Clone Stamp annoyance

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

I have PS Elements 2 and have been experimenting with the clone stamp.
When I am removing blemishes or stroking the image to remove a larger area

a

cross appears as well as the circle.
I have noticed that if I move the circle over an area then the replaced image is actually what appears at the cross and not what I had previously selected using the Alt key..

How can I stop it doing this? I want to be able to brush over an area and replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.

The cross always moves along with your cursor from the place you Alt clicked. If you want to clone only from a specific area, you’ll have to re-Alt click there.

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

I have PS Elements 2 and have been experimenting with the clone stamp.
When I am removing blemishes or stroking the image to remove a larger area a cross appears as well as the circle.
I have noticed that if I move the circle over an area then the replaced image is actually what appears at the cross and not what I had previously selected using the Alt key..

How can I stop it doing this? I want to be able to brush over an area and replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.

I don’t have Elements but in PS there is a check box on the tool bar that says Aligned. Uncheck this and the cross will stay on the same place unless you drag the clone tool, even then it will return to the original selection. —
"Your money does not cause my poverty. Refusal to believe this is at the bottom of most bad economic thinking." –P. J. O’Rourke http://www.bobhatch.com

Hi Peter

I use Photoshop CS which has the same Clone Stamp Tool

I believe the information you want is as follows:-

3.. Next, determine how you want to align the sampled pixels. Select Aligned in the options bar to sample pixels continuously, without losing the current sampling point, even if you release the mouse button. Deselect Aligned to continue to use the sampled pixels from the initial sampling point each time you stop and resume painting.
This is an extract from the Photoshop help file. The selection point is in the options bar at the top of the screen.

All it means is that if you de-select aligned. It will give you what you want i.e.
( I want to be able to brush over an area and

replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.)

If you select aligned the area replaced will be that under the cros at the time the mouse button is depressed.

Hope this helps

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

I have PS Elements 2 and have been experimenting with the clone stamp.
When I am removing blemishes or stroking the image to remove a larger area

a

cross appears as well as the circle.
I have noticed that if I move the circle over an area then the replaced image is actually what appears at the cross and not what I had previously selected using the Alt key..

How can I stop it doing this? I want to be able to brush over an area and replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.

regards

PeterH

PeterH wrote:

I have PS Elements 2 and have been experimenting with the clone stamp.
When I am removing blemishes or stroking the image to remove a larger area a cross appears as well as the circle.
I have noticed that if I move the circle over an area then the replaced image is actually what appears at the cross and not what I had previously selected using the Alt key..

How can I stop it doing this? I want to be able to brush over an area and replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.

regards

PeterH

I had this before and I think (my two cents) that it’s just a graphic bug it’s never been drawn on the prints and disapeared whan I closed the document.
I’ve never searched really what it could have been
come and leave randomly
If I understand what you mean of course….

—
+++++++++++
Houba houba.
Marsu.
"ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba"
The Troggs "I can’t control myself"
++++++++++

On Sat, 3 Jul 2004 22:14:39 +0200, "Marsupilami" scribbled:

PeterH wrote:

I have PS Elements 2 and have been experimenting with the clone stamp.
When I am removing blemishes or stroking the image to remove a larger area a cross appears as well as the circle.
I have noticed that if I move the circle over an area then the replaced image is actually what appears at the cross and not what I had previously selected using the Alt key..

How can I stop it doing this? I want to be able to brush over an area and replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.

regards

PeterH

I had this before and I think (my two cents) that it’s just a graphic bug it’s never been drawn on the prints and disapeared whan I closed the document.
I’ve never searched really what it could have been
come and leave randomly
If I understand what you mean of course….

You’re really have to work to more misunderstand what you’ve just read.

You’re really have to work to more misunderstand what you’ve just read.

I’d be so glad to understand English as I understand my French. Sorry to all of you..

—
+++++++++++
Houba houba.
Marsu.
"ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba"
The Troggs "I can’t control myself"
++++++++++

Thanks for your answers however it would be good to be able to turn the cross off so that the cloning is only whatever was selected with Alt. Particularly when brushing over areas with the left mouse key on. It is fine when just left clicking each time, but when moving the mouse over a larger area (with the left button on) it keeps cloning whatever the cross moves over – whether the ‘aligned’ box is on or off.
I really just want to get rid of the cross.
regards
PeterH

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

I have PS Elements 2 and have been experimenting with the clone stamp.
When I am removing blemishes or stroking the image to remove a larger area

a

cross appears as well as the circle.
I have noticed that if I move the circle over an area then the replaced image is actually what appears at the cross and not what I had previously selected using the Alt key..

How can I stop it doing this? I want to be able to brush over an area and replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.

regards

PeterH

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

Thanks for your answers however it would be good to be able to turn the cross off so that the cloning is only whatever was selected with Alt. Particularly when brushing over areas with the left mouse key on. It is fine when just left clicking each time, but when moving the mouse over a larger area (with the left button on) it keeps cloning whatever the cross moves over – whether the ‘aligned’ box is on or off.
I really just want to get rid of the cross.
regards
PeterH

Can’t be done.

I don’t know if Elements has a pattern stamp or not but you may need something like that.

—
"Your money does not cause my poverty. Refusal to believe this is at the bottom of most bad economic thinking." –P. J. O’Rourke http://www.bobhatch.com

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 23:29:55 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

Thanks for your answers however it would be good to be able to turn the cross off so that the cloning is only whatever was selected with Alt. Particularly when brushing over areas with the left mouse key on. It is fine when just left clicking each time, but when moving the mouse over a larger area (with the left button on) it keeps cloning whatever the cross moves over – whether the ‘aligned’ box is on or off.
I really just want to get rid of the cross.

Define a brush then. You’re asking the clone tool to NOT work as intended.

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

I have PS Elements 2 and have been experimenting with the clone stamp.
When I am removing blemishes or stroking the image to remove a larger area

a

cross appears as well as the circle.
I have noticed that if I move the circle over an area then the replaced image is actually what appears at the cross and not what I had previously selected using the Alt key..

How can I stop it doing this? I want to be able to brush over an area and replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.

regards

PeterH

PeterH wrote:

Thanks for your answers however it would be good to be able to turn the cross off so that the cloning is only whatever was selected with Alt. Particularly when brushing over areas with the left mouse key on. It is fine when just left clicking each time, but when moving the mouse over a larger area (with the left button on) it keeps cloning whatever the cross moves over – whether the ‘aligned’ box is on or off.
I really just want to get rid of the cross.
regards
PeterH

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

I have PS Elements 2 and have been experimenting with the clone stamp.
When I am removing blemishes or stroking the image to remove a larger area

a

cross appears as well as the circle.
I have noticed that if I move the circle over an area then the replaced image is actually what appears at the cross and not what I had previously selected using the Alt key..

How can I stop it doing this? I want to be able to brush over an area and replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.

regards

PeterH

I don’t think you can actually remove the cross.
The Cross always shows where you are actually cloning FROM. If you want to always clone from a certain spot, uncheck the aligned box and do not DRAG the mouse over the area to be repaired.
Just "move and click" the mouse. Each time you click, you will copy the exact spot that you chose when you Alt-Clicked your chosen area Bob Williams

By ‘brush’ I mean click and drag the mouse/cursor to ‘paint’ the cloened image over a large area rather than just click each point over that same area.
What is the benefit of the cross anyway? What useful purpose does it serve when cloning?
PeterH

"Voivod" wrote in message

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 23:29:55 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

Thanks for your answers however it would be good to be able to turn the cross off so that the cloning is only whatever was selected with Alt. Particularly when brushing over areas with the left mouse key on. It is

fine

when just left clicking each time, but when moving the mouse over a

larger

area (with the left button on) it keeps cloning whatever the cross moves over – whether the ‘aligned’ box is on or off.
I really just want to get rid of the cross.

Define a brush then. You’re asking the clone tool to NOT work as intended.

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

I have PS Elements 2 and have been experimenting with the clone stamp.
When I am removing blemishes or stroking the image to remove a larger

area

a

cross appears as well as the circle.
I have noticed that if I move the circle over an area then the replaced image is actually what appears at the cross and not what I had

previously

selected using the Alt key..

How can I stop it doing this? I want to be able to brush over an area

and

replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.

regards

PeterH

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

By ‘brush’ I mean click and drag the mouse/cursor to ‘paint’ the cloened image over a large area rather than just click each point over that same area.
What is the benefit of the cross anyway? What useful purpose does it serve when cloning?
PeterH

It shows the place your cloning from. I thinks that’s rather useful, because otherwise you’d be cloning in the blind.

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 10:29:49 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

By ‘brush’ I mean click and drag the mouse/cursor to ‘paint’ the cloened image over a large area rather than just click each point over that same area.
What is the benefit of the cross anyway? What useful purpose does it serve when cloning?

It shows you where you’re cloning FROM. If you don’t move the point from which you’re cloning you’re going to develop a very noticible pattern. If you just want to paint with the same piece over and over, select the are and copy and paste it, or, as I said, define a brush. The clone tool wasn’t designed to do what you want to do.

"Voivod" wrote in message

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 23:29:55 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

Thanks for your answers however it would be good to be able to turn the cross off so that the cloning is only whatever was selected with Alt. Particularly when brushing over areas with the left mouse key on. It is

fine

when just left clicking each time, but when moving the mouse over a

larger

area (with the left button on) it keeps cloning whatever the cross moves over – whether the ‘aligned’ box is on or off.
I really just want to get rid of the cross.

Define a brush then. You’re asking the clone tool to NOT work as intended.

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

I have PS Elements 2 and have been experimenting with the clone stamp.
When I am removing blemishes or stroking the image to remove a larger

area

a

cross appears as well as the circle.
I have noticed that if I move the circle over an area then the replaced image is actually what appears at the cross and not what I had

previously

selected using the Alt key..

How can I stop it doing this? I want to be able to brush over an area

and

replace it with the selected area (Alt-click) and not the area that the cross goes over.

regards

PeterH

"Voivod" wrote in message

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 10:29:49 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

By ‘brush’ I mean click and drag the mouse/cursor to ‘paint’ the cloened image over a large area rather than just click each point over that same area.
What is the benefit of the cross anyway? What useful purpose does it

serve

when cloning?

It shows you where you’re cloning FROM. If you don’t move the point from which you’re cloning you’re going to develop a very noticible pattern. If you just want to paint with the same piece over and over, select the are and copy and paste it, or, as I said, define a brush. The clone tool wasn’t designed to do what you want to do.

We can tell him over and over again, but Peter just wants to clone without the cross. Maybe he drives his car without a steering wheel?

Yes, I agree. I don’t think the clone stamp is the tool I want to use.

When I get into a car I know where I want to go and how to get there I don’t expect the car to tell me different as I drive off.

I just imagined that when you select the area with the Alt key then most people would be well aware of what they selected eg if I want to remove a flag pole and replace it with the blue sky I Alt select the blue sky and then clone over the flag pole. I don’t expect the cross to be telling me that I don’t really want the Alt selection (ie blue sky) but instead something that it happens to cross over eg a tree near the flagpole.

I am still unsure as to why why you would want the cross to be telling you what you want to clone, especially after you’ve already told it by Alt select exactly what you want to use.

I am sure trial and error and use of other PS tools will eventually get me the tool I am really after. I was just keen to find out what benefit the cross really is when cloning.

Thanks for all your replies and patience. I’m sure as I use PS a lot more the answer to my original question will sudenly become more clear to me as it obviously is to you.

PeterH

"V1nc3nt" wrote in message

"Voivod" wrote in message

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 10:29:49 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

By ‘brush’ I mean click and drag the mouse/cursor to ‘paint’ the

cloened

image over a large area rather than just click each point over that

same

area.
What is the benefit of the cross anyway? What useful purpose does it

serve

when cloning?

It shows you where you’re cloning FROM. If you don’t move the point from which you’re cloning you’re going to develop a very noticible pattern. If you just want to paint with the same piece over and over, select the are and copy and paste it, or, as I said, define a brush. The clone tool wasn’t designed to do what you want to do.

We can tell him over and over again, but Peter just wants to clone without the cross. Maybe he drives his car without a steering wheel?

On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 23:31:03 +0200, "V1nc3nt"
scribbled:

"Voivod" wrote in message

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 10:29:49 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

By ‘brush’ I mean click and drag the mouse/cursor to ‘paint’ the cloened image over a large area rather than just click each point over that same area.
What is the benefit of the cross anyway? What useful purpose does it

serve

when cloning?

It shows you where you’re cloning FROM. If you don’t move the point from which you’re cloning you’re going to develop a very noticible pattern. If you just want to paint with the same piece over and over, select the are and copy and paste it, or, as I said, define a brush. The clone tool wasn’t designed to do what you want to do.

We can tell him over and over again, but Peter just wants to clone without the cross. Maybe he drives his car without a steering wheel?

A couple pair of really good vice-grips and you can do that….

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

Yes, I agree. I don’t think the clone stamp is the tool I want to use.
I am sure trial and error and use of other PS tools will eventually get me the tool I am really after. I was just keen to find out what benefit the cross really is when cloning.

Several suggestions were already given. Pick one (or two). Good luck.

"Voivod" wrote in message

On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 23:31:03 +0200, "V1nc3nt"
scribbled:

"Voivod" wrote in message

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 10:29:49 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

By ‘brush’ I mean click and drag the mouse/cursor to ‘paint’ the

cloened

image over a large area rather than just click each point over that

same

area.
What is the benefit of the cross anyway? What useful purpose does it

serve

when cloning?

It shows you where you’re cloning FROM. If you don’t move the point

from

which you’re cloning you’re going to develop a very noticible pattern. If you just want to paint with the same piece over and over, select the are and copy and paste it, or, as I said, define a brush. The clone

tool

wasn’t designed to do what you want to do.

We can tell him over and over again, but Peter just wants to clone

without

the cross. Maybe he drives his car without a steering wheel?

A couple pair of really good vice-grips and you can do that….

A couple pair??? That’s 4, right?

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 23:39:16 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

Yes, I agree. I don’t think the clone stamp is the tool I want to use.
When I get into a car I know where I want to go and how to get there I don’t expect the car to tell me different as I drive off.

I just imagined that when you select the area with the Alt key then most

You’re not selecting an area you’re setting the distance and angle for the clone tool.

people would be well aware of what they selected eg if I want to remove a flag pole and replace it with the blue sky I Alt select the blue sky and then clone over the flag pole. I don’t expect the cross to be telling me that I don’t really want the Alt selection (ie blue sky) but instead something that it happens to cross over eg a tree near the flagpole.

The cross is telling you where you’re cloning FROM. We’ve covered this several times now.

I am still unsure as to why why you would want the cross to be telling you what you want to clone, especially after you’ve already told it by Alt select exactly what you want to use.

No, you told it to "clone from this point to this point". When you move one of the points, the brush, the other follows. And, as also previously pointed out, if you DO paint with the same point of origin over and over you’re going to develop an easily identified pattern.

I am sure trial and error and use of other PS tools will eventually get me the tool I am really after. I was just keen to find out what benefit the

Or you could pay attention to the alternative suggestions already made.

cross really is when cloning.

Hasn’t the use of the ‘cross’ been covered enough for you already?

Thanks for all your replies and patience. I’m sure as I use PS a lot more the answer to my original question will sudenly become more clear to me as it obviously is to you.

PeterH

"V1nc3nt" wrote in message

"Voivod" wrote in message

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 10:29:49 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

By ‘brush’ I mean click and drag the mouse/cursor to ‘paint’ the

cloened

image over a large area rather than just click each point over that

same

area.
What is the benefit of the cross anyway? What useful purpose does it

serve

when cloning?

It shows you where you’re cloning FROM. If you don’t move the point from which you’re cloning you’re going to develop a very noticible pattern. If you just want to paint with the same piece over and over, select the are and copy and paste it, or, as I said, define a brush. The clone tool wasn’t designed to do what you want to do.

We can tell him over and over again, but Peter just wants to clone without the cross. Maybe he drives his car without a steering wheel?

One more try before you give up on a wondrous tool, Peter!

First, to use the Clone Stamp as you want, when you first click on the clone tool, look at the Options Bar across the top of your screen. Uncheck the Align window. Now, the sample material will remain constant as long as you make successive clicks and do not drag the clone stamp.That’s the action you want. But that is very limiting!

Where the Align is powerful is precisely in inserting new samples as you drag along a track. The cross you speak of will maintain the same relationship to your cursor as you drag it as it had when you first clicked for the click and drag. Constant distance and constant bearing. The sample material is smoothly updated from the position of the cross. And that can be a powerful feature!

Consider a telephone line running across a clouded sky, where the background goes from a blue, then in and out of clouds.
Now check the Align box and click for a sample immediately above the line. Start your click-and-drag on the telephone line immediately below the sampled spot. As you drag the clone stamp along the line, the sample will be continuously updated to what is immediately and instantaneously above the current cursor position so the new material will track the ins-and-outs of the blue and white immediately above the line. That cross you speak of is moving along with your cursor, marking where the current sample is coming from.

Or, try a telephone pole against a clear, blue sky which gradually gets lighter as it approaches the horizon.
With the Align box checked, select your sample at the top of the pole and immediately beside it. Start your click and drag immediately to the right of your sample and drag down the pole. The replacement material will conform to the gradual lightening of the sky as you approach the ground AND as you cross to the ground, the replacement material will become the ground material immediately beside the pole.

These are trivial examples but, as you become more comfortable with the Align function, you will become very adept at cloning irregular materials while keeping a wary eye on the cross to make sure it is not entering forbidden territory.

Good luck! . . . . patrick

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

Yes, I agree. I don’t think the clone stamp is the tool I want to use.
PeterH

On Mon, 5 Jul 2004 01:55:17 +0200, "V1nc3nt"
scribbled:

"Voivod" wrote in message

On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 23:31:03 +0200, "V1nc3nt"
scribbled:

"Voivod" wrote in message

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 10:29:49 GMT, "PeterH" <reply to

scribbled:

By ‘brush’ I mean click and drag the mouse/cursor to ‘paint’ the

cloened

image over a large area rather than just click each point over that

same

area.
What is the benefit of the cross anyway? What useful purpose does it

serve

when cloning?

It shows you where you’re cloning FROM. If you don’t move the point

from

which you’re cloning you’re going to develop a very noticible pattern. If you just want to paint with the same piece over and over, select the are and copy and paste it, or, as I said, define a brush. The clone

tool

wasn’t designed to do what you want to do.

We can tell him over and over again, but Peter just wants to clone

without

the cross. Maybe he drives his car without a steering wheel?

A couple pair of really good vice-grips and you can do that….

A couple pair??? That’s 4, right?

No, a pair in this case is singular, pair of vice grips, pair of pliers, pair of scissors etc. It refers to the dual nature of the handle. You don’t say "Hand me the scissor." do you? No, you say "Hand me the scissors." a plurality yet you’re only really getting one object.

Thanks Patrick – very good explannation

Thanks again to all the other explannations – I know I’m not alone in wanting a clear explannation as I searched Google Groups and there are others out there confused by the persistence of the cross.

All the replies to my post are a lot better though – I agree it ceratinly looks like a great tool.

I will now go forth and use what you’ve all told me

regards

PeterH

"patrick" wrote in message

One more try before you give up on a wondrous tool, Peter!
First, to use the Clone Stamp as you want, when you first click on the

clone

tool, look at the Options Bar across the top of your screen. Uncheck the Align window. Now, the sample material will remain constant as long as you make successive clicks and do not drag the clone stamp.That’s the action

you

want. But that is very limiting!

Where the Align is powerful is precisely in inserting new samples as you drag along a track. The cross you speak of will maintain the same relationship to your cursor as you drag it as it had when you first

clicked

for the click and drag. Constant distance and constant bearing. The sample material is smoothly updated from the position of the cross. And that can

be

a powerful feature!

Consider a telephone line running across a clouded sky, where the

background

goes from a blue, then in and out of clouds.
Now check the Align box and click for a sample immediately above the line. Start your click-and-drag on the telephone line immediately below the sampled spot. As you drag the clone stamp along the line, the sample will

be

continuously updated to what is immediately and instantaneously above the current cursor position so the new material will track the ins-and-outs of the blue and white immediately above the line. That cross you speak of is moving along with your cursor, marking where the current sample is coming from.

Or, try a telephone pole against a clear, blue sky which gradually gets lighter as it approaches the horizon.
With the Align box checked, select your sample at the top of the pole and immediately beside it. Start your click and drag immediately to the right

of

your sample and drag down the pole. The replacement material will conform

to

the gradual lightening of the sky as you approach the ground AND as you cross to the ground, the replacement material will become the ground material immediately beside the pole.

These are trivial examples but, as you become more comfortable with the Align function, you will become very adept at cloning irregular materials while keeping a wary eye on the cross to make sure it is not entering forbidden territory.

Good luck! . . . . patrick

"PeterH" <reply to > wrote in message

Yes, I agree. I don’t think the clone stamp is the tool I want to use.
PeterH

Actually, the proper singular use of the word "scissors" is "Hand me the Scissors", or "can you get me a scissors" The same applies to the rest.

No, a pair in this case is singular, pair of vice grips, pair of pliers, pair of scissors etc. It refers to the dual nature of the handle. You don’t say "Hand me the scissor." do you? No, you say "Hand me the scissors." a plurality yet you’re only really getting one object.