Using Vanishing Point for perspective cloning in Photoshop

Vanishing Point is a special plugin that allows for perspective cloning. Essentially, a user can identify perspective planes (such as sides of a building), and then apply edits such as painting, cloning, copying or pasting, and transforming.

All the edits to the image honor the perspective of the plane you are working on; basically, you are retouching the image dimensionally. This produces significantly more realistic results, but it does take some time to set up.

How to get started

Invoke the Vanishing Point dialog box by choosing Filter > Vanishing Point. This will bring up a custom interface for defining the perspective planes, as well as tools for editing the image.

You must first specify planes to define perspective in the image. For this photo, you want to replace the burned-out letter O.

Choose the Create Plane tool and define the four corner nodes of the plane surface. You can use the edges of the sign for guidance when creating the plane.

After creating the four corner nodes, Photoshop allows you to move, scale, or reshape the plane. An accurate plane means accurate vanishing point effects, so take your time.

If there’s a problem with a corner node’s placement, the bounding box and grid turn red or yellow. You must then move a corner node until the bounding box and grid turn blue or green. This means that the plane is valid. A plane that is yellow or red is a problem plane and needs to be adjusted.

Grab the left edge of the plane and extend it to the left, and then repeat for the right edge. This gives you more room for cloning. Strokes can be painted only onto the grid.

Then zoom in so you can make a more accurate selection. Select the Stamp tool in the Vanishing Point window. Option-click (Alt-click on PC) on the illuminated letter O that is on the front of the sign. You can also experiment with the Heal option to improve the blending.

Position your painting cursor (using the preview for guidance) and clone the illuminated letter over the burned-out letter.

When you’re satisfied with the perspective cloning, click OK.