Layer->Duplicate Layer.
In case you make a mess of things while you practice, then you can just delete the layer and your original image will remain untouched.
Window->History.
History will allow you to delete one or more steps in case you just mess up a little bit.
Simply drag the last step you took into the little trash can icon at the bottom of that window, and it's...ahem....history!
Choose the Clone Stamp tool from your toolbar at the left side of your screen.
In the Options bar at the top of your screen, click on the Brush window and set the hardness to 0% so the tool won't leave a hard edge while cloning.
Choose a Brush size slightly larger then the branch you wish to excise.
Make sure that both Opacity and Flow windows are at 100% and the Aligned box is checked. That will allow the sample point that you choose next to 'follow' your Clone Stamp tool as you work.
Now, set the CS tool either to the right or the left of the area of the branch you wish to remove, making sure that no part of the circle touches the branch.
Press the Alt key to gain your sample, left click there, then move the brush back to the right or left until it's directly over the branch and click the left mouse key to start 'cloning'.
Keep working upward (or downward, depending where you start) clicking away. It may take more than one click to clean up the area inside of the brush.
You can always choose a new sample point at any time.
When you're pleased with your work, and before you save the image for print or screen, Layer->Flatten Image to merge that new layer that you created with the original image.
You can find more info. on this tool (and lots more) in the Help files at the top of your screen.
Don't forget to look at the healing brush as well. It has the advantage that you don't have to worry about the matching tones in the cloned area. Counting from the left, the fifth of the six branches/dark areas will probably lend itself nicely to the healing brush. The third one, depending on how severe of a crop it is, might also work well.
The healing brush is also your best friend for dust spotting.
The tool has the disadvantage that if you are really close to another part of the image that is significantly different, wierd artifacts can appear. Use the magic lasso tool to select an area around the spot you want to heal, then use the healing tool as you normally would. It will draw its pixel information from the selected area only.
The other disadvantage is that if you make it largish, may 25-30+ pixels in diameter, you'll often get a blurred blob instead of a nicely reconstructed area.
(Thanks to Danny Burk and his Photoshop workshops for showing me this tool)
Very nice, straightforward summary, John. Dan's suggestion of the healing brush is useful for small jobs, but your branches will likely require the clone stamp.
I am not an expert, but I do know you should right click while the clone tool is chosen and see how reduced hardness works for you. Do it in a layer as described above...
Discussion
4 repliesI am a relatively new user to PhotoShop and need help cloning some extra branches out of the photo above. How do I do it? Thank you.
In case you make a mess of things while you practice, then you can just delete the layer and your original image will remain untouched.
Window->History.
History will allow you to delete one or more steps in case you just mess up a little bit.
Simply drag the last step you took into the little trash can icon at the bottom of that window, and it's...ahem....history!
Choose the Clone Stamp tool from your toolbar at the left side of your screen.
In the Options bar at the top of your screen, click on the Brush window and set the hardness to 0% so the tool won't leave a hard edge while cloning.
Choose a Brush size slightly larger then the branch you wish to excise.
Make sure that both Opacity and Flow windows are at 100% and the Aligned box is checked. That will allow the sample point that you choose next to 'follow' your Clone Stamp tool as you work.
Now, set the CS tool either to the right or the left of the area of the branch you wish to remove, making sure that no part of the circle touches the branch.
Press the Alt key to gain your sample, left click there, then move the brush back to the right or left until it's directly over the branch and click the left mouse key to start 'cloning'.
Keep working upward (or downward, depending where you start) clicking away. It may take more than one click to clean up the area inside of the brush.
You can always choose a new sample point at any time.
When you're pleased with your work, and before you save the image for print or screen, Layer->Flatten Image to merge that new layer that you created with the original image.
You can find more info. on this tool (and lots more) in the Help files at the top of your screen.
Good luck!
The healing brush is also your best friend for dust spotting.
The tool has the disadvantage that if you are really close to another part of the image that is significantly different, wierd artifacts can appear. Use the magic lasso tool to select an area around the spot you want to heal, then use the healing tool as you normally would. It will draw its pixel information from the selected area only.
The other disadvantage is that if you make it largish, may 25-30+ pixels in diameter, you'll often get a blurred blob instead of a nicely reconstructed area.
(Thanks to Danny Burk and his Photoshop workshops for showing me this tool)
Pete D.