[Return to Start] [Lesson 1: Opening] [Lesson 2: Assessing] [Lesson 3: Cropping]
[Lesson 4:Rotating] [Lesson 5: Fixing Blemishes] [Lesson 6: Adjusting Color ] [Lesson 7: Sizing/Printing]

Lesson 5: Fixing Blemishes

For this lesson, use the 'sunset' image. It has several rather obvious blemishes.

To fix blemishes, the clone stamp tool is used. If you don't know where that is, click on the Tool Bar Image now.

The idea is to select an area that is similar to the blemished area, and to stamp that unblemished area onto the blemish to eliminate it.

Method:

• click on the clone stamp tool
• Select stamp brush type and size [top, left box]
• Place your cursor near where you wish to correct a blemish. You are looking for colors and textures that will substitute for the flawed area. Often, this is an area right next to the flaw.
• Hold down option key and click where you want to capture the pattern to be stamped onto the flaw
• Release option key and stamp where the blemish is

Some things you need to know:

In the image above right, beside the word "Brush:" you see a solid black dot and the number "39" next to it.

The solid black dot is but one brush type.

My preference is to use a soft brush such as the one shown in this image.

When you first select the clone stamp tool and click on the image, if you are not holding down the 'option' key on the keyboard, you will get a message which tells you that you have to hold down the option key.

Having done so, you should click near the blemish and you will see a circle and an cross hair telling you that this is where you've decide to select part of the image to stamp over the flawed part.

Next you release the click, move the circle over the flaw and click. The flaw will disappear because you are stamping the non-flawed neighboring part of the image over the flawed part. Sometimes you may have to click several times or move the circle from left to right across the flaw.

At this point, you should practice correcting all of the flaws in the sunset image, then you should straighten the horizon line, then you should crop the image.

If you'd like to see my finished produce when I've done all of that, click on "Ray's Sunset Image". However, note that we have yet to correct the image for color ... it's too dark.

Questions or Issues? Did the instructions work for you? If not, drop me a line and tell me about where you got stuck.

ray@raysweb.net