GIMPshop: Tips on How to Clone Patterns and Images

I know many of you may be asking what exactly is GIMPshop? GIMPshop is basically a program that allows individuals to edit images and graphics via the use of the program's many features. GIMPshop has often been compared to such programs as Adobe Photoshop due to their similar appearance, features, and interface. The major difference, however, is that this particular program is free. Now that you know a little more about GIMPshop, let's try and use some of the program's features. The feature that will be discussed in this article will be the clone stamp. Shall we get started?

One of the most interesting features of the GIMPshop program is the clone stamp. The basic concept of the clone stamp is to allow users to clone a particular pattern or section of an image and then re-apply the cloned image somewhere else. For example, I will be using Image 01 to demonstrate how to use the clone stamp on patterned images. Image 01 has a lined pattern that is continually straight until you reach a certain point in which the pattern of lines is broken. This is where the clone stamp comes into use. Simply click on the clone stamp icon that is located right below the text icon (T) in The Gimp box, or use the clone stamp shortcut by pressing S on your keyboard. Once you have chosen the clone stamp icon, you now need to look for any area that closely resembles the region that needs to be fixed. After finding a similar region to clone, hold down Ctrl on your keyboard and click on that particular area with your mouse while still holding down the Ctrl key. Let go of the Ctrl key after clicking once with your mouse. Now that you have cloned the desired area, hover over the section that is broken and that needs to be fixed. Line up where you want to apply the cloned section over the broken area, and then click once with your mouse to actually apply the cloned section. The image should now have the cloned area applied onto the broken area. More than likely, you probably didn't fix the area with only one cloning. Repeat the process over and over until the entire area resembles the rest of the lined pattern. The finished product should look something like Image 02 if done correctly. If you are having a hard time cloning, remember to try out different brush sizes and different sections of the original image to clone. Also, you may want to zoom in closer to smaller images for more accurate cloning. With a little bit of trial and error, you should be able to get the hang of using the clone stamp.

A great reason to use the clone stamp is because this particular tool allows you to actually clone patterns or regions of an image, and this can come in real handy, especially, for heavily pixilated areas. The only drawbacks that I found in using the cloning tool is that is does require a little bit of trial and error, which can become time consuming for beginners, and there is also a limit to how big of an area can be cloned due to brush sizes. Even with its' drawbacks, the clone stamp is an excellent feature that the program GIMPshop offers to its' users.