# Before
![IMG_0120_original.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVAFS9axwG7QwaYB44d6aVTTa2qmpizf4AWr7RBX3Vywa/IMG_0120_original.jpg) 

 # After
![IMG_0120_edited.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZzbS8BtfkaQsZLqsKxdUwdn2HNMc7PtpqLHaguWdnER4/IMG_0120_edited.jpg)

# An old flame doesn’t need to prevent the continued circulation of an otherwise circulatable photo 😍

[Bathing Belles](http://instagram.com/bathing_belles) parted ways with a musical partner a couple months ago, not too long after we had taken a bunch of photos together. Luckily, this type of Photoshopping is my favorite -- technical procedural work that is done best *when you can't tell it was done at all.*

# Here is my process...
There may be better ways to do this, but I will show you what I do. It involves a lot of duplicating, cloning, and [masking](https://steemit.com/photography/@kindstranger/mask-me-like-one-of-your-french-girls-in-photoshop). 

https://youtu.be/petll6y4Zrk

### 1. Mask the foreground
 Duplicate the background layer and mask the part of the foreground area that is touching the part of the image that will be erased. 

![IMG_0120_edited_fg.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXiRB8CmwkDx8PU7yoRvsQefLGovUC8vSUpXLFk64yh2U/IMG_0120_edited_fg.png)

In this case, my left arm was touching his *soon-to-be-erased* body. I wanted to be able to paint/paste background contents on new layers and tuck them safely underneath my foreground/arm layer. 

## 2. Clone + Mask
Make a new blank layer. Use the **Clone Stamp Tool** to sample parts of the background that could be used to cover up the person/object/ex you are trying to remove. In my case, I sampled the visible areas of trees, and [I masked away parts that I didn't like or need](https://steemit.com/photography/@kindstranger/mask-me-like-one-of-your-french-girls-in-photoshop).

## 3. Duplicate + Mask
You can also straight up copy and paste parts of the image. In this photo, I used the **Rectangular Marquee Tool** to select segments of trees and paste them into different areas.

![Screen Shot 2017-12-12 at 1.10.24 AM.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNYjRBcxu32bhMThwFkqmWUmVhSXkwwMQFU5uwwxNPSX1/Screen%20Shot%202017-12-12%20at%201.10.24%20AM.png)

I added [masks](https://steemit.com/photography/@kindstranger/mask-me-like-one-of-your-french-girls-in-photoshop) to those layers so I could smooth out their hard edges.

![Screen Shot 2017-12-12 at 1.10.37 AM.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQHym2CwJDcADvK6M4FwEBWE9svvHALaRVjP3viskx5R2/Screen%20Shot%202017-12-12%20at%201.10.37%20AM.png)

## Trust your eye, and use whatever you have access to.
There are no limits! You can sample:
* Elements of the photo 
* Elements of other photos from the same session that may contain more visible background elements
* Elements from random internet photos that look like they could be part of your photo.

**Little by little,** you will come up with a convincing photo. <3

![IMG_0147_orig_1000px.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfWSfMVqNHERduQ9QLoJzwtyixfDYfy85TsMvsr6e1CnC/IMG_0147_orig_1000px.jpg)

![IMG_0147_new_1000px.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRpTSz3aMNUXjjpSQdJq7ugkykSJog3TkhCCExSKrVXri/IMG_0147_new_1000px.jpg)

![IMG_0300_orig_1000px.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmP4ukZUNjmAc1f9vZAm7bei2GgBKNxakwnwZYpj4SR2oh/IMG_0300_orig_1000px.jpg)

![IMG_0300_new_1000px.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVG12ferqFan4FNGGNLEmqK5HrbWjoHp1P85Lakf3pRPq/IMG_0300_new_1000px.jpg)

*Share your tips with me!* 
I would love it.
-Jessica

*P.S. That's @amyinautumn in the photos with me. Say hello, [she's new...](https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@amyinautumn/introducing-me-amyinautumn-nude-model-by-day-kindergarten-teacher-by-night) ;)*