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Paul Leadingham
Participant
November 23, 2011
Answered

Could not use the clone stamp tool because the area to clone has not been defined

  • November 23, 2011
  • 5 replies
  • 151514 views

Freshly installed Elements 10.  Can not use the option-mouse click to define an area for the clone stamp.  The error I get is:

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

New Mac Mini.  Had the same problems in Elements 9 so I installed the 10 trial.  Is this a key binding error?  Did not have this issue with Elements 9 on my Mac Air or my Windows 7 system. 

I'm not a newbie and know how to use the clone tool.  I won't say I'm an expert so if it's something related to layers please throw out some ideas.

    Correct answer

    Yeah, it sounds like a layers issue.  If the area you're using to define the clone source is a transparent area on one of your layers, it won't work.  Keep the Layers Palette open, and ensure you're using the image area (and not the mask area) -- if the image area of the layer is active, it will have a border around it.

    Ken

    5 replies

    M
    mary_8384
    Participant
    April 25, 2025

    I have two keyboards, a laptop and a bluetooth keyboard. You can't use bluetooth anything with some of these tools. Not the mouse either. The blue tooth signal does not register as clicking on the layer with the alt key, you have to do it with the actual laptop keyboard that's connected to the PC and monitor. 

    J
    Joanna27391691uv6c
    Participant
    December 1, 2022

    I achieved success by holding the Option key while clicking the mouse.

    P
    Paul LeadinghamAuthor
    Participant
    November 23, 2011

    This did it.  Thanks!

    P
    Paul LeadinghamAuthor
    Participant
    February 28, 2012

    This problem came back up.  I hadn't used PSE since last November and was frustrated to run into it again.  I don't think it's a layers issue afterall.

    I use a wireless keyboard and mouse on Mini and mouse on Air, although keyboard for Air is upstairs at a desk with monitor for occasional use.  Regardless blue tooth is on for these devices.  Problem exists.  Turn bluetooth off on Air and the problem is gone.  It must be related to option key when bluetooth is on, I guess some different mapping.  Even when I have bluetooth on and try to use Option key on the Air keyboard it does not work.

    So now where do I look for configs to check?

    6
    6one3design
    Participant
    May 7, 2012

    start to close apps you may have open...i was having problems forever with this to the point where i wiped my drive and reinstalled from scratch

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgBYJHY7Nas

    6one3design

    99jon
    99jon
    Legend
    November 23, 2011

     

    If working on layered documents make sure you have sample all layers checked on the options bar. Otherwise keep the clone tool selected and choose reset tool from the dropdown menu on the left.

      S
      Steph23302921tzn9
      Participant
      February 23, 2022
      • Thank you this also helped me with the same problem 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
      A
      Anonymous
      Correct answer
      November 23, 2011

      Yeah, it sounds like a layers issue.  If the area you're using to define the clone source is a transparent area on one of your layers, it won't work.  Keep the Layers Palette open, and ensure you're using the image area (and not the mask area) -- if the image area of the layer is active, it will have a border around it.

      Ken

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