RESOLVE FX · CONTROLLED PAINT-OUT
Patch Replacer.
Borrow the right texture.
Make the repair disappear.
Patch Replacer is a precise source-to-target repair tool. Position a clean donor, choose Clone or Blend Clone for literal versus lighting-aware fill, or switch to donor-free Fast Mask/Blend Mask for tiny marks. The hard part is not concealing the object: it is matching texture, edges and motion so no one notices the intervention.
Region Shape + Target
Clone · Blend Clone · Mask
Edges · Tracking · Global Blend
Drag SOURCE and TARGET on the left panel; compare their output on the right. Make the target larger, switch to Fast Mask or turn off a track on Moving surface. The point is to expose specific failure modes, not to imitate the exact Resolve renderer.
What is likely to fail?+
Seam risk: WATCH
Detail loss: LOW
Tracking drift: LOW
Drag the SOURCE patch over the unwanted mark to see why the donor must be clean.
Independent schematic teaching simulation, not live Resolve rendering or a verified mapping of its slider values. *Alpha channel is shown as an illustrative irregular shape, not a live external matte. Dragging, blend, feather, masks and tracking are approximations only. Consult the ten native screenshots below for the actual interface.
Ten original Resolve 21 captures + an explicitly educational live model
10 screenshots · 4 methods · 4 exercises01DONOR, TARGET AND METHOD
A clean donor is not the same thing as a clean result.
Find where the replacement pixels come from before tuning how their seam disappears. The different Fill-in methods do not share the same source model.
Two regions solve two different problems.
The target patch covers the unwanted feature; the source patch samples clean geometry and texture to transfer. The Viewer arrow indicates source → target. If the donor mismatches perspective, lighting, color or grain, excessive Blur Edges will not rescue it: choose a genuinely compatible nearby donor first.
The method decides whether a donor exists.
Clone copies a source literally; Blend Clone integrates source detail with local target lighting. Fast Mask and Blend Mask require no separate donor and use neighboring pixels: useful for small defects, but large regions can expose grid patterns or softness. Do not compare methods by a single numeric setting; their available controls and behavior differ.
Patch density, edge and motion are separate stages.
Replacement Detail and Keep Original Detail shape what survives inside the region. Variability and Blur Edges affect fill behavior and the transition. FX Tracker plus Source Follows Track/Target Follows Track keeps patches aligned in time. Use Global Blend only after donor, shape, edge and tracking are correct, or the unwanted detail simply returns.
In the teaching model you can deliberately pick a bad donor, enlarge the target, switch Fill-in method or disable tracking. Textures and seams are illustrative visual metaphors, not Blackmagic OFX math, verified UI parameter ranges or actual GPU output.
02REAL RESOLVE 21 CONTROLS
Five control families, ten native panel views.
Native Inspector captures demonstrate Region Shape, Fill-in method, Details, Patch Positions, On-Screen Controls, four dropdowns and Global Blend. Values in the captures describe one saved state, not universal presets.
01 / SHAPE + METHOD
First define the shape and the fill model
- Region Shape
The region geometry: Rectangle and Ellipse supply built-in shapes, while Alpha channel uses a prepared matte/alpha for complex silhouettes.
CheckInspect the edge against the unwanted feature and surrounding details.
- Rectangle
Rectangular region for tiles, screens and hard geometry. An oversized target destroys otherwise useful texture.
CheckWatch the corners: a hard rectangle can advertise the replacement.
- Ellipse
Oval form often works for blemishes, stickers, sensors and other rounded defects.
CheckDo not leave the feature’s shadow/reflection directly outside the ellipse.
- Alpha channel
Uses a supplied alpha matte instead of a built-in Rectangle/Ellipse; prepare the alpha path correctly before tuning the fill.
CheckConfirm the alpha covers the entire blemish without cutting unrelated foreground.
- Fill-in method
The main algorithm switch: Clone / Blend Clone sample a source patch; Fast Mask / Blend Mask dispense with the separate donor and fill from neighboring pixels.
CheckOn large targets inspect seams, texture repetition and grid/blur, not just disappearance.
- Clone
Direct source → target copy. Effective where lighting and perspective already match.
CheckIf a literal stamp appears, move the donor before softening the edge.
- Blend Clone
Combines donor detail with the target lighting, often blending more naturally. It cannot fix strongly incompatible texture.
CheckCompare against Clone under complex lighting and high-contrast textures.
- Fast Mask
Fills using neighboring pixels without a donor. Quick for tiny marks, but large areas may reveal a grid pattern.
CheckDo not enlarge the target to cover a big object without checking repeating patterns.
- Blend Mask
Also works without a source patch; uses a blended fill that may become soft on large areas.
CheckCheck sharpness and Variability at real 100% scale.
- Replacement Detail
Controls the contribution of replacement detail in applicable methods. The captured 1.000 is not a universal preset.
CheckIf the blemish survives, fix donor/method instead of blindly reducing detail.
- Keep Original Detail
In Blend Clone merges source and target detail into a composite rather than a complete fill. Can retain local texture but also revive the unwanted feature.
CheckEnable only when original texture is genuinely useful and does not revive the defect.
02 / PATCH DETAIL + EDGE
Tune patch center, seam and frame boundary
- Variability
In applicable modes tunes how solid/uniform the center of a blended patch appears. Important for Mask/Blend Clone; it is not simply random-noise generation.
CheckInspect the patch center when it looks unnaturally flat or overly soft.
- Blur Edges
Feathers the repair boundary; behavior can differ between Blend Clone and Clone. More feather cannot correct a bad donor.
CheckExcess feathering creates a soft halo, especially on high-contrast surfaces.
- Border Type
How to extend missing frame data near edges: Black, Replicate, Reflect or Wrap-Around. It is a frame-boundary extension mode.
CheckBlack can introduce darkness; Wrap-Around may borrow unrelated opposite-side pixels.
- Frame Edge Pixels
Separately handles pixels on the actual frame edge: From Source Patch, Preserve Existing or Replace With Blended. It is distinct from Border Type.
CheckTest the patch at the image edge; a central crop cannot reveal the difference.
03 / GEOMETRY + TRACK
Keep donor and target aligned through motion
- Source Position X / Y
Numeric, keyframeable coordinates of the clean donor texture. A distant donor is more likely to mismatch light, perspective and detail.
CheckDuring camera movement the donor must remain on the intended physical surface.
- Target Position X / Y
Placement of the repair region over the blemish. The position can be keyframed if a single tracker does not fit its motion.
CheckInspect the first, middle and final frames of the intervention.
- Target Width
Width of the target region. Cover the defect and needed shadow without needlessly replacing clean background.
CheckSide seams should preserve lines and texture.
- Target Height
Height of the region; together with Width defines the patch footprint and Ellipse proportions.
CheckOversized height may repeat visible patterns on walls or fabric.
- Source Follows Sizing
Controls how source geometry follows sizing changes. Verify the behavior in your node/order; it is not the same as FX Tracker motion.
CheckAfter changing Zoom/Position verify the donor remains on the intended surface.
- Target Follows Sizing
Separate participation of target region in sizing transforms; donor and destination can require different dependencies.
CheckCheck whether the target still covers the blemish after sizing.
- Source Follows Track
Allows donor region to follow the FX Tracker. Useful when the donor moves with a surface, which may differ from the target surface.
CheckWith parallax and independent motion, inspect source separately from target.
- Target Follows Track
Allows target region to follow the FX Tracker so the repair stays on the unwanted feature over time.
CheckThe blemish must not escape the patch during fast motion or motion blur.
- Align Source To Target
The button puts donor and target at the same coordinates. It is a reset/iteration shortcut, not an automatic clean-source finder.
CheckAfter alignment move the donor onto clean texture; sampling the blemish is not a repair.
04 / VIEWER GUIDES
Control onscreen guides separately from the repair
- On-Screen Controls
Viewer visibility for source/target handles and the connecting arrow; it does not change the pixel-processing method.
CheckHide guides for final QC so they do not conceal seams.
- Show
Keeps onscreen handles visible while positioning and tuning the patch pair.
CheckConfirm the arrow goes from the donor to the target.
- Auto Hide
Temporarily hides guides while dragging so the image beneath remains visible.
CheckInspect texture while moving the region.
- Hide
Removes onscreen overlays for viewing without disabling the effect or deleting the patch.
CheckJudge the image with guides off at 100% and in motion.
05 / FINAL OUTPUT
Dose the completed repair only after it is structurally sound
- Global Blend · Blend
Master mixing control for the Patch Replacer result. The capture shows 1.000; do not lower it just to disguise a bad donor or tracking.
CheckIf the unwanted feature returns, the problem is not fixed by the master mix.
Important: Mask modes remove the separate donor entirely. In source-based modes, first fix texture/perspective; only then soften edge or alter Global Blend. Border Type extends image data beyond the frame, while Frame Edge Pixels controls the pixels exactly on the frame boundary.
03A REPEATABLE PAINT-OUT PATH
Choose the source before hiding the seam.
The quickest reliable route is target → donor or neighbor-only method → fill → detail/edge → FX Tracker/keyframes → playback and delivery QC.
Define the smallest honest target
Use Ellipse/Rectangle for simple marks; use Alpha channel only when a prepared matte is really supplied. Cover the feature and necessary shadow, not the whole neighboring wall.
A teaching decision path, not a literal Resolve node graph. Source is relevant only in Clone / Blend Clone. This is why correcting the donor before touching Blur Edges or Global Blend matters.
Related repairs: Object Removal ↗ · Dead Pixel Fixer ↗ · Dust Buster ↗ · Frame Replacer ↗
04FOUR REAL EDITING DECISIONS
Different defects need different source logic.
Follow these procedures with your own footage; each task includes a specific acceptance test. They are exercises, not claims of automated Resolve certification.
Remove a wall switch
A controllable patch with matching light
SetupUse a shot of a wall switch with clean matching wall nearby; work on a dedicated Color node.
- 01
Set Ellipse and cover the switch body plus its necessary shadow.
- 02
Place the donor on the same wall plane without crossing seams or lighting boundaries.
- 03
Compare Clone with Blend Clone; start with Blend Clone under graded lighting.
- 04
Tune Replacement Detail and Blur Edges at 100% without halos, then check playback.
Wall texture and grain stay continuous across the seam; the switch does not show through in any frame.
Repair a tiny blemish
Compare the two donor-free Mask modes
SetupChoose a short clip with a small dot on a relatively even area, much smaller than any meaningful subject.
- 01
Use a tightly sized target without unnecessary background.
- 02
Choose Fast Mask and inspect the center at 100% for a grid pattern.
- 03
Switch to Blend Mask; compare fine texture, Variability and softness.
- 04
If the blemish exceeds the useful neighboring texture, switch to source-based Clone/Blend Clone.
The tiny defect is gone while nearby lines, sharpness and grain remain continuous.
Remove a logo from a moving object
Track donor and target deliberately
SetupUse a short moving-surface shot with a matching clean area on the same surface.
- 01
Place donor and target on the same physical plane; first observe the untracked baseline.
- 02
Use FX Tracker to track motion of the relevant surface.
- 03
Inspect Source Follows Track and Target Follows Track independently in motion, not on a still.
- 04
Keyframe Source/Target Position and Target Width/Height across perspective changes, then inspect shot exit.
Patch does not drift, logo remains covered and donor texture never sticks to the wrong plane.
Repair at the frame boundary
Separate border extension from edge-pixel treatment
SetupUse a small defect touching the frame edge where source/target may sample outside the image.
- 01
Compare Border Type Black, Replicate, Reflect and Wrap-Around on the same frame.
- 02
Check Frame Edge Pixels: From Source Patch, Preserve Existing, Replace With Blended.
- 03
Fix border treatment first, then use only as much Blur Edges as needed.
- 04
Scrub the clip and make a short export; inspect actual boundary pixels without Viewer scaling.
No black fringe, inappropriate mirrored texture or color shift directly at the frame boundary.
05PICK THE CORRECT REPAIR MODEL
Source patch, temporal repair or whole-frame recovery?
The smallest controllable repair often wins. But a donor patch should not be forced to reconstruct content it cannot actually match.
| FX | Source model | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Patch Replacer | Manual donor/target pair or neighboring Mask-fill in a controlled region. | Small/medium defects with compatible nearby clean texture. |
| Object Removal ↗ | Temporal scene analysis and clean-plate reconstruction inside a tracked matte. | No usable nearby donor, but background becomes visible in adjacent frames. |
| Dead Pixel Fixer ↗ | Local stationary/sensor patches and repair-source selection. | A dead/stuck pixel stays fixed for the whole shot. |
| Dust Buster ↗ | Patches transient blemishes using temporal or spatial modes. | Small transient dirt present for a frame or a short interval. |
| Frame Replacer ↗ | Replaces an entire damaged frame using neighbors or optical flow. | A whole frame is corrupted rather than one small image region. |
06FIND THE FAILED STAGE
A stamped wall is not a tracking problem.
Diagnose the source, target shape, fill algorithm, edge handling and temporal alignment separately. Do not treat every failure as a reason to lower Global Blend.
01A visible pasted-on stamp+
Likely cause: The source differs in light, grain or perspective; Clone transfers it too literally.
Fix: Move the donor nearer onto the same plane, compare Blend Clone and only then add modest Blur Edges.
02The unwanted feature bleeds through+
Likely cause: Keep Original Detail / Replacement Detail / Global Blend reintroduces original content, or the target fails to cover the blemish.
Fix: Check target bounds, disable Keep Original Detail when the blemish must be gone, and establish a truly clean fill.
03Fast Mask shows grid; Blend Mask smears texture+
Likely cause: A large mask tries to synthesize detail only from immediate neighbors with no donor.
Fix: Reduce target size for tiny blemishes or switch to a real donor with Clone/Blend Clone.
04Patch drifts as the camera moves+
Likely cause: FX Tracker is missing, Source/Target Follows Track is configured incorrectly, or keyframes do not match motion.
Fix: Track the correct plane, inspect donor and target independently, then keyframe position/size if necessary.
05Dark strip or alien texture at the frame edge+
Likely cause: Border Type and Frame Edge Pixels extend missing frame data poorly; donor partially exits the image bounds.
Fix: Compare Reflect/Replicate against Black/Wrap-Around; inspect all Frame Edge Pixels options under final framing.
06Seam disappears on a still but swims in playback+
Likely cause: Texture changes over time, surface parallax diverges or donor and target move differently.
Fix: Inspect 100% playback, adjacent frames, tracking and donor placement before changing master Blend.
07Alpha channel selected but patch region is wrong+
Likely cause: Supplied alpha matte is absent, routed incorrectly or does not cover the intended feature.
Fix: Debug alpha/Power Window separately, then return to the fill method; Blur Edges will not correct an invalid matte.
07BEFORE DELIVERY
Judge the repair without its guides.
A repair that looks good with handles visible or in a still frame can fail in motion, at the real border or after the delivery encode.
08FAQ
Practical Patch Replacer questions.
When should I use Patch Replacer versus Object Removal?
Use Patch Replacer when compatible texture is already available in the same frame and can be placed manually. Object Removal is more suited to temporal reconstruction behind a tracked matte.
How is Blend Clone different from Clone?
Clone copies donor pixels literally, while Blend Clone integrates donor detail with target lighting. Sometimes a literal clone looks better; judge the actual surface.
Do Fast Mask and Blend Mask need a donor?
No. Both modes dispense with a separate source patch and rely on neighbors. That is why larger targets can lose texture or reveal obvious patterns.
What does Keep Original Detail do?
In Blend Clone it allows some target detail to survive alongside source detail. That can protect useful structure but also revive the logo or mark you wanted gone.
What if the patch touches the image border?
Compare Border Type (how image data extends beyond the frame) and Frame Edge Pixels (how actual boundary pixels are treated), then inspect the seam.
Can I track the source and target separately?
Each region has its own Follows Track toggle. Judge motion on the underlying surface: one FX Tracker cannot guarantee correctness under major parallax or two independent moving objects.
Why does Align Source To Target not remove a blemish?
The button aligns coordinates, not a clean donor. The source may still sample the unwanted mark; relocate it to suitable clean texture.
Sources, evidence and boundaries
Native screenshots preserve exact current panel wording and all ten capture assets. Parameter behavior is cross-checked against the Resolve FX Revival Patch Replacer documentation. The hero is an independent educational 2D proxy; it cannot simulate OFX blending, actual alpha routing, FX Tracker precision, image sampling, node sizing, render performance or exact numeric ranges.
Studio availability and UI details depend on your Resolve installation. These website changes were not certified by a live Resolve render; use a short exported shot for final acceptance.