The Clone Stamp tool is designed for copying areas of an image while maintaining the original color range, shadows, texture, illumination, and other characteristics of the cloned part. Cloning can be done within one layer, between different layers, or between loaded images.
To clone an object, first select the area to be cloned: do this by first holding down Alt on Windows (Option on Mac), and then clicking on the area from which the clone will be taken.
Once the reference point is defined, place the cursor over the area you wish to place the clone. Left-click to apply the clone. When you left-click a cross-shapped cursor will appear over the source image, identifying the original fragment.
The basic tool settings are shown in the Tool Options panel above the Image Window or by right-clicking on the image. To display the full list of parameters, press the tool icon in the Tool Options panel or use the F5 key. To specify the parameter settings, enter a numerical value in the parameter’s field or use the slider.
Element - in the drop-down list, select the type of the basic element of the brush: Ellipse or Select Shape.
Size (1-5000). The maximum diameter of the source used for cloning (in pixels).
Hardness (0-100). The degree of blurriness of the fragment's edges. At higher values of this parameter, the less the fragment's border interacts with the background. At values near 100% the border between the fragment and the image is very distinct; at lower values the border between these areas will be smoother.
Opacity (1-100). The opacity of the fragment in relation to the background. This parameter affects the opacity of the fragment where it is stamped: at lower values, the fragment is paler and its interaction with the background is greater.
Fill (1-100). The opacity of the clone in a single brush stroke. When applying strokes to each other, the opacity of the clone increases.
Blend Mode. It defines how the cloned fragment blends with the background. The program provides 27 blend modes.
Aligned check-box. This option sets how the fragment is cloned. When the check-box is activated, a single clone will be created using information from around the selected source: in this case each time the left mouse button is pressed a clone will be selected from the relevant area. When the check-box is not activated, each time the mouse button is released the cursor returns to the source area, and new clone fragments are created from this same area.
Activating the Flip Horizontal check-box allows a clone to be mirrored along the standing axis, i.e. interchanging the left and right sides.
Activating the Flip Vertical check-box mirrors a clone by turning the image upside down.
Scaling (20-400%). The size of the clone relative to the original fragment.
Beside the above-listed settings, some additional parameters are available for this tool.
Press the Default button to set all settings to their default values.
To draw a straight line, first specify the starting point with the left mouse button, then, while keeping Shift pressed, move the cursor to the desired end point of the line and release Shift. If Shift is not released, a new line will be drawn to each point where the mouse is clicked.