Wrinkles in clothes can distract from the overall appearance of your photos, whether it’s a fashion shot or a portrait. Fortunately, Adobe Photoshop offers powerful tools to help you remove these imperfections seamlessly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to remove wrinkles from clothes in Photoshop effectively and professionally.

Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Wrinkles in Photoshop

Step 1: Open the Image in Photoshop

Start by opening your image in Photoshop. Go to File > Open and choose the image you want to edit.

Step 2: Create a Duplicate Layer

Before making any edits, it’s important to work on a duplicate layer so that your original image remains intact. To do this, select the Background Layer in the Layers panel, right-click, and choose Duplicate Layer. Rename it if necessary, and click OK.

Step 3: Select the Healing Brush Tool

To remove wrinkles, you’ll primarily use the Healing Brush Tool. This tool blends the texture, lighting, and shading of the surrounding pixels to erase imperfections like wrinkles.

  • Select the Healing Brush Tool from the toolbar on the left.
  • Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) and click an area near the wrinkle that is smooth and wrinkle-free to sample the texture.
  • Release the Alt/Option key and paint over the wrinkle. Photoshop will blend the sample area with the wrinkle, making it less visible.

Step 4: Use the Spot Healing Brush Tool for Smaller Areas

For smaller, finer wrinkles, the Spot Healing Brush Tool is ideal because it automatically samples the surrounding pixels and applies the correction.

  • Select the Spot Healing Brush Tool from the same toolbar.
  • Adjust the brush size as needed using the bracket keys [ ] on your keyboard.
  • Simply paint over the wrinkle, and Photoshop will remove it.

Step 5: Utilize the Clone Stamp Tool (Optional)

If some wrinkles are particularly stubborn or in tricky areas, you may want to use the Clone Stamp Tool. This tool allows you to copy a portion of the image and paste it over the wrinkles manually.

  • Select the Clone Stamp Tool from the toolbar.
  • Hold Alt/Option and click to sample a clean area.
  • Paint over the wrinkle, copying pixels from the sampled area.

Step 6: Smooth the Fabric with the Dodge and Burn Tools

After removing wrinkles, the fabric may still look a little uneven. To restore smoothness and depth, you can use the Dodge and Burn tools.

  • The Dodge Tool lightens areas of the image, which can help lift shadows caused by wrinkles.
  • The Burn Tool darkens areas, which can add depth to flat-looking fabric.

To use these tools:

  1. Select the Dodge Tool from the toolbar and set the range to Midtones with a low exposure (around 10-20%).
  2. Lightly paint over shadowed areas where wrinkles used to be.
  3. Then, select the Burn Tool and darken areas that may appear too flat after removing the wrinkles.

Step 7: Adjust the Opacity (If Needed)

If the edits look too obvious or unnatural, you can lower the Opacity of the edited layer. This can blend the changes more subtly with the original image.

  • Go to the Layers panel, click on the edited layer, and adjust the Opacity slider to reduce the strength of the edits.

Step 8: Save Your Work

Once you’re satisfied with the results, save your work by going to File > Save As and choose the desired file format (e.g., JPEG, PNG, or PSD).

FAQs About Removing Wrinkles from Clothes in Photoshop

1. Can I remove wrinkles from clothes in Photoshop using other tools?

Yes, apart from the Healing Brush and Clone Stamp tools, you can also use the Liquify filter to smooth out fabric. However, be cautious with this tool as it can distort the image if not used carefully.

2. Which is the best tool to remove wrinkles in Photoshop?

The Healing Brush Tool is generally the best choice for removing wrinkles because it blends the texture and color of surrounding areas for a seamless finish. The Spot Healing Brush Tool is also excellent for small, localized wrinkles.

3. How do I prevent my edited image from looking fake or over-processed?

To avoid an over-processed look, use the healing tools with a lower opacity, and blend your corrections gently. You can also adjust the opacity of the edited layer, ensuring the edits look natural.

4. How do I smooth fabric without losing texture?

Use the Dodge and Burn tools with low exposure settings to enhance shadows and highlights in the fabric. This will help maintain the natural texture while smoothing out wrinkles.

5. Can I remove wrinkles from clothes in Photoshop Elements?

Yes, the process is similar in Photoshop Elements. You can use the Healing Brush Tool and Clone Stamp Tool to remove wrinkles, though the tools may have slightly different names or locations.


Removing wrinkles from clothes in Photoshop can significantly improve the overall appearance of your photos. By following the steps above, you can make quick and professional edits that leave the fabric looking smooth and natural.

This page was last edited on 18 September 2024, at 6:17 pm