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danielvandermunnik
Participating Frequently
April 19, 2020
Question

Clone Stamp Tool not working (Photoshop Elements 2020 on Mac)

  • April 19, 2020
  • 6 replies
  • 1428 views

The Clone Stamp Tool is not working. Everytime I select something (Yes, the cursor changes into a crosshair) and I want to use the tool, I get this message: 

"Could not use the clone stamp tool because the area to clone has not been defined (option-click to define a source point)."

I tried resetting the tool and to sample all layers. What else can I do to get this useful tool working again?

This topic has been closed for replies.

6 replies

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 20, 2020

Under Apple>System Preferences>Keyboard you have the Modifier Keys set as Default like below?

 

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danielvandermunnikAuthor
Participating Frequently
April 20, 2020

Yes, modifier keys are set as default. I have the fn key in there as well.

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2020

Are you using a Magic Mouse or a Magic Trackpad?

 

An apple keyboard?

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danielvandermunnikAuthor
Participating Frequently
April 19, 2020

Yes, I use a Magic Mouse and a full Apple keyboard, wired. No Magic Trackpad.

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2020

What version of macOS are you using and mac model and year?

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danielvandermunnikAuthor
Participating Frequently
April 19, 2020

I'm using Mac OS X Catalina Version 10.15.4 on an iMac 27-inch Late 2013, 3,5 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 32 GB 1600 MHz DDR3, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4 GB and a 3 TB Fusion Drive. I just posted it here, but I had this problem on Photoshop Elements 14 as well, so it exists for some years now. Buying the new Photoshop 2020 I thought I ask around on the Adobe forum to see if there would be a fix.

hatstead
hatstead
Inspiring
April 19, 2020

You have already activated "sample all layers" so it would seem unlikely that this is the issue.

Two other suggestions:

1. Go to Edit>Preferences>Display&Cursors, and check "standard" for the cursor.

2. When engaging the clone stamp tool, use the bracket keys next to the letter P on the keyboard to increase the size of the cursor to fetch more source pixels. 

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danielvandermunnikAuthor
Participating Frequently
April 19, 2020

Hi Hatstead,

 

Thanks again for directing me towards a possible solution, but this does not work either. I still get the message "Could not use the clone stamp tool because the area to clone has not been defined (option-click to define a source point)." Hope someone has the golden trick!

Phinny
Phinny
Legend
April 19, 2020

See if this post from yesterday helps.

hatstead
hatstead
Inspiring
April 19, 2020

Reset preferences to default. That may fix it. Go to Edit>Preferences>General and reset on nexr launch.

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danielvandermunnikAuthor
Participating Frequently
April 19, 2020

Hi Hatstead,

 

Thanks for your help, but resetting the prefs did not work. I still get the same message "Could not use the clone stamp tool because the area to clone has not been defined (option-click to define a source point)." The search continues...

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