Photoshop Elements 5: The Missing Manual

Chapter 9: Retouching 102: Fine-Tuning Your Images 245

Applying Patterns

The Clone Stamp is a very powerful tool, but it’s crotchety, too. See the box below

for some suggestions on how to make it behave.

You can clone on a separate layer, just the way you would with the Healing tool.

This lets you adjust the opacity of your repair afterwards. Press Ctrl+Shift+N to

create a new layer and then turn on Sample All Layers in the Options bar. It’s

almost always a good idea to clone on a separate layer when you can do so, since

cloning is so much more opaque than healing.

Applying Patterns

Besides applying solid colors to your images, Elements lets you add patterns to

your pictures. You get quite a few patterns with Elements when you buy it, and

you can also download more patterns from online sources (see page 475) or create

your own. You can use patterns to add interesting designs to your image, or to give

a more realistic texture to certain repairs.

TROUBLESHOOTING MOMENT

Keeping the Clone Stamp Under Control

The clone tool is a great resource, but it definitely has a

mind of its own sometimes.

If you suddenly see spots of a different shade appearing

as you clone, take a look in the Options bar at the Aligned

box. It has a tendency to insist on staying turned on, and

even if you turn it off, it can turn itself back on when you

aren’t paying attention.

Once in a great while, the Clone Stamp just won’t reset ...