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This lesson demonstrates how to remove distracting elements from photographs, (such as lampposts), with the Clone Stamp Tool. To work along exactly, you can download my own photograph of Whitley Bay’s Art Deco houses Here. Unzip the file and open it onto Photoshop’s workspace.
Cloning elements from photographs is not a precise science. Undoubtedly, you will require considerable patience and lots of time. Additionally, individual photographs have different needs, and require slightly different cloning steps.
A synopsis
When cloning elements from photographs the most important consideration is a flawless removal. Therefore, keep a close eye on your progress and ensure the pattern repetition (clone) is randomised enough to be convincing.
You can of course incorporate alternative methods to remove elements from images; in addition to the Clone Tool, the following tools can facilitate the removal of unwanted elements; The Patch Tool, The Healing Brush Tool, The Spot Healing Tool, The Eraser, The Blur, Dodge and Burn Tools.
Note
Duplicate your photograph and work on the duplicated copy. Now, keep the original photograph open on the workspace, (next to the copy). This makes is easier for you to keep an eye on your progress, and also ensures you do not remove/repair elements that are an integral part of the original photograph.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
Clone Stamp Tool Tip
Applying the Clone Stamp Tool in very small increments, provides better control.
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Open your image onto Photoshop’s workspace.
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Then duplicate it by dragging the Background layer over the following Create a new layer icon, and work on the duplicated (Background copy) layer.
For accuracy, zoom into an area you wish to clone out. (Top menu, then View then Zoom). Tip: The closer you zoom into your image, the larger the brush size needs to be - and vice versa.
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Activate the Clone Stamp Tool. 
Clone Stamp Tool Settings
Settings depend entirely upon your image’s size and requirements - and throughout this lesson, the Master Diameter, Flow, Opacity, (and Hardness if you are using a hard brush) - can be altered to suit your images individual requirements. I utilised a brush from Photoshop’s Basic library, and for a soft clone, I selected a Soft Brush.
I am working on one layer, therefore, I began with the following Clone Stamp Tool settings.
Tip
When a randomised clone is required - for example, when cloning similar coloured (and textured) patterns, such as foliage or sand - deselect the Aligned tab.
Quickly adjust the brush size!
To adjust the brush size, press your keyboard’s left-side (or right-side), bracket keys - ensuring the keyboard is set to lower case, and Not capitals!
4/ Alt-clicking to copy (clone) coloured pixels
Before you begin, you need to prime the Clone Stamp with pixels; if you don’t; you will receive the following warning dialogue.
Therefore - in an area that is close to the lamppost, but not close enough to collect lamppost pixels; press and keep pressed the Alt key of the keyboard. Now (with your mouse) left-click.
Your Clone Stamp is primed with gradient sky pixels. Move your cursor towards the right, (over the lamppost), then left-click. You have now applied a lamppost free area of sky over the lamppost; as a result, part of it has been removed - cloned out.
To remove this area of the lamppost completely, repeatedly left-click to reapply the Clone Stamp.
Because I am using a Soft Brush, the clone (above) is soft and feathered. However, if I were to repeat this step and collect sky blue pixels with a Hard Brush - it would result in a harder, sharper clone, as shown below.
A Hard Brush therefore causes the clone to be sharp and more noticeable than a Soft Brush does; however, during your task, there may be times when you require a Hard and Soft Brush.
Correcting Mistakes
There are two ways to correct mistakes; firstly, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette to undo a brush stroke, or a step.
Warning!
If the following happens.  
It means you have Alt-clicked too close to the lamppost, and you need to Step Backwards, collect, then reapply, clear sky pixels.
5/ Using Cross Hairs to copy (clone) areas
An alternative way of collecting pixels is by dragging your cursor around the image. Whilst dragging, you will notice the following cross hairs.
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As you move the cursor around your image, the Clone Stamp Tool copies coloured pixels from the source point (cross hairs). It then applies them to the (circled in yellow) area, above. It is therefore vitally important that, when cloning with this method, you pay attention to where the cross hairs are collecting pixels from. Below is an example of the Clone Stamp’s cross hairs collecting, then depositing, inappropriate pixels.
Tip
For accuracy, especially when working with intricate areas, you will gain more control if you Alt-click to collect the pixels, rather than using the cross hairs method.
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Continue Alt-clicking, (or dragging your cursor and using the cross hairs), being careful to clone (copy) the correct coloured pixels. When you have removed the upper lampposts, your image will resemble the following.
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Warning! Patchy gradient sky
If you do not collect the correct (identical) sky gradient pixels, your sky will appear blotchy and uneven - as demonstrated here.
Tip
To blend uneven sky colours, (with very low Opacity settings) utilise the Dodge, Burn, Eraser, and Blur Tools.
Tip
Isolate an area you wish to clone, with a selection marquee - then complete the cloning inside the marquee. The marquee protects areas outside it, (for example the Art Deco house), from being effected by sky pixels. 
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The relatively easy part of cloning the upper lampposts is complete, and it is time for the trickier - and more time consuming task of removing the lower lampposts. The best advice I can give is to zoom into your image as much as you can, and carefully (and slowly) clone away elements - pixel by pixel, (if necessary). Keep zooming into (and out of) your image, observing your steps. It is better to redo a couple of steps than to find out much later that you have made a huge error. Therefore, get into the habit of checking your progress as you work. Zoom into your image - with the zoom tool, or the Navigator Palette, then Alt and left-click a suitable area of your image; adjusting the size of your brush as necessary.
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Then begin cloning out the remaining lamppost.
Remember to blend the cloned area, making use of the Burn, Eraser, Dodge and Blur Tools.
Tip
Zoom out of your image to see how it appears in a normal viewing size; and bear in
mind, if you took the photograph; as long as the result is convincing, no one will know if the clone is not a perfect replica. Additionally, you can “borrow” missing areas from other parts of the image, or even a different photograph!
  
Collecting pixels from a different photograph
This is very easy to do. Open a second image, and place it next to your original photograph.
Now, Alt-click to collect coloured pixels from the second image, then apply them to the first - in the usual manner.
Redefining Edges
To redefine areas that have dark edges, such as the edge of this flat roof, below.
Activate the Burn Tool. 
And with suitable Range, Exposure and Brush Size settings, utilise the Burn Tool to redefine (darken) the roof. Note: I worked between Shadows, Mid tones and Highlights for the following result.
An intricate cloning tip
If you find it too difficult to clone right up to an element, for example, a person, then isolate the person with your choice of Lasso Tool, (remember to add a slight Feather). Then Copy the isolated element to a New Layer. You can then (temporarily) hide the new layer, and clone right up to the element. When the cloning is complete, you can redisplay the hidden layer.
Now I have explained the steps - it is over to you. Take your time, and keep saving your image (as a Copy), as you work, and as soon as you feel eyestrain, take a break. If you begin with an easy image - for example, the removal of a child’s, or dog’s toy from and un crowded beach, or field - you will build your skill (and confidence), enabling you to undertake complex removal tasks.
When you have removed the elements and tidied your image with the Blur, Eraser, Burn and Dodge tools, (or a very low Opacity of the Eraser Tool), your work is complete and ready to save.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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