Clone Tool special effects

This is a special effects tutorial which is very easy to do. I will be using a Gradient. I will also use the Clone Stamp Tool.

Step 1 : I have opened this photo in photoshop. You can choose the image you want.

Step 2 : Open a new white layer.

Step 3 : Click on the Add New Layer radio button and a new Layer1 forms.

Step 4 : Click the Clone Stamp Tool. To make the brush size large press ] (right bracket key) and to make it small [ (left bracket key). To make the brush soft press SHIFT+[.

Step 5 : Alt+Click with the Clone Stamp Tool after making the brush size large to include the face. Also make it soft. This is a soft brush. Press SHIFT+[ a number of times to soften the tip.

Step 6 : Now click with the Clone Stamp on the blank white document. This is the result I got.

Step 7 : Press CTRL+SHIFT+U. This will desaturate layer1 on which this image is.
Step 8 : Click the Add New Layer button and Layer 2 forms.
Step 9 : Click the Gradient Tool.
Step 10 : Click where the white arrow points to to bring up the Gradient Editor.

Step 11 : The Gradient Editor opens.

Step 12 : These are the Gradient presets available in PS. You can choose any of them i.e. the ones in color. I have chosen the one the small white hand points to.

Step 13 : In the top panel change the Mode from the dropdown to Difference

Step 14 : Drag with the Gradient in any direction in the image. I have dragged diagonally down.

Step 15 : This is how the image looks.

Step 16 : Lower the opacity of the layer. I have lowered it to 50%.

Step 17 : This is how the image looks.
Step 18 : Now continue dragging with the Gradient Tool in all directions and the sides of the image. You will find the gradient will change till you have a very beautiful effect. You will get an effect depending on the Gradient you choose.
Step 19 : Ctrl+Click the layer thumbnail in Layer 1.

Step 20 : CTRL+clicking will make a selection to appear on your image.

Step 21 : Click the Add Layer Mask radio button and a layer mask form next to the layer thumbnail on Layer 1.

This is the finished image. You can clone any number of images and then follow the same steps.

Step 22 : You can lower the opacity of Layer 2 further if you want. I have lowered it to 20%.
This is how the image looks like.
Step 23 : Go to Layer>Flatten Image.
Step 24 : Press CTRL+L.This brings up the Levels dialgoue box. I have dragged the Black slider at the left to the edge of the graph. Click ok.
This is how the image looks.

Step 25 : I have clicked on the New Layer icon and a new layer 1 has formed.

Step 26 : I have zoomed in on the lips.
Step 27 : I have clicked on the Swatches.
Step 28 : I have clicked on a color. Note that the cursor changes to an eye dropper.
Step 29 : Click on the Brush Tool.

Step 30 : I have painted over the lips with the color I chose. I know it looks horrible.
Step 31 : I have reduced the opacity of the layer to 25%.

And here is the finished image.

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Curves Tool - How to use it

Tones and Contrast are important in a photo. Here the Curves Tool comes into play. The Curves Tool affects the Highlights, Midtones and Shadows. Let me first open a photo. Step 1 : I have opened this photo. I had taken this my mobile phone. You can see the result.

Step 2 : Press CTRL+M to bring up the Curves Tool. Or you can access it from the top panel.

Go to Image>Adjustments>Curves to access it.

Step 3 : If you hover your cursor on a part of the image it turns into an eye dropper.

Step 4 : The area bounded by the red arrows affects the Light in the image. The area bounded by the blue arrow the Shadows.

Step 5 : Look at the Black and White sliders at the bottom of the graph.

Step 6 : Drag the Black slider to the right.

The image turns dark.

Step 7 : Now instead of the Black slider drag the White slider to the left.

The image brightens.

Step 8 : I am clicking on the girl's face.

A tiny circle is visible on the diagonal line in the middle. It disappears when you move the cursor.

Step 9 : Place the cursor where the small circle appeared.

Step 10 : Now use the Up arrow key to move the curve up step by step.

Look how the image has changed.

Step 11 : If you want to darken the image place the cursor on the diagonal at the top and use the Down arrow key step by step to darken the image.

The shadows have deepened. Try out curves for correcting images. But remember the curve you make in the graph should always be gentle and like an 'S'. If you make abrupt changes it will create strange effects in your image.

Step 12 : You can also use the Curves to affect the Red, Green and Blue channels. By default it is set at RGB.

I have made subtle changes in the Blue, Red and Green channels.

If you swith back to the RGB channel te graph looks like this. (Note this is not visible in PS7).

This is ultimately how my photo looks like. Try it out for yourselves.

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Clone Stamp Tool In Photoshop CS

You can do a trick with the Clone Stamp Tool in Photoshop CS series. I will show you how. You can copy part of an an image with the Clone Stamp Tool.

Step 1 : I have opened this photo in Photoshop.

Step 2 : I am opening a new white document in the Default Photoshop Size.

Step 3 : Click on the Clone Stamp Tool.
Step 4 : Go to Windows in the top panel and click on Clone Source.

Step 5 : The Clone Source dialogue box opens. Click the first Clone Stamp Tool icon on the top. There ar five. Then click the small arrow to make the dialogue box go away.

Step 6 : Click where the arrow points to to reveal the Brush Size dialogue box. It is set at 500 pixel. You can decrease it if you want to. I will leave it at that.

Step 7 : Now ALT+Click a point on the image.

Step 8 : Click the New White Layer to select it.

Step 9 : Click the New Layer icon in the Layers pallete and a new Layer 1 forms.

Step 10 : Now click on the White layer. And there you are. The image has been cloned to the new White Layer.

Step 11 : I have clicked a number of times with the cursor in different parts of the White Layer to get this effect. Try it out. That is all.

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