How to Remove an Unwanted Object From Your Photo With the Clone Tool
Sometimes, you can perfectly line up a photograph only to have an unwanted distraction enter the frame. Whether it’s your swoon-worthy holiday snaps, a meticulously planned photoshoot, or a special moment in time you can’t get back (like a proposal), no one wants their photo ruined by litter, signs, or any other unsightly object that steals the limelight.
Thanks to BeFunky, you never have to worry about anything crossing the path of your photo and spoiling it ever again! With our powerful Clone tool, located in the Touch Up tab of the Photo Editor, you can cover up unwanted objects in just a few simple steps. Keep reading to learn how!
How to Remove an Unwanted Object From a Photo
Ready to remove a distracting or unwanted object from your own image? Head to the Touch Up tab and open your image. This link will take you directly to the Touch Up section to begin.
Step 1: Locate the Clone Tool
Click on Clone, located within the Skin category.
Step 2: Select Your Clone Source
Your clone source is the part of your photo you would like to replicate and then use to cover up the unwanted areas of your photo. You’ll notice when you hover your cursor over your image, a circular-shaped target will appear. This target will be used to select your source.
To get started, adjust the Brush Size so that your target is slightly smaller than the size you want to cover up. You can also increase the clone brush hardness to create defined lines with your Clone tool, or decrease the hardness for softer blending.
Once your Clone tool has been adjusted to your liking, hover it over the part of your photo you would like to recreate. Generally, this will be the area that is directly next to, above, or below your unwanted area to create a more seamless look. When your target is perfectly placed, click your mouse. Once you do, a second circle will appear. This circle will then be used to select the part of your photo you’d like to cover up.
Step 3: Remove the Object
Your two circles are now locked together and will move around your screen as one to cover the cloned area. Remember, your first circle is your source and the second circle is meant to cover your unwanted area. When you’re ready, position your Clone tool so that the second circle is hovering over your unwanted spot. When you click your mouse, your source selection will be recreated over the undesirable section. You can hold down your mouse and drag it to continuously use the Clone tool, or you can get more detailed and cover up your unwanted area one click at a time.
If there is a range of colors or textures in the area you’re filling, you may need to select a new source for the cloned area every time the color or texture changes, in order to perfectly match the surrounding areas. To reset your source, click the Source Selection button.
If you make a mistake, the Clone tool also has an Erase option, which will reverse the effects of the tool.
When you’ve finished removing your unwanted objects, simply click Apply to apply your changes.
Step 4: Save Your Photo – Sans Object
Finally, click Save at the top of the screen, then select your desired save location.
Final Result: Flawless Object Removal
It’s impossible to tell there was some trash in this photo! The Clone tool is an easy way to remove an unwanted object from a photo online – no professional photo editing skills required.
When Should You Use the Clone Tool?
While the Clone tool is perfect for removing unwanted objects in photos, there are also some other scenarios where it comes in handy. Let’s explore each of these below.
When the Crop Tool Can’t Help
Sometimes, you might be able to crop unwanted objects from the edges of your photo. If the unwelcome element is closer to your photo’s subject, however, then the Crop tool might not be able to help. Instead, cloning allows you to keep your image’s dimensions and composition, while removing the unwanted object.
To Create Patterns
If you have an image featuring a single object, or even part of a pattern, the Clone stamp tool allows you to repeat it quickly and easily within your image. As you can see in the example below, we’ve duplicated this painted effect to create an eye-catching, abstract pattern.
To Remove Text From Images Online
Need to replace the text within a sign or remove a logo from your photo? Perhaps someone has scribbled profanity on a wall within your background? The Clone tool doesn’t just remove objects, but text too, making it a super versatile feature.
To Replace Visual Elements
Sometimes you might want to use an image and insert your own elements, such as text or graphics, to personalize it. As you can see in this example, we used the Clone stamp tool to remove the existing text from the sign, only to replace it with our own text, making this image suitable for use in a birthday card template.
To Duplicate Parts of Your Image for More Impact
Whether you’re capturing an image featuring confetti, flowers, or even birds flying in the sky, you might find your photo to lack some impact. This is where the Clone stamp tool also comes in handy, as it allows you to duplicate these elements for that added wow factor. In the image below, we used the tool to clone additional confetti.
We’ve also developed an A.I.-powered Object Eraser which does all of the hard work for you when it comes to removing unwanted objects from your photo. You can learn about the differences between the Object Eraser and Clone tool in this article.
Advanced Object Removal, Simplified
Never let unwanted distractions ruin your photos again. Thanks to BeFunky’s Clone Tool, you can easily clone photos to cover objects with just a few clicks! What photos will you perfect? Try the Clone tool for yourself to see just how amazing it is.
