A ghost trace in a photo after its raw file was worked on with Bridge's Remove Tool

Question

I need to say that PS's RAW functions are great, in principal. It is nice to enlarge the original RAW file to have it at proper dimensions for printing. However, this time I was disappointed. For the particular picture I'm talking about, I liked to make major changes using e.g. Curve and Hue/Sat adjustment layers. I had thought that when I remove undesirable objects at a RAW level in Bridge, the outcome is the best. That wasn't the case! When I had made those major changes for the photo those removed objects were there, although as some ghosts. I know I can get rid of them working with other tools - but to me it is strange that the Remove tool does not remove items it is designed for. Perhaps, I need to learn using proper AI tools in other apps. I think some apps work better (although it would be nice to be working with one app from the start to the end).

LAMY2017 · Answer

Let me comment about satisfactory removal -- cloning and removal tools have come a long, long way. AI has improved this to a large extent, but I don't think Adobe is through with these tools. I wouldn't consider Remove a one-click wonder. I've had to undo and reselect areas to be removed many times when editing my images.

It behooves us to zoom in at high levels-- 100% and more -- to examine for artifacts. One technique I use is to duplicate the original layer; perform removal on the layer copy; then "switch off the eyeball" of the copy layer to toggle visibility of the new layer and the original. It's still mostly an art+technique process, trial-and-error. [I never meant to say 199%, just my fumble-fingers]

btw, "at a RAW level in Bridge" is a misnomer; RAW has little to do with successful removal, and Bridge is not where removal is done. Clicking on a RAW file in Bridge launches Photoshop and then Camera Raw.

Preventing ghosts is enhanced by careful, overly-large selections; checking for artifacts; Undoing, then reselecting, then redoing removal. I'm not chiding you, I'm encouraging you. No one like to find blemishes on our final product, especially if we printed big, and/or on expensive media.

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