Photoshop - Can you explain something to me please

SkScotchegg · 5 Aug 2011 at 20:02

Hi there, I just installed "photoshop cs 5.1 64bit" and I was wondering if someone can explain to me how to use the "spot healing brush" because I'm just doing a quick touch up on a photo. I remember using it ages and it was really good.

I'm sure I used to do something like press ALT and then click the part of the image you wanted to use as the source and then let go of alt and just use left mouse to paste over the bit you want to cover?

But I must be forgetting or sommat coz didnt seem to work.

Thanks in advance.

joey1211 · 5 Aug 2011 at 20:07

Not on my comp but isn't it ctrl? Or do you have more than one layer?

andy_mk3 · 5 Aug 2011 at 20:08

I think you're thinking of the clone stamp tool (S) possibly? Either way it's Alt + Click to select the source.

SkScotchegg · 5 Aug 2011 at 20:08

Am a newbie with photoshop mate, I know what layers are though, I just opened the picture and tried to do it but didnt work, it had error message when I pressed ctrl.

SkScotchegg · 5 Aug 2011 at 20:09

andy_mk3 said:
I think you're thinking of the clone stamp tool (S) possibly?

Oh am I trying to use wrong tool for wrong job?

joey1211 · 5 Aug 2011 at 20:13

There's been a healing brush since version 7. It's similar to clone stamp

justintime2001 · 5 Aug 2011 at 20:17

Wish I could afford it but Photoshop is so expensive. Is there a cheaper way of buying it?

SkScotchegg · 5 Aug 2011 at 20:20

justintime2001 said:
Wish I could afford it but Photoshop is so expensive. Is there a cheaper way of buying it?

Mate I just downloaded the trial, I didnt buy it, I cant afford it either, they never used to do a trial years ago, but they been offering a free trial for a while now, you can install it all, its not just photoshop, it has flash and dreamweaver and loads of other program for videos and picture editing, its really good, you get it free for 30 days, might as well try it.

SkScotchegg · 5 Aug 2011 at 20:22

I've just worked out how to do it, I kinda remembered right but was using wrong tool...I was trying to use the "spot healing brush tool" but then I worked out what you have to do....you ALT-left click the "spot healing brush tool" and then that tool switches to just "healing brush tool" and now when I alt-left click it takes that part of the image as source and then I can just use left mouse to paint over the area I want covering.

It's really simple once you know how.

Ice Globe · 5 Aug 2011 at 21:18

The spot healing brush tool makes the software decide what to replace your spot with. Normally setting the tool to proximity match or the new 'content aware' will give decent results.

Otherwise if the software fails, you can use a combination or either the clone stamp and healing brush tools. The non-spot healing brush tool can otherwise be found by holding left-mouse button on the spot healing tool in the left toolbar.

Healing tends to blend the spot and is terrible when you get close to the image edge or a contrasting feature. In this case the clone stamp with a softish brush would be preferred. Clone tool use followed by healing will give best results.