Fixing the source point on the Clone/Healing brushes
Is there any way to fix the source point when using these brushes so that you can paint with a specific area? I've encountered problems many times when using these brushes because the point of origin moves into areas that actually destroy the work I'm trying to do as I'm painting. I know I could define a pattern and use the pattern option but it's so time consuming and fiddly when it would be so simple to just select a point or an area and anchor the source by pressing e.g. caps lock.
I know exactly what you mean, however what I want to do is pick out a particular area which has colour/pattern to paint with. If I try to replace an area by continually clicking it leaves a noticeable pattern of brush shapes. For example suppose you have a surface such as a sky or a pavement and you need to paint over a large area with it to get rid of an object. What I want to do is pick a specific area of that surface and paint with it. I know I could fool around for half an hour in the Create Pattern filter, after converting my image to 8 bit RGB, and maybe, after a couple of dozen resamples, get an acceptable result. It would be so much easier to 'fix' the sample point. I've tried setting the source inside and outside a selection but it still follows my brush and gives me undesireable results. i.e. it reproduces unwanted parts of the image.
Hi chawil,
Oh I understand what you mean, you want the source point for the healing and cloning tools to remain still while you paint into the area? If so, I think the only way of achieving that would be as you described. Define a pattern and use that. I can't think of any other obvious solution as the tools aren't set up to work that way by default. Interesting question though, I'll have anotoanotherk and if I find anything I'll let you know.
Matt
Hmm, is this a technical term or an undocumented feature of the Photoshop's Help system? ;-}
Haha sometimes I get so technical not even I know what I'm talking about!!
Hi chawil,
Sorry for the slow reply.
I think you may be looking for the aligned option that can be found in the options bar when you have the clone tool active. This allows you to start cloning from the originally set source point each time you reclick the mouse.
Hope that helps