How the Patch Tool works

The Patch Tool allows you to copy part of a photo to another area, where it is automatically blended into the new surroundings.

When to use the Patch Tool

The Patch Tool works best when there’s another area in your image that’s free of distractions and is similar to the area where you’re removing unwanted content.

Use a separate layer for retouching

Placing your changes on a new blank layer allows you to edit and experiment without permanently altering the original photo. To ensure the Patch Tool works with multiple layers, select Content-Aware from the Patch dropdown and check the Sample All Layers box in the Options bar.