Clone brush tool question

[DaveAnyc]

Whenever I use the Clone Brush Tool to clone over a larger area, rather than just single clonings, the selector cross drags along (usually an inch or so lower in frame) and makes a new clone point and image. Is there a setting I can use that will allow me to clone one section.image and reuse it over and over? 

[walt.farrell]

You perhaps have the Aligned option set on in the Context Toolbar, and want it off? (Or vice versa.)

[DaveAnyc]

Yes, Walt that did the trick. Can you explain why I would want the aligned option on, and perhaps how to reset the position of the 'aligned' + for those times when I could want to do cloning like that?

Thanks

[walt.farrell]

8 hours ago, DaveAnyc said:

Can you explain why I would want the aligned option on, and perhaps how to reset the position of the 'aligned' + for those times when I could want to do cloning like that?

Glad it helped

Sorry, no, I can't explain the use cases. I don't use cloning very often, and don't remember when I use which option. But all the apps I've ever used that support cloning have those two modes of operation, so both must be useful. It probably depends on the image and exactly what you're trying to do.

To reset the clone source position you would Alt+Click with the tool.

[PaulEC]

As Walt says, you alt+click to select the origin point. If "align" is selected the origin point moves in relation to where you are painting with the clone brush. If "align" is not selected the origin point stays where it is, so that it keeps cloning from the same point. With the brush aligned you can copy one whole area to another place, however, with it unaligned you can keep repeating a smaller area over a larger one (maybe to fill a larger area with grass by cloning it from a smaller one.) The main problem with this is that you can end up with an obvious repeated pattern if you're not careful!  

[DaveAnyc]

Perfect. Thanks Walt and PaulEC, this will make the CloneBrush much more useable. I'll experiment with the Alt click to reset position in aligned mode and see if that allows me to set its relative position.