Retouching: clone, heal, dodge, burn and more

The retouching tools paint changes onto the active pixel layer. Each stroke is one step in the history, so Undo takes back the last stroke. Size, hardness and the other options are in the options bar; [ and ] change the size. With a selection, only the selected area changes.

Clone Stamp (S)

Alt-click (Option-click on a Mac) where you want to copy from, then paint where the copy should go. A crosshair shows where the tool is copying from.

• Aligned (on by default) keeps the same distance between source and brush for every stroke. Turn it off to start from the original source point each time.
• Sample: All layers copies what you see. Use it on a new, empty layer to keep your retouching separate from the original photo.

Healing Brush (J)

Works like the Clone Stamp, but when you release the mouse the copied area takes on the colour and brightness of its new surroundings while keeping its texture. It is the quickest way to remove spots, dust and blemishes: Alt-click on clean skin or background nearby, then paint over the blemish.

Dodge, Burn and Sponge (O)

• Dodge lightens and Burn darkens. Range chooses whether shadows, midtones or highlights are affected most; Exposure sets the strength.
• Sponge increases or decreases colour saturation; Flow sets the strength.

Blur, Sharpen and Smudge (R)

• Blur softens details, Sharpen makes edges crisper.
• Smudge drags colour in the direction you paint, like a finger in wet paint.

Within one stroke the effect never goes beyond the strength you set; paint another stroke to build it up.

Limitations

• The tools work on pixel layers. To retouch a smart object, shape or text, rasterize it first (Layer → Rasterize Layer), or clone onto an empty layer with Sample: All layers.
• There is no Spot Healing Brush or content-aware fill yet.
• Retouching strokes are not recorded in actions.