Aperty: How to use Erase & Clone tool

Welcome to our guide on using Aperty’s Erase & Clone Tool, where precision meets creativity in portrait editing! The Erase Tool allows you to effortlessly remove unwanted distractions and imperfections, using advanced technology that seamlessly fills in gaps for a polished finish. Ready to take your edits a step further? The Clone Tool lets you replicate elements to enhance your images, fix blemishes, and create stunning effects with ease. With real-time previews and intuitive adjustments, you’ll be able to transform your portraits into captivating masterpieces. Let’s dive in and discover how to make the most of these powerful tools!

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In this article:

• What is Erase & Clone Tool
• Introducing Erase & Clone controllers
• Getting started with Erase & Clone tool
• Aperty

What is Erase & Clone Tool

Erase & Clone Tool in Aperty is an essential tool for photographers. It allows you to remove and replace unwanted elements in portrait images.

• Erase: This feature uses advanced content-aware technology, allowing you to seamlessly remove unwanted distractions and imperfections. Analyzing surrounding pixels ensures that the areas left behind blend naturally with the rest of the image, maintaining a professional look. The adjustable brush size allows for precise control, enabling photographers to tackle anything from small blemishes to larger distractions efficiently.

• Clone: The clone feature is designed to replicate specific elements within your images, allowing you to enhance features or cover imperfections effectively. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy for photographers to select a source point and effortlessly paint over the desired areas. The adjustable clone brush allows for precise control with size, softness, and strength adjustments to smoothly integrate cloned sections smoothly, ensuring a cohesive look throughout the portrait.

   

Introducing Erase & Clone Controllers

To access the Clone & Erase tool, click on the Erase icon in the top left corner of the application. The tool will appear on the main editing toolbar on the right side of the application. By default, it will open with the Erase feature active. You can switch between the Erase and Clone features by clicking on the icons at the top of the tool.

Erase Tool

Erase Brush

When the Erase tool is selected, the cursor becomes a brush. When brushing over areas to erase, a red overlay shows the selection.

Remove After Each Stroke Switch

This toggle allows you to choose between two modes: instant removal with each brush stroke or removal after you've selected the desired areas and clicked the Erase button.

Size Slider

Use the size slider to adjust the brush size of the eraser. This allows you to work on fine details and larger areas with ease.

📍 Tip: You can use the left and right bracket keys "[ ]" to decrease and increase the brush size.

Select / Deselect Buttons (Available only in "removal after clicking Erase" mode)

These buttons let you toggle between selecting and deselecting areas for erasure, ensuring precise control over your edits.

📍 Tip: Use your keyboard's "X" key to switch between Select & Deselect brush.

Erase Button (Available only in "removal after clicking Erase" mode)

Once you've outlined the areas you wish to remove, click the Erase button to remove the selected areas.

Clone & Stamp Tool

Clone & Stamp Cursor

When you activate the Clone tool and hover your cursor over the image, you’ll see a circular selector with a crosshair. Click on any point in your image to set the source for cloning pixels. To re-select the source area, hold the "Alt" (Windows) or "Option" (Mac) key while clicking on your desired point.

Size Slider

This slider allows you to adjust the brush size, enabling you to work on both small details and larger areas effectively.

📍 Tip: Use the left and right bracket keys "[ ]" to quickly decrease or increase the brush size.

Softness Slider

Adjust the softness of the clone effect with this slider, which feathers the edges of the brush for a smoother blend.

📍 Tip: Combine the left and right bracket keys "[ ]" with the "Shift" key to refine the softness of the brush edge.

Strength Slider

This slider controls the strength of the brush, allowing you to determine how much of the cloned area is applied to your edits.

Getting Started with Erase & Clone Tool

1. Select your project in the Project Manager and double-click to open it in the Editing module.
2. Choose the image you want to edit from the Film Strip at the bottom of the application.
3. Open the Erase & Clone tool by clicking on the erase icon in the top left corner of the screen.

Erase Tool

1. Click on the erase icon located at the top of the tool panel to switch to the Erase tool.

2. Use the eraser brush to carefully select the areas you wish to remove from your image.

3. Depending on your preference, you can either keep the "Remove after each stroke" option enabled for instant removal or disable it to erase only after clicking the Erase button.
4. Proceed to erase any additional elements or areas as needed to achieve your desired result.

Clone Tool

1. Click on the Stamp icon at the top of the tool panel to switch to the Clone tool.

2.  When you activate the Clone & Stamp tool and hover over your image, you’ll see a circular selector with a crosshair. Click on the area of the image you want to clone from, setting it as the source point for cloning pixels. 

3. Adjust your brush settings.

4. Click and brush over the area you want to retouch. You can zoom in using the Zoom buttons and move around the image with the Hand tool to work on finer details.

5. As you paint over the unwanted pixels, the tool uses the sample point to replace them. For a natural, blended look, try using small dabs or short strokes, and experiment with lowering the opacity for more subtle results.

6. After each stroke, the image will seamlessly update and blend the new pixels. Continue reviewing your progress, making additional strokes as necessary until you’re satisfied with the results.

Aperty Portrait Editor

Aperty is an advanced portrait photo editing software designed to simplify and accelerate the process of retouching portraits. It features AI-powered tools for tasks like blemish removal, skin smoothing, makeup application, and facial reshaping, all while maintaining natural beauty. With its user-friendly interface, batch editing capabilities, and support for plug-ins, Aperty allows photographers to achieve professional-quality results quickly. Developed in collaboration with photographer Julia Trotti, Aperty offers one-click presets, precise human detection, and automation, making it an efficient solution for high-volume portrait editing workflows.

Learn more about Aperty here.

Get professional portrait LUTs here.

Written and published by: Jakub Bors | #BorsPhotography | www.borsphoto.com