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3
39er
Participant
August 26, 2009
Question

Clone Stamp Tool and Healing Brush not working - why?

As pointed out in the thread subject line, both the clone stamp tool and healing brush are not working for me in Photo Elements 7.

When I am attempting to use it, I get the message: "Could not use clone stamp tool because the area to clone has not been defined".   Well, this is not the case since I did define it with command Alt + left mouse click.

Background:

Photo Elements 7 is installed in Windows XP Professional SP3. The latter runs as a virtual O/S with Sun VirtualBox on host SuSE Linux 11.1 (Gnome).

I have run out of ideas as to what the problem could be, so I am requesting assistance from the forum community. Thank you very kindly in advance for replies.

    Ce sujet a été fermé aux réponses.

    4 commentaires

    B
    Bob.Funkey
    Participant
    March 2, 2013

    I had the same problem as reported here in my Photoshop Elements 7.0 and Win 7 x64.  The simple resolution was to "Merge All Viewable Layers" in the "Layers" pull down menu.  The tool then worked perfectly!  My guess is that the top layer had the text only which I was trying to cover up.  The rest of the layer was probably clear which wouldn't overwrite the text (just a guess).

    J
    johnnyh64
    Participant
    December 23, 2011

    I've had this issue with Photoshop CS5 on Windows 7 and I found that it was my Wacom PTK-640 tablet as well.  Using the Wacom mouse was the problem.  For some reason the mouse must not register the same clicks for some reason.  I picked up the pen and all the sudden it worked!  I'm just making note of this for future searches on the subject.  The clone stamp tool also didn't work.  It was registering in the history state, it looked like it was going to paste by showing the defined area on top of it as you hover.  But once you click, nothing happened at all.  This was happening on a real layer (not adjustment) with sampling set to current layer or all layers, 100% opacity with no defined selections using 'normal' mode. 

    A
    aarrepaa99
    Participating Frequently
    August 4, 2010

    OH MY GOODNESS, It would mean A LOT TO ME IF YOU HELPED ME. I HAVE THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM RIGHT NOW, EXCEPT MINE IS ONLY THE CLONE STAMP.
    I don't have a mac. I use a Windows Vista and use Adobe Premiere Elements 7.0 on it.
    I have the same exact problem now, the clone stamp randomly stopped working, a week ago. I tried resetting, doing everything else you can think
    of and its just not working. Now I also tried doing that trick you did that helped yours work, but since I have a windows vista I am so lost and
    don't know how to get to those settings or where to go. Anyone know anything about how to help fix mine, please reply to me. It would mean so much
    to me. What also makes me sad is that I misplaced my cd-rom to uninstall and re-install, thats why I want to get through this naturally and try to fix it without
    re-installing it and stuff. Please help me.

    A
    Anonymous
    August 4, 2010

    Do you mean photoshop elements 7 and not premiere elements?

    The fix posted above only applies to linux os systems, which is

    different from mac and windows.

    On windows vista Alt+left click is to set the clone source.

    Try the following steps one at a time.

    1. reset the clone stamp tool by clicking triangle on the far left of the

       tool options bar and select reset tool.

    2. Go to Edit>Preset Manager and click Done in the dialog that appears.

    3. Reset the elements 7 preferences by holding down the Shift+Alt+Ctrl keys

        at the same time you start elements 7. In the dialog that appears, click yes.

    Hope this helps.

    MTSTUNER

    A
    Anonymous
    August 11, 2010

    hey, thanks, also do you might know when that will start working anytime soon? i am so lost with this, especially the whole WACOM thing? I went on my mouse properties and nothing seems to be wrong with it, but basically for the passed 2 weeks it has been bothering me and i need to fix it soon cuz i have college stuff on photoshop to do and i really need the clone stamp, its so frustrating, is there any way you might know how it can be fixed or something fast? i have windows vista and i use a laptop without a mouse attached i use the mouse on the laptop and it is not an apple computer for me to use the easy steps in fixing. thank you for the help, im just so confused and dont know what to do right now,can you please explain to me some more about this so i can get it fixed? it never had this problem for a year and now it randomly started to have that problem.


    Wacom was a reference to a wacom tablet, which wouldn't apply,

    as you said you just had a mouse or the track pad on your laptop. Correct?

    Have you installed any other programs in the past 2-3 weeks?

    If so, one of the programs may be stealing the Alt key shortcut.

    If you have not installed any other programs, you may have uninstall

    photoshop elements 7 and then reinstall photoshop elements 7.

    (there may be a corrupt file or dll in pse7)

    MTSTUNER

    B
    Barbara_B_
    Inspiring
    August 27, 2009

    Has it ever worked right?

    3
    39erAuteur
    Participant
    August 27, 2009

    No it did not work. It is actually a pity since I find this tool quite useful to remove unwanted objects in a photo.

    Thank you for replying.

    B
    Barbara_B_
    Inspiring
    August 27, 2009

    Okay, it sounds from your posts like you know to be sure you're not alt-clicking an adjustment layer or something. Start by deleting the preferences. Quit the editor, then restart it while holding down ctrl+alt+shift. Keep holding the keys till you see a window asking if you want to delete the settings file. You do.

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