OPENING THE PHOTOGRAPH
Objective: To open a photograph in PhotoImpact that we can work with.

Start by clicking on the additional files photograph link above. When the photo displays in your browser, right-click and save to your hard drive. Open the photograph (or one of your own) in PhotoImpact by clicking on File/Open. Browse to where you saved the photo on your hard drive and double click on it.

CROPPING WITH PERSPECTIVE
Objective: To straighten a crooked image.

NOTE: These instructions are for PI 8 or higher version users only. If you're using PI 7, please see instructions for this part of the tutorial below.

In the lower right corner of your PI screen, click on this unit icon and ensure that inches is selected and also the ruler. This isn't absolutely necessary to do, but I find it easier at this stage to work with a ruler as a guide.

1. Click on the Perspective Crop Tool

2. Ensure that Shield cropped area box has a check in it and that the Perspective icon is depressed.

3. Starting at the top left of the photo, hold down on your left mouse button and drag down to the bottom right of the photo before letting go. Then pull the top left node inward until you see that the edge of the area to be cropped is parallel (or as near as), to that of the straight edge of the building. I've taken that node almost an inch into the photograph.

4. Click on the crop icon and see how the building on your photograph looks a lot straighter than it originally did.

You may now click again on this unit icon to deselect the ruler and then you're ready to work on the cleaning up of the photograph.

CROPPING WITH DISTORTION
Objective: To straighten a crooked image.

NOTE: These instructions are for PI 7 users only. If you're using PI 8 or a higher version, please see instructions for this part of the tutorial above.

Right click on the photo to select All. Right click again to select Convert to Object.

In the lower right corner of your PI screen, click on this unit icon and ensure that the grid is selected. This isn't absolutely necessary to do, but I find it easier at this stage to work with a grid as a guide. The size of the grid is immaterial.

1. Click on the Transform Tool.

2. In the attributes bar ensure that the type of transform being used is the distort tool. If you don't see the distort tool icon, then click on the little downward-facing triangle to the right of the icon showing for more transform options.

3. Pull the top left node outward from the photo until you see that the edge of the building is in an upright position and parallel to a grid line.

You may now click again on this unit icon to deselect the grid. Right click on the photo to select Merge All and then you're ready to work on the cleaning up of the photograph.

CLONE TO CLEAN UP
Objective: To remove the unsightly aerials, etc. and replace them by cloning pieces of the sky in their place.

NOTE: These all instructions from now on are for PI 7, 8, XL or Pro users.

Activate the Clone Paintbrush and change the settings in the attributes bar to reflect those I have used here: Shape - vertical line 20; Transparency - 0; Soft Edge - 0; Preset - None.

***Hold down the shift key on your keyboard (PI 8 users can click on the Start Point button in the attributes bar if they prefer), and then click just to the left of the aerial as shown in my example image and then let go of the shift key. A crosswise cursor will appear to show the area you will be using to clone.

Very carfully start cloning over the aerial until all you see in that area is sky. Be careful to not to clone into the side of the building.***
If you make a mistake, just press Ctrl+Z on your keyboard to undo.

Repeat my instructions from *** to *** to clear away all other arials or flag poles you see in the photograph.

I'm sure you will agree that the photo is starting to look much better, so let's move on to the next part.

You will notice that there is a wire going across the right side of the building and also between the two trees in the middle. We're going to clear that wire away now, so activate the Clone Paintbrush and change the settings in the attributes bar to reflect those I have used here: Shape - horizontal line 20; Transparency - 0; Soft Edge - 0; Preset - None.

***Hold down the shift key on your keyboard (PI 8 users can click on the Start Point button in the attributes bar if they prefer), and then click the left and just just above the wire as shown in my example image and then let go of the shift key. A crosswise cursor will appear to show the area you will be using to clone. It will be black and not blue as shown in my example image. The yellow broken line you see in my example shows where the wire is.

Very carefully start cloning over the wire until all you see in that area is the bricks of the building. You might find it easier to do with little clicks of the mouse rather than dragging the cursor. If it doesn't look right when you're finished, then don't forget that you can press on Ctrl+Z to undo and start again.***

Repeat my instructions from *** to *** to clear away the part of the wire you can see between the two center trees.

Great....You have now completed all the cleaning up we will do on this photograph.

RESIZING YOUR PHOTOGRAPH
Objective: To decrease the size of the cleaned up photo because it's too big.

Click on Format/Image Size. Be sure that you're applying the resize to the base image and that you are using pixels. The width should be 400 and if you check the Keep aspect ratio box the height will adjust accordingly. Be sure that the resolution is on Display which will show 96 Pixels/Inch. When you're sure that your settings are correct, click on the OK button.

SHARPENING YOUR PHOTOGRAPH
Objective: To sharpen the photo enough to bring out the texture in the bricks.

Click on Effect/Sharpen/Sharpen. If you don't see the same box I show in my example then click on the Options button. Change the level to 1 and then click on the OK button.

I suggest you save your image at this point by clicking on File/Save or File/Save As.

PLAYING WITH CLONE TOOLS
Objective: To use clone tools to create a new and very different-looking picture.

We need a new image the exact same size as our newly resized photograph for this part. The easiest way to do this is to press Ctrl+D on your keyboard. That will duplicate your photo. Click on Edit/Fill and choose to fill with the colour white.

Activate the Clone Airbrush and before doing anything else, change the preset to Apparition. Then change the Shape size to 80 the Transparency to 60 and Soft Edge to 50. Note that the Preset will automatically go back to None but that's ok, we're still using Apparition, so you can ignore that.

On the original photograph, hold down the shift key on your keyboard and then click somewhere in the center of the photo. A crosswise cursor will appear to show the area you will be cloning.

Go to your white canvas and starting as near to the middle as possible, start cloning using a circular motion. You will see your photograph appear but you may need to go over some bits a few times to get it to your liking. The intention is not to clone the whole photo, just the center with as much of the building as possible but leaving a faded edge.

When you're happy with your image and not before, click on the blur tool and lightly go over any harsh-looking edges you see.

EXPANDING THE CANVAS
Objective: To finish off your newly cloned image with a nice little coloured edge.

Click on Format/Expand Canvas. Be sure to check the Expand sides equally box and choose a colour suitable for your image. Enter 1 into expand areas, top, left, right and bottom and then click on the OK button.

Hey, your new cloned image is looking pretty COOL! Don't forget to save it. If you're unsure how to save your image, then please refer to my How to Optimize & Save a .jpg Image tutorial.

Done with the bristle clone tool with the preset bristle.