Cloning in Gimp – advanced photo manipulation
Category: Tutorials
I would like to demonstrate what you can do with Gimp in creative photo manipulation.
Gimp is a very powerful tool – and you can have it for free at http://gimp.org
Here’s the photo we’ll start with:
The photo itself is very nice – but the only thing that annoys me are the people all over the beach.
(I guess they were annoying at the time when picture was shot as well 
Ok – let’s clean it up a little.
We’ll work with high zoom (400%) using Clone Brush tool – with options set as on the screenshot.
Technique of using a Clone Brush is very easy to show, and quite hard to master.
You won’t be able to clone any backgroud – only the repeated textures will do (like water or rock in this example). You need to clone large areas so it look natural, but you should make sure to clone out any specific patterns that are easy to recognize.
Remember about the details – like taking out reflections in the water.
(I actually miss reflections on the wet sand at right side)
As I said – remember not to leave cloned patters that are easy to spot (remember those cloned iran rockets? .
We continue to clone background areas to other places – hiding what we would like to hide (tourists in this case).
Final touch is to boost Saturation and Contrast a little – and we have it ready.
Before (click to enlarge)
After (click to enlarge)
I compared the two for a while. Amazing job. XD
Good , now can I use this technique to remove unwanted hairs or small blemishes, even scars on faces in portraits or are there better methods for these problems. I end up getting one technique working and use it for everything instead of trying new ideas, mainly because articles are hard to find for everything! Thank ypou for this method.
Great tutorial. Happy to see someone showing the power of Gimp. Kudos.
Looks absolutely great
Photoshopped!
You already caught the reflection you missed, but otherwise good work. A good use for clone brush!
This is nice but I do think that the inclusion of the boat ‘added’ something tot he picture which should have been retained – it gave a sense of local life (which the tourists did not add to – it was a good move to clone those out)
Also, there is an odd patch of sand on the bottom right – I don’t know if this is the sand reflection you were talking about or not, but it is a little distracting from the final image, which is a lovely one.
Very awesome post. Kudos to you for using the GIMP instead of the overly used and overrated PHOTOSHOP. Please note readers like the author said, GIMP is free and open source and as powerful if not better than photoshop. Thanks again.
one word – wow, really nice
this tutorial is a proof that you dont need a expensive program like photoshop to do advanced photo manipulation.
Great work!
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can you get that guy standing with the girl out?
Well – that wouldn’t be a big problem – the only thing is – why?
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Great job, and thanks for the detailed explanation!
What Mimi said about the reflection in the lower right, not in the water but off of the wet beach. Otherwise, very impressive!
Very nice!
I think keeping the boat is a good idea, too. Otherwise it’s just a beach. The boat gives *some* sort of local flavour.
The reflection in the lower right is caused by the two people who were standing there. A little more work and it would be gone, but for the purposes of this tutorial, the work that was done is great.
I’m now using this idea to “paint” my house. Looking pretty good.
Thanks for the tutorial!
Awesome tutorial! I’ve been using this tool for similar tasks for awhile, but nonetheless, it is very well written. I actually did the same idea, removing people at the beach. Good job!
Be careful with the reflects of the woman at the right side of the picture ^^
Nice tutorial, simple and useful!
The step 4 is just impossible to apply…could U explain this for mac users too?……Hugs!
Gimp really is a wonderful tool and you have some super tutorials! Thanks for sharing, the cloning job in this photo is just awesome.
Gimped!
Great work, ok!
i could get the girl and the guy without stress, it’s simple using Adobe Photoshop CS….
Wow..
What a cool design of your website.