When discussing "patching" in the context of Photoshop CS6, if referring to the provided reference, it specifically points to the Patch Tool, a feature used for image editing to repair selected areas with pixels sampled from another area. This differs from applying software updates or patches.
Understanding the Patch Tool
The Patch Tool in Photoshop CS6 is part of the healing brush family. It allows you to replace a selected area of an image with pixels from another area, blending the result seamlessly with the surrounding image. It's particularly effective for removing unwanted objects, blemishes, or flaws using Content-Aware technology.
As shown in the provided video segment reference:
"Tool. So we can go and select about right here and it should do a better job using content to where are replacing. It see so now you see that it's gone right there."
This highlights the tool's ability to intelligently fill or replace an area using surrounding content, often resulting in the seamless removal of the selected element.
How to Use the Patch Tool
Using the Patch Tool in Photoshop CS6 involves a few simple steps:
- Select the Patch Tool: Find the Patch Tool icon in the Photoshop toolbar. It often shares a spot with the Healing Brush Tool or Spot Healing Brush Tool. You might need to click and hold one of those icons to reveal the Patch Tool.
- Choose Your Mode: In the options bar at the top, you'll typically have "Source" and "Destination" modes.
- Source: Select the area you want to fix (the "source"), then drag the selection to an area you want to sample from (the "destination"). The selected source area will be replaced by content from the destination area.
- Destination: Select the area you want to copy from (the "source"), then drag the selection to the area you want to fill into (the "destination"). The destination area will be replaced by content from the selected source area.
- Make a Selection: Draw a selection around the area you want to repair or remove. Be precise but include enough of the immediate surroundings for blending.
- Drag to Patch:
- If using Source mode: Click and drag the selection you just made to an area of the image that looks like what you want the selected area to become (a clean area of texture or background). Release the mouse button.
- If using Destination mode: Click and drag the selection you just made (which is the area you want to copy) to the area you want to cover up or replace. Release the mouse button.
- Observe the Result: Photoshop will perform the "patching" operation, blending the sampled area into the selection using Content-Aware technology. As the reference notes, you should see the unwanted element "gone right there" after the operation.
Practical Tips
- Use the "Content-Aware" option (available in newer versions, and implied by the CS6 tool's function described in the reference) for the best blending results.
- Work on a duplicate layer to keep your original image intact.
- For complex areas, you might need to make multiple small patches instead of one large one.
Summary of Patch Tool Usage
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Select Tool | Choose the Patch Tool from the toolbar. | Access the specific editing function. |
| 2. Select Area | Draw a selection around the content to replace/fix. | Define the target area for the patch. |
| 3. Drag Selection | Drag the selection to the desired sample area. | Tell Photoshop where to get replacement pixels. |
| 4. Release & Blend | Release the mouse; Photoshop performs blending. | Complete the repair using Content-Aware fill. |
Based on the provided reference, "patching" in Photoshop CS6 refers to utilizing the Patch Tool for image manipulation, specifically for removing or replacing areas within a photo or graphic.
