Smudge or Push in PSP 2018

[Jean-Luc]

Does anyone know the difference between those two tools ?

I was playing with Smudge and behaviour changes if right or left-click is used. It is normal and reacts as expected.
Playing with Push, left and right-click is available too and seems to react the same as the Smudge tool.

What I'm missing ?

[LeviFiction]

Yes, Smudge continuously samples the image as you drag the brush around creating a "smudging" effect. You must have opacity set lower than 100% for this. Push only does the initial sample copying that sample the whole way. It's kind of like using Smudge with 100% opacity. The right-click turns Smudge into Push and Push into Smudge.

[Jean-Luc]

Yes, Smudge continuously samples the image as you drag the brush around creating a "smudging" effect. You must have opacity set lower than 100% for this. Push only does the initial sample copying that sample the whole way. It's kind of like using Smudge with 100% opacity. The right-click turns Smudge into Push and Push into Smudge.

Yes... I have seen your video about it. ;>)
For me, Push could be removed.
What do you think ?

[LeviFiction]

I don't know. I mean, push, if used creatively, could have its benefits over smudge for certain things. Maybe clever mixes with brush variance. Unsure. It does seem at its surface to be unnecessary. But they could most definitely combine Push and Smudge together. Simply use a checkbox to switch which one uses the left mouse button.

If no one complains that push is suddenly missing and how terrible that is, then yeah get rid of it.

[JoeB]

If they get rid of one of those brushes then they had better rename the remaining one the Smudge/Push brush so that people know it serves two purposes, perhaps with a tooltip explaining the button that activates whichever tool.

[Jean-Luc]

I don't know. I mean, push, if used creatively, could have its benefits over smudge for certain things.

Yes, I know. But, in the same tool (Smudge) we have the Smudge AND the Push (activated by left or right-click). So, I don't understand why to have the same tool with another name...
We don't have a tool labelled Erase AND another Unerase. There is only one tool which have the two behaviours...

[hartpaul]

Likewise Dodge/Burn and Sharpen / Soften ? Help to reduce the clutter a bit.

[JoeB]

I think that one problem with combining the brushes that have been discussed here is the issue of ease of use. Each of them usually requires some finesse and some fine motor control when applying the brush. Most people are used to doing the work using the default click button with their index finger. To use the opposite button requires either clicking it with a different finger (generally the ring finger if the middle finger is used for the scroll wheel), depending on the individual preference) or shifting their hand on the mouse to click that button with the index finger. Neither will feel quite as comfortable for fine work and consequently likely not as accurate. However, that may just be a personal thing and not an issue with many or most. And reducing clutter is always a good thing.

[Jean-Luc]

To use the opposite button requires either clicking it with a different finger (generally the ring finger if the middle finger is used for the scroll wheel), depending on the individual preference) or shifting their hand on the mouse to click that button with the index finger. Neither will feel quite as comfortable for fine work and consequently likely not as accurate.

Good observation.
Some tools (Lighten/Darken, Saturation, Hue) react on left/right-click AND have a "Swap mouse buttons".
Other tools (Smudge,...) could benefit from the same system (both left/right-click and swapping mouse buttons).