The patch tool can be found in the toolbox under same tool group as the healing brush.

 

 

With the patch tool, you can drag your mouse pointer to make a selection as you would with the lasso tool. You can then drag your selection over to another area in the image, where it will be blended with its surroundings, covering up what was originally there. This procedure describes the Destination option for the patch tool.

 

Alternatively, you can use the Patch tool’s Source option. When you choose this option, the area you select will be covered with image data from the area that you drag the selection border over. When you drag the dashed selection border into position, and release the left mouse button, the area where you originally made the selection will be filled in and blended with the region that the selection border has been moved to.

 

To use the Patch tool, select it from the toolbox, and then choose either the Source or Destination radio button in the option bar. If you choose Source, make a selection by dragging the mouse pointer and then place your mouse pointer inside it. Drag the flashing selection border over the image until you find a suitable region to cover the original area. When you do, release the mouse button and the new region that the selection surrounds will be copied and blended over the original selection area.

 

If you choose the Destination radio button, you can make a selection by dragging with your mouse, and then by placing your mouse pointer inside it, drag the selected image data to a new location. When you release the button, the image data that you dragged will be placed over the new location.

 

If you are using the Source option, your mouse pointer will look like a small patch with a curved arrow pointing into it. If you use the Destination option, your mouse pointer will look like a small patch with an arrow pointing out of it.

 

After you make your selection, you can add to it, subtract from it, or modify it like any other selection vie the options bar.

 

 

 

If you look carefully at the image on the left, you can see a second stream between the two trees at the upper left of the image. This stream was added using the patch tool.

 

Here you can see another selection being dragged into position to create three streams.

 

 

You should try to choose selections that have similar colour and shading to the area that they will be patched into. If the colour or lightness of your patch differs greatly from its destination, the results may be less than satisfactory.

 

Like the other retouch tools, you can choose Edit ->Fade Patch Selection to control the opacity of the patched region.