Raw SmithGuide
Remove dust and distractions with Heal and Clone
To remove dust, blemishes or small distractions in Raw Smith, open a photo, choose the Remove tab and tap the spot. Heal blends it into what's around it, and Clone copies another part of the photo over it as it is.
Remove works the same on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Like every edit in Raw Smith, it's non-destructive: spots are stored with the photo's edits, and the original RAW is never changed.
How to open the Remove tool
- iPhone: tap Remove in the tab bar under the photo. Tap it again to close the panel.
- iPad and Mac: choose Remove in the tool rail on the right of the editor.
- With a keyboard: press Q, or choose Develop › Remove.
The panel has two modes, Heal and Clone. The inspector header counts the spots on the photo, for example "3 spots".
Heal or Clone: which should you use?
| Heal | Blends the spot into what's around it. Best for sensor dust in skies, blemishes on skin and small marks on smooth surfaces. |
|---|---|
| Clone | Copies another part of the photo as it is. Best where texture or an edge has to continue exactly, such as brickwork, a horizon or a fence line. |
Start with Heal. If it smears a pattern or softens an edge, delete the spot and use Clone instead.
How to add a spot
- Choose Heal or Clone.
- Tap (or click) the photo where the spot is. A spot appears with two rings.
- Drag the red ring to move the spot onto exactly what you want removed.
- Drag the green ring to change where it's filled from. Pick an area with the same light and texture.
Zoom in first for dust: double-tap or double-click the photo, or use the zoom button over it. Sensor dust is easiest to see in plain skies.
How to adjust or delete a spot
Select a spot to show its sliders:
| Size | How big the spot is. Make it just larger than the mark. |
|---|---|
| Feather | How softly the edge of the spot fades into the photo. |
| Opacity | How strongly the fill covers the mark. Lower it to soften something rather than remove it. |
Spots are listed in the panel as Heal 1, Clone 1 and so on, each with a trash button to delete it. To clear every spot, use Reset in the panel header.
Removing the same dust from many photos
Sensor dust sits in the same place on every frame from a shoot. Fix it on one photo, then copy the spots to the rest:
- On the fixed photo, choose Copy Settings… (⇧⌘C, or the Actions menu on iPhone).
- Tick only Remove and choose Copy.
- Open each other photo and choose Paste Settings (⇧⌘V).
A preset can carry spots too: when you save one, turn on Remove under Includes. See Presets.
What Remove doesn't do
Spots are circular; there is no brush-stroke heal for long marks such as power lines. Cover a long mark with a row of overlapping spots. There is no generative fill: every spot is made from the photo's own pixels.
Before and after doesn't work while the Remove tab is open. Switch to another tab and press and hold the photo to compare. See Editing.
Questions
How do I remove a dust spot from a RAW photo?
Open the photo, choose the Remove tab, pick Heal and tap the dust spot. Raw Smith blends the spot into what's around it, and you can drag its rings to fine-tune it.
What's the difference between Heal and Clone?
Heal blends the spot into its surroundings, matching their light and color. Clone copies another part of the photo exactly as it is, which suits patterns and hard edges.
Is removing spots destructive?
No. Spots are part of the photo's edits, like any slider. The original RAW is never changed, and you can move, resize or delete a spot at any time.
Can Raw Smith remove large objects with generative fill?
No. Remove works with circular Heal and Clone spots made from the photo's own pixels. There is no generative fill.