HOWTO | Move a subject in your image

1 Clone the subject

Before we use the Content-Aware Move tool, let’s look at the other way to reposition a subject. Use the Clone Stamp tool and set Size to 400 in the Tool Options. Hold down å and click your subject to sample it. Move the cursor to the right and paint in the cloned pixels in the new position.

2 Hide the original

This cloning technique leaves you with two subjects. To hide the original, hold å and click a clear patch of the images you want to replace it with (in our case, grass). You may need to resample a few times for large subjects. When done, choose Edit > Revert to get the original image back.

3 Set up the tool

Zoom in for a close look. Select the Content-Aware Move tool. In the Tool Options, click the New icon. Set Mode to Move. The Healing slider creates a tight or loose blend between the moved subject and its new surroundings – try it in the middle at first, but don’t be afraid to experiment.

4 Create a new layer

Go to Layer > New > Layer, and click OK. A transparent layer is created – editing on this layer lets us tidy up our move more easily and effectively. Tick the Sample All Layers box in the Tool Options, so the Content-Aware Move tool transfers pixels from the Background layer onto the new one.

5 Move the subject

Click and drag to draw around your subject, including some of the area around it. Drag the selection marquee to move the subject to the right – don’t worry if it overlaps the original. When you let go, the tool moves the subject, blend it and remove all traces from its original position.

6 Tidy up

The copied subject appears on the transparent layer in the Layers panel. Press ç+D to deselect the marquee. If any copied areas don’t quite work, remove them with the Eraser tool. If any traces remain in the original location, use the Spot Healing Brush (tick the Sample All Layers option).

7 Extend a selection

Content-Aware Move can also extend a selection. Click the tool’s icon and tick the Extend button in the Tool Options. Here, we’ve selected the boundary between the sea and the sky. Click inside the marquee and drag the horizon upwards. The tool stretches the original horizon and blends it.

8 Heal the join

Deselect the marquee – you can see the join between your original line and the extension. To make them seamless, use the Spot Healing Brush tool. Tick the Proximity Match button in the Tool Options. Click a few times over any obvious joins to blend them together.