on the "Tools" palette. Zoom in an area of the photo with a small flaw, such as a dust speck or tear.
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Click the "Clone Stamp Tool," which looks like a stamper used to cancel checks. Pull down the "Brush" menu at the top of the screen and select a small, solid round brush, such as #9.
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Hover your cursor on an area directly next to, but not on top of, the flaw. If you're fixing a sky, for example, you'd hover your cursor on an area of blue next to the bird or cloud you want to erase. Press and hold down the "Alt" key and click your mouse one time. This clones the "good" area into memory.
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Release the "Alt" key, move your cursor directly over the flawed area and press the mouse button, which pastes the cloned area directly on top of the problem spot, erasing it as if it was never there and creating a seamless transition. Continue clicking and moving the mouse to deposit the cloned color.
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Move your cursor to a larger area to clone, such as a section of trees. Pull down the "Brush" menu and select a larger brush head, such as #44, which is a scattershot brush and will pick up fine detail. Press and hold down the "Alt" key and click the mouse over the trees, cloning them into memory.
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Move the cursor into an area that needs the tree pattern, such as a patchy spot in the landscape. Release the "Alt" key and click the mouse repeatedly to deposit the cloned tree pattern.
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Pull down the "File" menu and click "Save As." Type a new name or version number for the photo; don't save it with the old file name, as this will overwrite the original, and you won't be able to access the non-cloned version again.
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