My clone stamp tool went bonkers

[rpcrowe]

I always had a circle when I chose my clone stamp tool delineating the size of the stamp and what area I was choosing to duplicate. The circle would also let me be aware where I was cloning the information.. I changed the size of the stamp tool circle by either selecting the size in the top line or simply using the [ or ] tools.

Suddenly I did not get the circle outline. I was selecting a circle of content to clone but, I pretty well had to guess the size and the content.

Then after about an hour, suddenly the circle reappeared and works just fine.

I know that this must have been user error but, would like to know what happened; so I can get the circle back if I lose it again. The clone stamp is one of my favorite tools in the Photoshop tool bar...

As always, this happened at a time when I needed to get the images of two dogs online in a hurry...

[Shadowman]

Hi Richard,

It does happen especially if you've exhausted your systems memory, usually a reboot or closing down extraneous background applications help.

[Manfred M]

You didn't accidentally hit the "Caps Lock" key?

[Saorsa]

You need to read more science fiction. You can never trust a clone to be an absolute copy. That assumption always leads to bad things.

[Black Pearl]

As Manfred said the Caps Lock switches (some of) the tool tips between their standard view showing the shape and precise which is a cross-hair.

[Dave Humphries]

As Manfred said the Caps Lock switches (some of) the tool tips between their standard view showing the shape and precise which is a cross-hair.

... and there's another thing learnt today; thanks Manfred and Robin (and Richard for asking in the first place)

[John 2]

... and there's another thing learnt today; thanks Manfred and Robin (and Richard for asking in the first place)

Ditto. A useful bit of info.

[bje07]

... and there's another thing learnt today; thanks Manfred and Robin (and Richard for asking in the first place)

It's a so common mistake that I did earlier ....but not yet

[Manfred M]

... and there's another thing learnt today; thanks Manfred and Robin (and Richard for asking in the first place)

Dave - I learned this the hard way some years back (my wireless keyboard of the time did not show the "cap locks on" in an intuitive manner, so I spent some time Googling on this topic until I discovered this Photoshop "feature", which has been part of Photoshop for a very long time. I think it was there in the first version I worked with (Photoshop CS - which came out in 2003).

[rpcrowe]

WOW... Thanks Manfred... This has happened before and I didn't know how it happened or how that I could remedy it.

The Caps Lock was the "CULPRIT" and "OPERATOR ERROR" was the reason...

This is a great site. I had been trying to research this problem on Google but, never found the remedy...

[Dave Humphries]

Dave's tip of the day ...

My computer provides a high note 'beep' when Caps Lock goes on and a lower note 'beep' when it goes off (same for Num Lock), this is invaluable for recognising when you accidentally hit a key while typing or image editing.

It also flashes up a brief message on screen, this can be disabled.

UPDATED AGAIN
The beep appears to be part of Windows 10; to be found under Settings > Ease of Access and then the 'Keyboard' tab (on left), then it's in the 'Toggle Keys' section.

HTH, Dave

[rpcrowe]

Thanks Dave...

I hate it when I accidentally hit the caps lock key... The beep will warn me.

I wish that the caps lock would be up along the top row of keys instead of right next to the "A" key...

[Black Pearl]

The caps Lock on my keyboard has a green LED embedded in it that lights up - simple and effective.

[Dave Humphries]

The caps Lock on my keyboard has a green LED embedded in it that lights up - simple and effective.

I guess it is a wired USB one then?

Mine's wireless, so this isn't a viable option (LED would flatten battery).

[Manfred M]

My newer Logitech wireless keyboard does have a caps lock LED too. My old Microsoft keyboard does not. The battery life has been several years. I guess I don't use caps lock very often so that does not drain the battery.