Problem im having with clone brush/layers..

[hoops]

Hi there. Im very new to photoshop. Ive been working on putting an image together, just to practice the basic tools. And try for the love of God to hopefully understand layers. Well i understand layers, i just dont understand completely how to use them if you get me.

Anyhoo heres my pic regarding my problem...

http://tinypic.com/r/65al94/5


The problem i have here is, i pasted a car on to a background and as you can i see i have leftover bits from the paste, my car is way back on layer 1. But then i go to this layer and try and clone brush over these nothing happens. I can brush over them fine, but clone brush isnt working.

What am i doing wrong? Anyone any idea?

 

[Hoogle]

I dont quite get what your doing wouldnt it have just been easier to use a layer mask ??

anyway back to clone brush create a new layer then select clone brush and make sure you have sample all layers on


I personally dont use the sample all layers for detailed work as it can be a bit random instead I use sample current layer and below just remember to have the layer you want to clone from selected when you choose your source before then selecting the clone layer to actually do your cloning.


Which can also be your problem here are you choosing a source to clone from ie before cloning you should hold the alt key down to define an area to clone from so press alt and left click that will choose your sampling area then go to where you want to clone and use it like a normal brush

 

[hoops]

Hi hoogle. Thanks for the help mate. Got it sorted. 'all layers' was the issue.

Probably should have used a layer mask im guessing :redface:. Something else i need to really need to get to know fully.
i was choosing the source with alt etc yeah.


When you say it can be a bit 'random' mate, do you mean confusing? Didn't quite catch that bud.

Thanks again.

 

[IamSam]

edit: Problem solved.

 

[Hoogle]

The clone tool is a very complex tool or very simple tool 90% of the time sample all layers may work but if you set a 100% hard brush and put it on quite large 1 would think it would do a direct copy of what your cloning source shows. This may be the case most the time but when you start getting to 20 + layers on a document then it will be taking information from those layers too. So for example you have a background layer 10 adjustment layers that are applying effects you may not see any pixels there but the clone brush will copy that information and by the time it clones it in again you may notice it is not an exact representation of what you can see with your eyes sometimes you get weird color variations etc. Thats why if I want to clone from a specific layer it doesnt matter which layer you want to clone from it is best to choose current layer and below.

So if you want to clone from the background layer highlight that layer in the layers pallet and press alt and choose your clone source it does not matter how many layers are between that layer and you clone layer it can be 100 layers before photoshop cares and then select your cloning layer that you are cloning to. Photoshop will disregard all the information in the between layers and will only clone the original selected layer.

But dont let this be 100% fool proof if you have an exposure adjustment layer inbetween then photoshop will bypass so you may find the end results are not 100% smooth cloning because it wont have the exposure adjustment carried over. But this is where trial and error will teach you the best method for your project. Like anything in ps you have to get experience so you can predict how the tools will react. and just like photography you can use auto settings and get a good image but when you learn to take full control of your camera and do everything manually then you are sure to be producing better images because you understand how the camera works and you can predict on the outcome. Well the same goes for photoshop when you fully understand a tool (as best as anyone can) then you can be guarenteed a better workflow and outcome.

 

[hoops]

Thanks Hoogle. Great info, nice n clear just the way i need it. But like you say i can read all day. But those words, trial and error are the key. Even in a few of my doodles today ive picked up alot of how things work. Getting my hands dirty is the best way.

Thanks again.