How to make her top appear even...

[Tina B.]

Have NEVER done this.  Or anything like it.  I would like to even out the black top.

[Damien Symonds]

I figure it will have to be a plain cloning job.  Hold on, I'll play ...

[Damien Symonds]

Here's the PSD

It's done, basically, using this method.

[Tina B.]

Awesome, thank you!  I have never ever done this or anything like it so I am eager to give this my best shot.  I read very carefully the tutorial (link) and went through various parts of the layers and masks class to refresh my memory.  When you say "use a big clone brush," do you mean choose the clone stamp tool?  And make the brush big?  I played with the tool briefly but it said I needed to choose a source point...that would be selecting skin (color) from that immediate area.  Right?  I've never done this before so please forgive me for asking what may seem like a silly question to you.
 

What I did so far is click on my "background" and did "ctrl J" and renamed the new layer, "Clone."  That's all I have done so far.  Just want to be sure I understand each step of the way...

[Damien Symonds]

1 hour ago, Tina Bremer said:

When you say "use a big clone brush," do you mean choose the clone stamp tool?

That's right.

1 hour ago, Tina Bremer said:

I played with the tool briefly but it said I needed to choose a source point

That's right, you have to Alt-click where you want the detail copied from.  If you've never used the Clone Tool before, I suggest finding a YouTube video about it.

1 hour ago, Tina Bremer said:

What I did so far is click on my "background" and did "ctrl J" and renamed the new layer, "Clone."  That's all I have done so far.  Just want to be sure I understand each step of the way...

Actually, it's not necessary to do Ctrl J in this case.  You'll see in my file that I used blank layers instead.

[Tina B.]

I've been away for a bit so I am going to try to work on this image.  When you say "blank layer," would that mean that I click on "create new layer" and this new layer goes above the background.  Do I understand correctly?

[Damien Symonds]

Yep, that's right.

[Tina B.]

Okay...I have watched several youtube videos.  Clearly I am doing something wrong because I am clicking on a source but instead of it showing up like skin color, red blotches are appearing instead.  I am SO frustrated.  What should my sample be on?  And I am including the image so you can see what is happening.  Red blotches.  I don't understand....

[Damien Symonds]

Ah yeah, that's the problem.  It must be on "Current and below".

[Tina B.]

Ok...I have studied your file and it appears that you cloned the belly part separate from her arm.  Am I confused or is that what you did?  This is so hard but I am determined to do this!

[Damien Symonds]

Yes, that's exactly right.

[Tina B.]

Is this a positive direction?  I think I have attempted this about 50 times.  NOT exaggerating. 

[Tina B.]

Damien...can you check this for me, please?  The post above...

[Damien Symonds]

Oh, sorry!  Yes, that's exactly right.

[Tina B.]

The color fill.  I have clicked on it a dozen times (on the file you provided) or more and the color fill makes it look more refined.  The edge looks refined.  Is that the purpose?  And I have no idea what you did to do that.  Do you use a brush?  Could you briefly explain the process? 

[Damien Symonds]

What?  No, it's just to add a bit of shadow.  Can't you see that when you turn it off and on?

[Tina B.]

I guess I don't know what shadow looks like when it's added.  I've never done this before.  So...how to create shadow.  Could you explain this to me?  If you want me to google it, that's fine, I just need to know what I'm searching for.  "Adding shadows?" 

[Damien Symonds]

Well, it's exactly how it looks.  I added a black Solid Color layer, then inverted the mask, then very gently painted on with a 5% white brush.

[Tina B.]

5%...is that opacity?
and...which place?

[Damien Symonds]

Brush opacity, NOT layer.

[Tina B.]

believable?  yay or nay?  I've redone it several times.  What a way to learn and remember how to do something....

[Damien Symonds]

Yep, that'll do.

[Tina B.]

When I am cloning...I keep getting this pop up.  Any idea what it means and what I should do?  I keep clicking "remind me later."

[Tina B.]

I have painstakingly attempted to recreate how perfect your example is.  Please take a moment and check this.  Thanks.

[Damien Symonds]

Oh, good job!  She will never know.