Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Smudge Tool
The Smudge tool simulates dragging a finger through wet paint.
The pixels are liquid and can be pushed around the screen. With
the default settings, the tool uses color from where you first click
and pushes it in the direction in which you move the mouse. This
tool is useful for cleaning up dust specks or
flakes in a photo. Set the tool's blending mode to
Lighten or Darken (depending on the area to be
affected), and you'll have digital makeup to touch
up the problem.
1.
Close any open files, and then open the file
Ch11_Smudge.tif from the Chapter 11 folder.
2.
Select the Smudge tool from the Tools panel
(it looks like a finger painting icon).
3.
Zoom into the model's flyaway hair.
4.
Experiment with the Darken and Lighten
modes. These are particularly useful for
isolating the smudge by pushing only dark
or light pixels.
5.
Smudge the edges of the hair pixels. Experi-
ment by switching blending modes: You can
always undo the smudge, and then change
the tool's mode and resmudge. To quickly
cycle blending modes, press the Shift+= or
Shift +- shortcut keys.
Using the Smudge tool's Darken mode lets you push darker
pixels over lighter pixels.
Tip
Smudge Tool for Historical
Images Too!
The Smudge tool also works great
for touching up blemishes in histori-
cal photos. Rips, tears, and cracks
can easily be filled in using the
Smudge tool's Lighten and Darken
modes. You can also try the Blur
tool in a similar fashion.
