Even out color after cloning

[okyou]

Hello,

I tried to clone a finger mark into the surrounding blue sky but I cannot smooth out the slight different in the sky color. Do anyone has a better idea how to do this ? Attached Pic1 is the original and Pic2 is the one after cloning.

Thanks for your help

[LeviFiction]

You could use the magic-fill. Make a selection around the finger with a small feather on it. Then, with the selection tool still active, click on the "magic fill" button on the tool options palette.

That might work, of course it might also try an pull in the statue as well.

Another option would be the Object Remover tool. This uses a selection to select the area you want to fill, and the a rectangle that limits the sampled area. Just place the rectangle top to bottom on the right-side of the statue, make it thin.

Another option, if you want to stick with the clone tool is to set the sample point on the right side of the statue. Then try to get as close to the same height as the sample point, an start cloning from there. That way the gradual color change from light to darker blue is maintained as you clone. You'll be limited to a small area until you've removed most of the finger slowly.

[hartpaul]

I tried a number of ways to remove the finger.
Magic Fill does not quite get it. Cloning is pretty hopeless.

The main problem is that the sky is a gradient darker at the top and lighter lower down so you have to match that.

One way I was able to get a reasonable result was to make rectangular selection as close to the finger as possible without including finger artifacts.

Then promote that selection to a layer , Edit > Copy and paste as new layer a number of times (or duplicate that layer enough times to cover the finger)

Use the move tool to move the copies over to cover the finger .

Repeat with sections lower down to cover the lower sections of the finger.
Lastly there may still be some bits where the color does not quite match so use the Blemish fixer tool (Makeover tool) to correct those. The blemish fixer repplaces what is in the middle of the circle with a blende of the sections on the outer circle.

[hartpaul]

This was one of the results I was able to get:

[photodrawken]

Do anyone has a better idea how to do this ?

Yes. With such a simple background, the fastest way to do this is to use the automatic selection tool to select the statue. Use that selection to create a layer mask that hides the original background. Add a gradient layer (linear gradient from top center to bottom center) beneath the original image and use the colour picker to get the dark and light colours of the original image background and set those colours on your gradient:

You get an absolutely smooth result with the absolute minimum of effort, and the gradient can be quickly tweaked to your heart's content:

[leahcimi]

Magic Fill is based on an earlier version of InPaint which does not allow you to select donor areas for your fill; the current version does so you might want to look at that.

[okyou]

Thank you for all your suggestions. Photodrawken, I like your idea. But I am a little confused. Can you explain further detail how to do it ?
Really appreciated for your assistance.
Thanks

[JoeB]

I second okyou's request for more info. In my case, I find that the Automatic Selection tool doesn't work well because dragging a rectangle that encompasses the complete statue tends to also include the blue between the horse's legs at the bottom. I did find that the Smart Selection tool worked quite well though.

Also, I can't find anything (in the menus or help file) that indicates that there is any such thing as a Gradient Layer. Do you mean to simply add a new layer under the horse and create a gradient on it?

[photodrawken]

Thank you for all your suggestions. Photodrawken, I like your idea. But I am a little confused. Can you explain further detail how to do it ?

Sorry that I can't be more specific about doing this in PSP, because I stopped using it a few years ago.

However, the concept uses features that are common to just about all image editors, so PSP users should be able to interpret the details for you.

In general,

• You want to have the horse on its own layer. You do this by first making a selection (marquee) around the horse. Because the background is mostly uniform, an automatic selection tool will work well, and quickly. Whether you then use that selection marquee to create a layer mask to isolate the horse, or you copy the horse onto its own layer doesn't make any difference.
• Create a layer beneath the horse, and fill that lower layer with your gradient.

[photodrawken]

In my case, I find that the Automatic Selection tool doesn't work well because dragging a rectangle that encompasses the complete statue tends to also include the blue between the horse's legs at the bottom. I did find that the Smart Selection tool worked quite well though.

OK, the Smart Selection tool it is, then. (I forgot the PSP tools and terminology.) The point is that since the background is very uniform, some sort of automatic selection tool should make quick work of isolating the horse.

Also, I can't find anything (in the menus or help file) that indicates that there is any such thing as a Gradient Layer. Do you mean to simply add a new layer under the horse and create a gradient on it?

Yes, that's what I meant. Sorry about speaking in "shorthand".... As long as you've got a layer with the gradient beneath the isolated horse, you're good to go.

[JoeB]

That extra detail is helpful, particularly specifically noting that you were speaking of image programs in general and not about PSP in particular. With PSP having several auto or semi-auto selection tools, one of which is actually called Automatic Selection, in this case terminology was kind of important. And given the various Adjustment layers also available in PSP I went looking for a Gradient Layer, to no avail of course. The devil, as they say, is in the details. Thanks for the clarifications.

[okyou]

I got it. Thanks a lot..