The Clone Brush is designed to copy parts from a picture to another part of the picture. With the tool it is possible to copy areas from a certain layer to another place on the same layer and/or another layer on the same picture. The tool is very useful when you when you want to perform a repair on areas on a picture such as removing scratches and/or hiding an unwanted detail in the picture. In this case, you need to select a certain area on the picture that is similar to the area you where the detail you wish to hide is located and simply copy on top of it the similar area. CommonTools2('Clone Brush Tool') In order to activate the tool, press the Clone Brush Tool button in the Tools Toolbar.

CommonTools1() The tool's properties

The tool's properties window contains a number of commands through which it is possible to control the tool's properties. To view the tool's properties window press F2.

• Type card-index
  Using the commands in this card-index, it is possible to define the tool's characteristics.
  • Width Slider - This command is used to set the width of the brush. The higher the value of the regulator is, the wider will the brush be; the lower the value of the regulator is, the thinner will the brush be.
  • Height Slider - This command is used to set the height of the brush. The higher the value of the regulator is, the taller will the brush be; the lower the value of the regulator is , the shorter will the brush be.
  • Opacity Slider - The Opacity defines the level of Opacity of the paint tool. When its value is 100 the paint tool will be entirely opaque. When using the tool with this value, the places on which it is used will be covered entirely by the paint tool. When the level of opacity is below 100, the opacity of the paint tool will decrease (it will become transparent) so that the places on which the paint tool is used will not be entirely covered (it will be possible to see the places on which the paint tool is used beneath the paint). As the value of Opacity decreases, the transparency of the paint tool will become greater.
  • Intervals Slider - This command is used to set the painting intervals during the act of painting. The command is not available when working in Auto Intervals mode (when the Auto Intervals Checkbox is marked). The higher the value of the regulator is, the longer will the intervals be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the shorter will the intervals be (a more condensed painting).
  • Auto Intervals Checkbox - Marking this box (default) shifts the brush to a paint mode where the painting intervals are set automatically according to the way (velocity) you move the mouse on the screen.
  • Shape Dropdown Box - With this box it is possible to select the basic geometric shape of the brush on which the final brush will be based on.
  • Smooth (Antialias) - Marking this box will create a object/ selection area with smooth edges (which will blend smoother with the surrounding background). The smoothing is created by adding semi-transparent pixels to the edge area of the image and in so creating a smoother transition and integration between the object/selected area and the background.
• Colors card-index
  With the commands in this card-index it is possible to set the colors, gradients, patterns and the textures of the canvas' surface with which the paint tool will make use.
  • Blend Mode Dropdown Box - With this box it is possible to set the way in which the colors from the paint tool merge with the surface on which it is painting.
  • Use Textures Checkbox - When this option is marked the paint tool will use the texture defined in the Texture Box in the Colors panel.
  • Negative Checkbox - When this option is marked the paint tool will use a brush that is the Negative of the current (selected) brush.
• Advanced card-index
  With the commands in this card-index it is possible to define a number of advanced characteristics of the tool.
  • Angle Slider - This command is used to set the angle of the paint tool which will be used.
  • Density Slider - This command is used to set the density of the color which will be used by the paint tool. The higher the value of the regulator is, the higher the density of the color will be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the lower the density of the color will be.
  • Feather Slider - The Feather's value defines how the edges of the object/selected area will look. The lower the value of the Feather is, the sharper will the edges of the object/selected area be. The higher the value of the Feather is, the smoother and "softer" will the edges of the object/selected area be (will cause the edges to gradually integrate with the background).When the Feather's value is greater than 0 (i.e. when there is Feather), it is possible to select one of two types of Feather: Round edges or Sharp edges. The selection of the Feather type is done with the radio dial or the Sharp button (depending on which tool you are using), located near the Feather Box.
  • Flip H, Flip V Checkboxes - Marking these boxes will cause a horizontal and/or vertical flip, accordingly, to the brush being used.
  • Outline Checkbox - Marking this box will cause the use of only the outlines of the brush, (without the filling).
  • Wet Edges Checkbox - Marking this box will cause an effect which resembles coloring with water paints.

Note: Gradient Cycle and Color Mode - These commands are irrelevant when working with the Clone Brush.

How to use the tool

The use of this tool is divided into two steps:

• The first step involves selecting the area from which you wish to perform the duplication. To do that, select the layer from which you wish to duplicate, point the mouse on the area you wish to duplicate and click on it with the mouse's right button.
• The second step involves the duplication itself. If the layer you wish to duplicate into is different from the layer you wish to duplicate, select it first. In order to perform the duplication, point on the area you wish to duplicate with the mouse and move the mouse to the desired area while holding down the left button.

Note: If the active layer is in invisible mode (Visibility Off) or covered with a mask, the painting over the layer will be performed, but will not be seen on the screen. In order to see the painting on the screen, you must convert the active layer to visible (Visibility On) or neutralize/cancel the mask operation.

Tutorial - Removing an unwanted object from an image using the Clone Brush tool

This tool is designed to repair, remove and/or hide specific imperfections in a picture. The tool enables you to hide small and unwanted details on the picture, remove scratches from pictures and more. You can even remove unwanted pimples and moles from facial pictures! CommonTools2('Super Magic Brush Tool') In order to activate the tool, press the Super Magic Brush Tool button in the Tools Toolbar.

CommonTools1() The tool's properties

The tool's properties window contains a number of commands through which it is possible to control the tool's properties. To view the tool's properties window press F2.

• Type card-index
  Using the commands in this card-index, it is possible to define the tool's characteristics.
  • Width Slider - This command is used to set the width of the brush. The higher the value of the regulator is, the wider will the brush be; the lower the value of the regulator is, the thinner will the brush be.
  • Height Slider - This command is used to set the height of the brush. The higher the value of the regulator is, the taller will the brush be; the lower the value of the regulator is , the shorter will the brush be.
  • Opacity Slider - The Opacity defines the level of Opacity of the paint tool. When its value is 100 the paint tool will be entirely opaque. When using the tool with this value, the places on which it is used will be covered entirely by the paint tool. When the level of opacity is below 100, the opacity of the paint tool will decrease (it will become transparent) so that the places on which the paint tool is used will not be entirely covered (it will be possible to see the places on which the paint tool is used beneath the paint). As the value of Opacity decreases, the transparency of the paint tool will become greater.
  • Intervals Slider - This command is used to set the painting intervals during the act of painting. The command is not available when working in Auto Intervals mode (when the Auto Intervals Checkbox is marked). The higher the value of the regulator is, the longer will the intervals be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the shorter will the intervals be (a more condensed painting).
  • Auto Intervals Checkbox - Marking this box (default) shifts the brush to a paint mode where the painting intervals are set automatically according to the way (velocity) you move the mouse on the screen.
  • Shape Dropdown Box - With this box it is possible to select the basic geometric shape of the brush on which the final brush will be based on.
  • Smooth (Antialias) - Marking this box will create a object/ selection area with smooth edges (which will blend smoother with the surrounding background). The smoothing is created by adding semi-transparent pixels to the edge area of the image and in so creating a smoother transition and integration between the object/selected area and the background.
• Colors card-index
  With the commands in this card-index it is possible to set the colors, gradients, patterns and the textures of the canvas' surface with which the paint tool will make use.
  • Blend Mode Dropdown Box - With this box it is possible to set the way in which the colors from the paint tool merge with the surface on which it is painting (More Info...).
  • Use Textures Checkbox - When this option is marked the paint tool will use the texture defined in the Texture Box in the Colors panel.
  • Negative Checkbox - When this option is marked the paint tool will use a brush that is the Negative of the current (selected) brush.
• Advanced card-index
  With the commands in this card-index it is possible to define a number of advanced characteristics of the tool.
  • Angle Slider - This command is used to set the angle of the paint tool which will be used.
  • Density Slider - This command is used to set the density of the color which will be used by the paint tool. The higher the value of the regulator is, the higher the density of the color will be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the lower the density of the color will be.
  • Feather Slider - The Feather's value defines how the edges of the object/selected area will look. The lower the value of the Feather is, the sharper will the edges of the object/selected area be. The higher the value of the Feather is, the smoother and "softer" will the edges of the object/selected area be (will cause the edges to gradually integrate with the background).When the Feather's value is greater than 0 (i.e. when there is Feather), it is possible to select one of two types of Feather: Round edges or Sharp edges. The selection of the Feather type is done with the radio dial or the Sharp button (depending on which tool you are using), located near the Feather Box.
  • Flip H, Flip V Checkboxes - Marking these boxes will cause a horizontal and/or vertical flip, accordingly, to the brush being used.
  • Outline Checkbox - Marking this box will cause the use of only the outlines of the brush, (without the filling).
  • Wet Edges Checkbox - Marking this box will cause an effect which resembles coloring with water paints.

Note: Gradient Cycle and Color Mode - These commands are irrelevant when working with the Clone Brush.

How to use the tool

The use of the tool is divided in two steps:

• The first step involves selecting the area on the picture which is most similar (and preferably the closest) to the area on which the imperfection is located. To do that, select the layer on which this area is located point on it with the mouse and click on it with the right button.
• The second step the repair itself. If the area you wish to repair is located on a different layer, select it first. In order to perform the repair, point on the area where the repair is needed with the mouse. Move the mouse on the area while holding down the left button to perform the repair.

Note: If the active layer is in invisible mode (Visibility Off) or covered with a mask, the painting over the layer will be performed, but will not be seen on the screen. In order to see the painting on the screen, you must convert the active layer to visible (Visibility On) or neutralize/cancel the mask operation.

The Refiner Tool is designed to perform a variety of accurate repair operations. With this tool you can perform dozens of accurate repair and editing operations (such as sharpening, blurring, emphasizing, etc), special effects and more. The use of the tool is very similar to the use of the brush only that here, instead of the painting operation, an editing operation will be performed according to what is selected.

CommonTools2('Refiner Tool ') In order to activate the tool, press the Refiner Tool button in the Tools Toolbar.

CommonTools1() The tool's properties

The tool's properties window contains a number of commands through which it is possible to control the tool's properties. To view the tool's properties window press F2.

• Type card-index
  Using the commands in this card-index, it is possible to define the tool's characteristics.
  • Width Slider - This command is used to set the width of the brush. The higher the value of the regulator is, the wider will the brush be; the lower the value of the regulator is, the thinner will the brush be.
  • Height Slider - This command is used to set the height of the brush. The higher the value of the regulator is, the taller will the brush be; the lower the value of the regulator is , the shorter will the brush be.
  • Intensity Slider - The Intensity defines the intensity level of the refiner tool.
  • Intervals Slider - This command is used to set the painting intervals during the act of painting. The command is not available when working in Auto Intervals mode (when the Auto Intervals Checkbox is marked). The higher the value of the regulator is, the longer will the intervals be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the shorter will the intervals be (a more condensed painting).
  • Auto Intervals Checkbox - Marking this box (default) shifts the brush to a paint mode where the painting intervals are set automatically according to the way (velocity) you move the mouse on the screen.
  • Shape Dropdown Box - With this box it is possible to select the basic geometric shape of the brush on which the final brush will be based on.
  • Action Dropdown Box - With this box it is possible to select the editing operation that will be performed out of wide variety of operations (such as sharpening, blurring, illumination, darkening, color spreading, special effects and many more operations).
  • Smooth (Antialias) - Marking this box will create a object/ selection area with smooth edges (which will blend smoother with the surrounding background). The smoothing is created by adding semi-transparent pixels to the edge area of the image and in so creating a smoother transition and integration between the object/selected area and the background.
• Colors card-index
  With the commands in this card-index it is possible to set the colors, gradients, patterns and the textures of the canvas' surface with which the paint tool will make use.
  • Blend Mode Dropdown Box - With this box it is possible to set the way in which the colors from the paint tool merge with the surface on which it is painting.
  • Use Textures Checkbox - When this option is marked the paint tool will use the texture defined in the Texture Box in the Colors panel.
  • Negative Checkbox - When this option is marked the paint tool will use a brush that is the Negative of the current (selected) brush.
• Advanced card-index
  With the commands in this card-index it is possible to define a number of advanced characteristics of the tool.
  • Angle Slider - This command is used to set the angle of the paint tool which will be used.
  • Density Slider - This command is used to set the density of the color which will be used by the paint tool. The higher the value of the regulator is, the higher the density of the color will be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the lower the density of the color will be.
  • Feather Slider - The Feather's value defines how the edges of the object/selected area will look. The lower the value of the Feather is, the sharper will the edges of the object/selected area be. The higher the value of the Feather is, the smoother and "softer" will the edges of the object/selected area be (will cause the edges to gradually integrate with the background).When the Feather's value is greater than 0 (i.e. when there is Feather), it is possible to select one of two types of Feather: Round edges or Sharp edges. The selection of the Feather type is done with the radio dial or the Sharp button (depending on which tool you are using), located near the Feather Box.
  • Flip H, Flip V Checkboxes - Marking these boxes will cause a horizontal and/or vertical flip, accordingly, to the brush being used.
  • Outline Checkbox - Marking this box will cause the use of only the outlines of the brush, (without the filling).
  • Wet Edges Checkbox - Marking this box will cause an effect which resembles coloring with water paints.

Note: Gradient Cycle and Color Mode - These commands are irrelevant when working with the Clone Brush.

How to use the tool

In order to perform the editing operation on the desired area on the picture, bring the mouse to the desired spot. In order to perform the operation, move the mouse in the desired direction while holding down the mouse's left or the right button. The operation is performed on the active layer.

Note: If the active layer is in invisible mode (Visibility Off) or covered with a mask, the painting over the layer will be performed, but will not be seen on the screen. In order to see the painting on the screen, you must convert the active layer to visible (Visibility On) or neutralize/cancel the mask operation.

Tutorial - Removing "Red Eye" from a picture using the Refiner tool