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What Are Examples of Destructive Editing in Photoshop?

Last updated on September 24, 2022 @ 1:26 am

As its name suggests, destructive editing is when you make changes to a photo that cannot be undone. In Photoshop, this is usually done by making changes to the pixels in an image, which are the tiny dots that make up a photo. When you change the pixels in an image, you are permanently changing the photo.

There are many ways to change pixels in an image, but some of the most common ways are by using the eraser tool, the paintbrush tool, and the clone stamp tool.

The eraser tool is perhaps the most well-known way to make changes to pixels in an image. When you use the eraser tool, you are essentially removing pixels from the image. This can be helpful if you want to remove something from a photo, but it can also be destructive if you accidentally remove something that you didn’t mean to.

PRO TIP: Please be aware that destructive editing in Photoshop can irreversibly damage or delete your image file.

The paintbrush tool is another way to change pixels in an image. When you use the paintbrush tool, you are essentially adding pixels to the image. This can be helpful if you want to add something to a photo, but it can also be destructive if you accidentally add something that you didn’t mean to.

The clone stamp tool is yet another way to change pixels in an image. When you use the clone stamp tool, you are essentially copying pixels from one part of the image and pasting them over another part of the image. This can be helpful if you want to cover up something in a photo, but it can also be destructive if you accidentally copy and paste something that you didn’t mean to.

Destructive editing is when changes made cannot be undone and permanently alters an image. The three main ways this is done in Photoshop is through using the eraser, paintbrush, or clone stamp tools where each one removes, adds, or copies pixels respectively. Although each method has its own purpose, all three can easily lead to accidental destruction of an image if not used carefully.

Dale Leydon

Dale Leydon

Sysadmin turned Javascript developer. Owner of 20+ apps graveyard, and a couple of successful ones.