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Answered

Can I use clone/stamp tool after rasterizing?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 1, 2018
2 replies
5560 views

I wanted to use Camera Raw as a non-destructive filter so I converted the photo layer to a Smart Object. I made my corrections and then decided I needed to use the Clone/Stamp tool to make some edits. But when I tried to do so, I got a message saying the Smart Object had to be rasterized before proceeding, and Edit Contents would no longer be available. I wan't sure what all this meant so I went ahead and though I was able to access the Clone/Stamp tool, my Smart Filter disappeared. I went into History and moved back to before rasterizing to get my Smart Filter back. Can I not make edits with the Clone/Stamp and other tools if I've created a Smart Filter for using Camera Raw non-destructively? Thanks.

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Correct answer rayek.elfin

The solution (for the stamp tool):

1) create a new layer above your smart object

2) switch to the clone stamp tool

3) set Sample to "All Layers"

Or

1) open the smart object

2) create a new layer above your content layer(s)

3) switch to the clone stamp tool

4) set Sample to "All Layers"

Clone stamp away. Your edits are done on a new layer, leaving the original image data alone. Only in the second case will any change to the live RAW filter propagate to the edits.

rayek.elfinCorrect answer

Legend

The solution (for the stamp tool):

1) create a new layer above your smart object

2) switch to the clone stamp tool

3) set Sample to "All Layers"

Or

1) open the smart object

2) create a new layer above your content layer(s)

3) switch to the clone stamp tool

4) set Sample to "All Layers"

Clone stamp away. Your edits are done on a new layer, leaving the original image data alone. Only in the second case will any change to the live RAW filter propagate to the edits.

JJMack

Community Expert

You first method is my preferred method and no smart object layer is required. The point you make for the second method is good but to me its more like having a hidden layer you can only get at by opening the layers object and you need to remember that you added that layer to the object and my memory is not what it use to be. For me its always easer to add additional empty layer and modify the empty layer. They are in the layers palette and easy to discard.

JJMack

rayek.elfin

Legend

i agree, having to open the hidden layer in the smart object is indeed somewhat awkward. I wish Photoshop would be able to clone adjustment and filter layers: that would allow for any change to the original adjustment layer to cascade throughout. In this case the RAW filter clone could be re-used on the clone stamp layer.

PhotoLine allows for this, and it is very, very handy.

JJMack

Community Expert

Correct Smart filters are added to smart object layers. When you rasterize a smart object layer any added smart filters are applied to the rasterized layer which is a normal layer which fitelters can only be applied to to change the layers pixels. Smart Object layers pixels can not be changed. Smart filters can be added to smart layers to apply their effects to the layers composite view. The Smart Object layers Pixels are not chabges so the filter setting can be changes at any time and reapplied should other filter be added. So the current smart filters setting are stored in the smart filter added to the smart object layer. When you rasterize a smart object layer the layers pixels are modified what you had was destroyed you no longer have a smart object layer.

Tools like clone stamp, paint brush,eraser, any tool that modifies a layer's pixels can not be used on a smart object layer for the layers pixels can not be modified.

JJMack

bartonlewAuthor

Legend

Thank you. So is the best practice to make any changes using clone stamp, paint brush or any other tool that modifies a layer's pixels first and be done with that, and then convert your layer to a Smart Object for use with Camera Raw as a smart filter to make exposure adjustments, etc. which are non-destructive? Or is there any alternative to this where you can modify an image's pixels if needed using one of the aforementioned tools while still having access to non-destructive editing options for things like color balance, exposure, saturation etc.?

JJMack

Community Expert

bartonlew wrote
Thank you. So is the best practice to make any changes using clone stamp, paint brush or any other tool that modifies a layer's pixels first and be done with that, and then convert your layer to a Smart Object for use with Camera Raw as a smart filter to make exposure adjustments, etc. which are non-destructive? Or is there any alternative to this where you can modify an image's pixels if needed using one of the aforementioned tools while still having access to non-destructive editing options for things like color balance, exposure, saturation etc.?

non-destructive smart filters are sort of non destructive. They can be readjusted and work one the same image they did when attached to the smart object layer or reapplied after other smart fitters have been added in which case the image will be the same but the pixele may not be because other smart filters may have been applied. Smart filters can have a stacking order.

If you had an image layer and clone stamped on it or changed a pixel with any other tool you have done some destructive editing. To do the same in a none destructive way you would first duplicate the image layer and make your destructive edits to duplicated layer. It would hide the original image layer. To get back to the original image all you need do is turn the visibility of the duplicate off. You can then dupe the image again and make other medications.

You can also have a Smart Object layer where the layers Object is an Image File like a RAW file. You had ACR Open an Object when you opened the RAW File through ACR. You can create additional independent smart Object layers that object is the same RAW file. Menu Layer>Smart Object Layer>New Smart Object Layer via Copy. You can adjust these with ACR independently from each other by opening the smart object layer's object in ACR by double clicking on the layer smart object icon in the layer palette. That will open ACR for the Layer Object. You adjust the ACR setting and click OK in ACR and the layer RAW conversion is updated with different pixels. So you can have several different ACR conversion for a RAW file in your Document and Blend them together to bring out more details.

JJMack

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