Paint and clone frames in video layers

Last updated on Oct 10, 2026

Learn how to apply brush and cloning tools to edit individual video frames nondestructively in Photoshop.

Editing individual frames lets you add content, remove unwanted details, create animations, or retouch motion footage frame by frame.

This procedure applies to video layers in the Timeline panel. You can paint directly on video frames or use cloning tools to sample and duplicate content across frames. All edits are nondestructive—the original video file remains unchanged, and you can restore any frame at any time.

For color management considerations when painting on video layers, ensure your document color space matches your video footage color space, or assign appropriate color profiles to avoid unexpected color shifts in your final output.

Video layer added to your document.

The Timeline panel is visible (select Window > Timeline). For cloning workflows: The Clone Source panel is visible (select Window > Clone Source).

Paint directly on video frames

In the Timeline or Layers panel, select the video layer.

Move the current time indicator to the frame you want to edit.

Optional: Select Layer > Video Layers > New Blank Video Layer to paint edits on a separate layer.

Select any brush tool (Brush, Clone Stamp, Pattern Stamp, Healing Brush, or Spot Healing Brush) and configure the tool options.

Paint on the frame to apply your edits.

Tip

Painting on a blank video layer keeps your edits separate from the original footage and gives you more flexibility when adjusting blend modes or opacity.

Clone content across video frames

Select the Clone Stamp

or
Healing Brush

tool, then configure its options.

Select the source video layer in the Layers or Timeline panel, then move the current time indicator to the frame you want to sample.

Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (macOS) in the frame to set the sampling point.

Optional: In the Clone Source panel, select a different Clone Source button

to store additional sampling points (up to five total).

Move the current time indicator to the target frame you want to paint.

Optional: In the Clone Source panel, adjust W (width), H (height), or rotation values to scale or rotate the sampled content.

Optional: Select Show Overlay in the Clone Source panel to preview the source content before painting.

Drag over the target area to apply the cloned content.

The Clone Stamp tool copies pixels exactly, while the Healing Brush blends sampled content with the target frame's texture and lighting. Both tools support multiple sampling sources that remain available until you close the document.

Change frame offset for cloning

In the Clone Source panel, select Lock Frame to always paint using the same frame you initially sampled.

To sample from a frame relative to your current position, enter a positive or negative number in the Frame Offset box (positive values sample from later frames, negative values from earlier frames).

The Frame Offset lets you maintain consistent temporal relationships when cloning across multiple frames in a sequence.

Restore edited video frames

In the Timeline panel, select the video layer containing the edits.

To restore a specific frame: Move the current time indicator to that frame, then select Layer > Video Layers > Restore Frame.

To restore all frames: Select Layer > Video Layers > Restore All Frames.

Restoring frames discards only the painted or cloned edits—adjustment layers, masks, and other layer-based modifications remain intact.