Using Adobe Photoshop CS, Part 2 - The Healing Brush
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I still remember the first time I saw a demonstration of the Healing Brush tool in action, and the only word to describe what it does is "magic." One of the problems with using the Clone Stamp tool is that not every part of an image has the same underlying tonal values. For example, say you want to cover up a mole on a person's face. Because of the lighting in the photo, the right side of the person's face is darker than the left side. If you take a sample for the Clone Stamp tool from one side of the face and try to clone the other side of the face, you'll see a visible change of tone and luminosity where you've painted (see Figure 5.108).
Figure 5.108 Sampling from one side of the face to the other using the Clone Stamp tool results in a noticeable difference in tonal values.
Tip -The Healing Brush icon looks like a Band-Aid. It makes all of your boo-boos better.
You use the Healing Brush tool the same way you use the Clone Stamp tool. Find a nice clean area, (Option-click) [Alt-click], and then paint over the area you want to fix. At first, it appears to be painting it all wrong because you clearly see the brush marks (see Figure 5.109). But when you let go, Photoshop examines the luminosity and tonal values of that area and compensates for them. This means you can clone from the dark side of a face to the light side of the face without worrying about the shading (see Figure 5.110).
Figure 5.109 The Healing Brush, as you apply it.
Figure 5.110 The final result.
The Patch Tool
Calling on the same underlying technology as the Healing Brush, the Patch tool provides a different way to quickly clean up or repair parts of your image. The way it works is you select the Patch tool (see Figure 5.111) and then draw a selection around the blemished area of your photo (just like with the Lasso tool). When you've selected the area, click inside the selected area and drag the selection to a clean area of your photo (see Figure 5.112).
Figure 5.111 Choosing the Patch tool from the toolbox.
Figure 5.112 Dragging the patch area to a clean part of the photo.
Note that you can use this tool in the reverse as well. Simply choose the Destination option (see Figure 5.113) in the Tool Options bar (rather than the default Source setting) and select a clean area of your photo. Then drag the selection on top of blemished areas.
Figure 5.113 The Tool Options bar for the Patch tool.
 This chapter is from Adobe Creative Suite, by Mordy Golding (Sams, 2003, ISBN: 0672325918). Check it out at your favorite bookstore today. Buy this book now.
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