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Participating Frequently
August 30, 2020
Answered

Trouble With Spot Healing Tool

  • August 30, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 1127 views

Hi there.  I am experiencing something odd which I cannot seem to fix:  sometimes my Spot Healing tool works, sometimes it does not!

I had an image with a number of scratches/imperfections which I wanted to clean up.  I created a Background Copy and did all my spot healing here, choosing size, brush tip, hardness, spacing, Colour Mode and Content Aware type.  The tool did a pretty much perfect job.

Now I have another image with more or less the same problems.  I want to clean up little scratches and imperfections.  The images are similar, with plenty of like colours in the background spaces, no tricky edges, etc. - basically just a clean image which has little blemishes on otherwise uniform areas which should be ideal for spot healing.  I also made a Background Copy to work from and chose the identical settings as the first image.  But the Spot Healing tool seems like its not even working - nothing is happening at all, no changes of any kind, like I'm clicking on a layer which is somehow unable to access the image.

I have no other adjustment layers on these images to complicate things.  They are as straightforward as can be.

Has anyone ever encountered this kind of thing before?  What am I doing wrong? 

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Peru Bob

    Try resetting the tools and/or preferences.
    To restore preferences quickly using a keyboard shortcut:

    Press and hold Alt+Control+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (Mac OS) as you start Photoshop. You are prompted to delete the current settings. The new preferences files are created the next time you start Photoshop.
    Note: Using the keyboard shortcut, preference files for custom shortcuts, workspaces, and color settings will also be reset to default.

    from here:

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#restore_preferences

    2 replies

    Peru Bob
    Community Expert
    Peru BobCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    August 30, 2020

    Try resetting the tools and/or preferences.
    To restore preferences quickly using a keyboard shortcut:

    Press and hold Alt+Control+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (Mac OS) as you start Photoshop. You are prompted to delete the current settings. The new preferences files are created the next time you start Photoshop.
    Note: Using the keyboard shortcut, preference files for custom shortcuts, workspaces, and color settings will also be reset to default.

    from here:

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#restore_preferences

    Participant
    April 29, 2021

    thank you so much! I had this issue for a few days and couldn't find a solution until found your advice there 

    Peru Bob
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 30, 2020

    This is the Using the Community forum (which is the forum for issues using the forums).
    Please tell us what Adobe application you are using (Photoshop or Photoshop Elements?)so that this can be moved to the proper forum for help.

    Participating Frequently
    August 30, 2020

    Oh sorry!  When I go to the Adobe Community page, I did not readily see a button which said to post my inquiry to the community.  Perhaps you can direct me as to where this is?

     

    I am using Photoshop.