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Hiding Flaws Using the Smudge Tool

In some cases, you can hide flaws simply by smudging pixels over the flaw. For example, if a person in the photo has an uneven skin tone you can reduce the variations in color by smudging the skin tones.

To Hide Flaws in a Photo:

  1. Select the Magnifying Glass Tool and click to zoom in on the flaw.
  2. From the Toolbar, under Fix, select the Smudge Tool.
  1. In the Properties bar, set the options as described below.
  1. Click and drag across the flaw in the photo. When you click, the pixels at that point are copied and then blended with the smudge area.
  2. Click Done.

Smudge Tool Options

Brush options drop-down

Select Brush Options:

  • Drag the Hardness slider to the left to soften the brush or nib and to the right to harden the brush or nib.
  • Drag the Roundness slider to the left to flatten the brush or nib and to the right to make the brush or nib round.
  • If you flattened the brush or nib, you can drag the Angle slider to the left and right to change the angle of the brush or nib.

Brush Size

Click the arrow beside the Brush Size box and drag the slider to the left or right until the brush or nib is the desired size.

Spacing

Click the arrow beside the Spacing box and drag the slider to the left to create a smooth, continuous stroke and to the right to create a dotted stroke.

Pressure

Click the arrow beside the Pressure box and drag the slider to the left to reduce pressure and to the right to increase pressure. Changing pressure changes the amount of smudging.

Fade

From the Fade drop-down select fade options:

  • Select Size to create the impression that a stroke is shrinking, as if you are slowly lifting the brush or nib off the work area.
  • Select Opacity to create the impression that a stroke is fading, as if the brush or nib is slowly running out of ink.
  • Select Size and Opacity to create the impression that a stroke is shrinking and fading.

Within

Specifies the percentage of how fast the brush will fade.

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