Brief Summary
This video provides a comprehensive guide to using the Healing Brush tool in Photoshop. It covers everything from basic functions and shortcuts to advanced options like aligned sampling, clone sources, flipping, scaling, and blend modes. The tutorial also explains how to use the sample layers option for non-destructive editing and how to ignore adjustment layers.
- The Healing Brush tool is used for seamlessly blending sampled pixels with the surrounding area.
- Understanding the various options and settings can significantly enhance your retouching and editing workflow.
- The video offers practical examples and demonstrations to illustrate each concept.
Welcome
The video introduces the Healing Brush tool in Photoshop, explaining that the tutorial will cover its functions and uses. The presenter welcomes viewers to the tutorial.
Shortcut & Location
The Healing Brush tool is located in the toolbar, and its shortcut is the "J" key. Initially, a stop sign may appear, indicating that a layer needs to be selected before the tool can be used.
Error / Stop Sign
The stop sign indicates that a layer must be selected before using the Healing Brush tool. Selecting an image layer allows the tool to function correctly, displaying the round healing brush icon.
Basic Function
The basic function of the Healing Brush involves sampling a part of an image and painting it over another area. To sample, hold the Alt key to get the crosshair cursor, then click on the area you want to sample. Painting then replaces the original pixels with the sampled texture, blending it seamlessly.
Brush Size & Sampling
The size of the brush affects the sampling area. A smaller brush samples a smaller spot, while a larger brush provides a preview of a bigger sampling area, even if a small spot was initially sampled. The brush size can be adjusted before and after sampling using the square bracket keys.
Aligned Option
When the "Aligned" option is unchecked, the Healing Brush starts with the original sample each time you click and drag. If you stop painting and start again, it reverts to the initial sampled area. With the "Aligned" option checked, the Healing Brush remembers the initial clicking point and continues painting from where you left off.
Different Documents
You can sample from one document and paint on another. Simply sample the desired area in one document, then switch to the other document and paint with the sampled pixels.
Clone Source
The Clone Source panel allows you to store up to five different samples. Each clone stamp can hold a different sampled area, enabling you to quickly switch between multiple sources for painting.
Five Clone Stamps
The Clone Source panel provides five clone stamps, each capable of storing a different sample. By selecting a clone stamp and sampling an area (using Alt + click), you can then paint with that specific sample. This allows you to easily switch between different sources without re-sampling each time.
Source Coordinates
The Clone Source panel displays the horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) coordinates of the sampled source. These coordinates indicate the position of the sample relative to the origin of the document.
Flip
The "Flip Horizontally" and "Flip Vertically" options in the Clone Source panel allow you to flip the sampled source before painting. Flipping horizontally mirrors the sample along the vertical axis, while flipping vertically mirrors it along the horizontal axis. You can use both options simultaneously to flip the sample both ways.
Width & Height
The "Width" and "Height" settings in the Clone Source panel control the scale of the sampled source. By default, the width and height are linked, so changing one value automatically adjusts the other to maintain the aspect ratio. Unlinking them allows you to scale the width and height independently, deforming the sample.
Source Angle
The "Source Angle" option rotates the sampled source. A value of 0 degrees means no rotation, while increasing the angle rotates the sample clockwise. This can be useful for aligning the sample with the area you are painting.
Combine Options
You can combine various options in the Clone Source panel, such as rotation and scaling, to achieve different effects. This allows for more complex and customized cloning operations.
Reset
The reset icon in the Clone Source panel reverts the width, height, and rotation values to their default settings. This is useful for quickly clearing any adjustments you've made.
Show Overlay Option
The "Show Overlay" option toggles the visibility of the sampled source within the Healing Brush cursor. When checked, you can continuously see the sample source as you move the brush. When unchecked, the sample source is hidden until you click to paint.
Opacity
The "Opacity" setting controls the transparency of the sample source preview. Lowering the opacity makes the preview semi-transparent, but the actual painted sample retains its full opacity.
Preview Blend Modes
The Healing Brush tool offers blend mode options for the preview of the sampled source. These blend modes (e.g., Difference, Lighten) affect only the preview, not the actual painted result.
Invert Option
The "Invert" option inverts the colours of the preview of the sampled source. This can be used in combination with the preview blend modes for different visual effects.
Clipped Option
When the "Clipped" option is checked, the preview of the sampled area is clipped to the circle of the brush. This means you only see the part of the sample that falls within the brush area. Unchecking "Clipped" displays the entire image, even outside the brush area, but only the brush area will be painted.
Auto-hide
With "Auto-hide" unchecked, the image preview remains visible as you click and drag. Checking "Auto-hide" makes the preview disappear while you hold the left mouse button, reappearing when you release it.
Blend Modes
The Healing Brush tool has built-in blend modes that affect how the sampled pixels blend with the underlying image. "Normal" is the default blend mode, blending the texture with the background. "Replace" paints an exact copy of the sample without adapting to the surroundings. "Color" takes the hue and saturation from the sample and the brightness from the target area. "Luminosity" takes the brightness from the sample and the hue and saturation from the target area.
Diffusion
Diffusion controls how well the sample mixes with the background, particularly along the rim of the brush. Low diffusion results in less mixing, while high diffusion blends the sample more seamlessly with the surrounding pixels.
Use legacy
Enabling "Legacy" applies a medium-strength diffusion. When "Legacy" is enabled, the diffusion option is disabled, and it doesn't work with the "Replace" blend mode.
Source
The "Source" option allows you to choose between "Sampled" and "Pattern". "Sampled" uses the standard method of Alt-clicking to select a sample. "Pattern" allows you to select from a collection of pre-defined patterns to use as the source.
Sample layers option
The "Sample Layers" option controls which layers are used as the source for sampling. "Current Layer" samples only from the currently selected layer. "Current & Below" samples from the current layer and any layers below it. "All Layers" samples from all visible layers in the document.
Ignore Adjustment layer
The "Ignore Adjustment Layer" option determines whether adjustment layers are included in the sampling process. When turned off, the sampled area includes the effects of any adjustment layers. When turned on, the sampled area only includes the original image data, ignoring the adjustment layers.
