Set sample sources for cloning and healing

Last updated on Oct 27, 2025

Learn how to set up and switch between multiple sample sources using the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush tools in Adobe Photoshop.

In Adobe Photoshop, you can sample pixels from multiple sources to clone or heal content more precisely. Sampling sources can come from the same document, a different open document, or even different frames when working with video or animation. The Clone Source panel stores up to five sources at a time until you close the document.

Note

If you're working on video or animation content, open the Timeline panel and move the current-time indicator to the frame you want to sample from.

Select the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush tool, then Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (macOS) on the area you want to sample in any open document.

Select Window > Clone Source to display the panel if it's not visible.

To define another sampling point, open the Clone Source panel, select a different Clone Source icon, and repeat the sampling step.

Tip

You can update any Clone Source button by sampling again after selecting it.

Paint over the target area to clone the pixels. In the Clone Source panel, choose the corresponding button to switch between sampling sources.