Blemish Removal Tool Overview

This blemish removal tool is one of my favorites. This tool is very handy with of course helping with blemishes but I also use it on quick fixes like if there is a fuzzy or stray dog hair on the clothes then I would quickly use this tool to get rid of it.

You can start by opening your image. I like to duplicate the background so if I make a mistake I can easily undo what I did and if I make a big mistake or it doesn't look right I can delete that whole layer.

Then you can select your Spot Healing Blemish Tool. 

Start by making the brush tool small around 20 px size. It is going to sample the area around the area you are trying to correct so make sure it is a small brush so it doesn't pull areas that do not match. Start by clicking on the areas of the photo you would like to correct. 

Your results after should show you the difference between using the spot removal tool and the after affects.

Here is a video tutorial on how to use the Spot Healing Brush - Spot Healing Brush Video

Clone Stamp Tool Overview

The clone stamp tool is a crucial part of the everyday photo editing process. It is essential for a photographer to know how to use this tool and use it well. First start by opening your image in Photoshop. Then click on the Clone Stamp Tool icon.

After the tool is selected you will want to choose a brush style. Below is the difference between the hard and soft brush. I usually use a soft brush because everything blends better that way.

After my brush is selected I assess the photo for what areas need to be covered. I then take the tool and click on an area close by the area on the photo that I want to cover up, on my keyboard I hit Alt + left mouse click to select the area I would like to use to clone over the area.

I recommend doing each little area at a time because if you try to use a big brush it gets distorted and doesn't look right on the photo. Check out the YouTube link below for a video tutorial on the clone stamp tool!

Clone Stamp Tool Video

Where to start first!

After you have successfully installed the Photoshop program you will open it. Once you have opened it you will then realize what is in front of you, which is a screen with a lot of buttons.

When starting in Photoshop it is helpful to know what the buttons on the left mean. 

At this point in the program after you have a feel for your tools on the left you can go ahead and open a photo or file you would like to start with by going to "File" and "Open". Once the photo is open you can start working with the tools on the left hand side. The first tool that I always like to use first is the spot healing tool (the one that looks like a band-aid). I will zoom in close on the picture and for any body that is in the photo that has a blemish that I need to touch up I will take that tool and hover over it and click on it to fix the blemish.  See the attached YouTube video for a short tutorial. 

YouTube - Blemish Removal

Getting Started with Photoshop

Getting Started with Photoshop is easy because all you have to do is get the program and download it. That honestly is really the only easy part to Photoshop!

The next thing you want to do is turn off the TV, cell phone, anything that is going to distract you from learning because Photoshop is going to take every bit of brain power that you have!

Then only after you have had a cup of coffee is when the session should begin.

Begin by opening the program, take a minute to breathe and just soak in the main screen!