Erase Objects from Photos in Photoshop
In this tutorial, you’ll learn a reliable workflow for removing anything from a photo in Photoshop. You’ll duplicate your layer, make a rough selection, fill it with Content-Aware, and then refine with the Patch Tool and Clone Stamp. Keyboard shortcuts and options for rotating/scaling the clone source are included.
Step-by-step instructions
Work non-destructively
Press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Command+J (Mac) to duplicate the layer.
Make sure the duplicate layer is active.
Select the object to remove
Choose the Lasso Tool from the toolbar.
Roughly trace around the object; include as many original pixels as possible.
Hold Shift and drag to add to the selection; hold Alt/Option and drag to subtract.
Fill with Content-Aware
Press Shift+Backspace to open the Fill dialog.
Set Contents → Content-Aware; in Photoshop CC, enable Color Adaptation.
Click OK to generate the fill, then press Ctrl+D / Command+D to deselect.
Clean edges with the Patch Tool
Select the Patch Tool.
In the options bar, set Patch to Normal and Source.
Drag over blurry/problem areas, then drag to a clean source area and release to replace.
Repeat as needed; press Ctrl+D / Command+D to deselect selections.
Refine with the Clone Stamp
Select the Clone Stamp Tool.
Use ] to increase and [ to decrease brush size.
Alt/Option-click to sample a clean area, then paint over imperfections.
Optional: Adjust clone source rotation/scale with Alt+Shift+< or Alt+Shift+> (rotate) and Alt+Shift+] (scale), or go to Window → Clone Source to set Scale/Rotation.
