Vanishing Point

Vanishing Point is several functions that work in 3D. Here we use it as a retouching tool where a cloned area is given the perspective of the original, so that it blends into its new position.

Removing the bollard would normally be quite tricky because of the deep perspective of the background. Vanishing Point can deal with that easily.

The function can be used for retouching objects which are on a flat plane, such as a floor moving away into the background or the front of a building looking up. In this scene, objects like waste paper can usually be removed before the photograph is taken. Fixed objects and certain nasty bits cannot be removed first.

1. Go to Filter > Vanishing Point.

2. The Create Plane Tool is selected as a default.

Click four points on the image to draw a grid which matches the perspective of the ground.

Draw the grid over a good portion of the ground.

3. The perspective of the Vanishing Point grid can be corrected by dragging one of the corners.

To rescale the grid, drag one of the side anchor points. Size will change without affecting perspective.

Drag the sides so that the grid covers the offending object.

4. Enlarge the preview of the image with Ctrl + = / Cmd + = and check that the grid is lined up accurately with the pavement stones. Adjust the corner points if necessary.

5. Choose the Stamp Tool from the toolbox.

At first the cursor is just a small cross.

The following settings were used at first:

Diameter 50
Hardness 75
Opacity 100
Heal On
Align Check

Heal switched On will blend the strokes into the surrounding pixels with colour and tone.

Heal Luminance will blend in the strokes with lighting, but will retain the colour of the clone sample.

5. Hold Alt and click on a good section of the cobbles.

The sample should be taken from an area where the perspective is larger than in the area to be repaired. This way the sample gets reduced in size and maintains better quality.

The size of the cloned sample can now be seen.

In the top options bar, Diameter is increased to 100.

As you move the cursor around the image, the size and perspective of the sample changes.

6. When the Vanishing Point feature is being used on a more random surface, like gravel, there will be a good blend more easily.

With strong vertical lines like here or with planks of wood, the cloned sample needs to be lined up before it is applied.

7. Enlarge the view with Ctrl + = / Cmd + = .

Match up the vertical joins in the cloned sample with a vertical line in the pavement.

Brush the clone sample over the bollard area to cover it.

The cloned area is brushed over the retouching area. Edges should blend in because of the Heal option.

It still takes a little practice and will not necessarily work perfectly first time.

8.Sometimes there can be rough edges around the join.

Align will sample pixels continuously as the stroke is applied.

If the sample is taken near an edge, it can run out of background and leave a rough edge.

In such cases, uncheck the Align box, and drag the cursor over the object again.

When Align is unchecked, only the initially sampled pixels are used.

There are other uses for this powerful tool, with perspective control and retouching. They are covered extensively in the Photoshop In A Day manual.