tomcat

I've had the best experience with Snapheal CK from Macphun Software. It is really easy, but like all programs, you have to learn the nuances. For instance, don't try making your target areas too large or too narrow.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Small spots are ok for removal in LR but I use PS CC to remove large objects and wires with various tools

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

Contrary to what most other UHH users appear to belive - there is more in life than Photoshop especially if you have better uses for your money.

As you have found - I find the Lightroom heal to lack what I require on difficult eradications, whereas PS Elements usually makes a superb job of even the most difficult eradication job.

Photoshop Elements is reputed to have 80% of the functions of Photoshop and can be purchased for a one off payment - often at a good discount.
It arguably has more functions than the average person would use.

There are also many freeware programs such as Faststone - which my wife generally uses quite satisfactorily - and The Gimp which is supposed to be equal to Photoshop ( with a similar steep learning curve).

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

I've used PSP, works, not to say it's easy, not hard but tedious, good you tube demos, I'm nowhere near as good as the demonstrator, I usally look for an angle where the poles and wires are less noticeable, but that does not always work either. Bob.

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

I have very much the same process. LR is very good for exposure, color, and generally perking up an image. ELEMENTS is far better for moving things around and making things disappear.

Nymphadora

I'm using the clone tool in Photoshop Elements 10. Nothing special, no learning curve... Clone(stamp..?) tool>Alt Click next to the light pole or wire>Click hold and brush it out. I try to avoid situations and crop in the viewfinder but with wires it's often hard to keep them away. Sometimes the wires add something more that I had not noticed. As in this shot....it just helped to have them and I never even noticed them in the viewfinder, everything there is included. Removing all intruders in a scene tends to make things look fake and surreal, and in press photography it used to be a no-no, although these days... (shot with a 1986 Lomo Kompakt Automat (USSR), and Eastman 5222 35mm b&w movie stock, 200 ISO, if anyone wonders...) Nyms

bcrawf

Because "these types of things" vary enormously (from a wire crossing a uniform background to an image element which crosses multiple complex backgrounds), there is no single tool qualifying as best. An understanding of multiple tools is needed, as well as an ability to recognize which will best suit in addressing a given part of the image.

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

Actually there is a learning curve to even the CLONE TOOL. For instance, "Brushing out" something will leave smudged areas. Sometimes it won't show, other times the smudged area will call attention to itself. Here's a simple little tip - drop the opacity down to around 30%. This will mean you may have to click on a spot several times to blot it out BUT it will guarantee that you will not leave a tell-tale brush shape. IF you do; drop the opacity to about 10% and with one or two clicks on the perimeter of the offending shape, it will be no more. There are several other pointers I could mention but my comment goes to the idea of learning how to use even what appears to be a simple tool will improve the work you do with it. There is a forum dedicated to Post Processing; it is almost an art form.

Nymphadora

I use a tiny brush/circle, about two widths of the circle, next to what I want to get rid of and I don't get any weird smudges or anything. But your way sounds like a good way as well. I do short steps and if one is odd looking I can just CTRL>Z and do it over. Nyms

GraveyDave

You need the new photoshop/lightroom cc ($10/mo.) What doesn't work in lightroom by moving the computer generated replacement area to cover the wires, can be done with a right click (PC) and an open in photoshop. In photoshop, there's a number of potentially better working ways to take out wires, buildings etc.. The tried and true way of cloning works well so long as you don't clone from an area right next to a building because it can take on the look of a mirror image. You can take filler areas to cover buildings from other areas of the file OR from other files. Just keep in mind that a few extra shots of colorful bushes or flowers or a large area of greenery or cloud filled skies can save the day if the file you're working on has limited areas to choose from. The spot healing brush (J) has some newer and better ways to get rid of wires, parts of cars and buildings, fire hydrants etc. which works a lot better than previous models in that it really covers the area better with less work. The content aware part of the spot healing brush works great. The regular content aware (shift F5 on a PC then enter after you've picked out the area to be replaced with the lasso tool) can work great too if you try not to replace too much at a time. You can keep deleting what the computer did until you get something decent and then finish it off with some cloning if needed. Peoples' feet, dogs, poles, etc. can often times be wiped out with one try when it sometimes would take forever to get it right with cloning.
To do anything artistic with the final goal being a believable file without the smudgy effects cloning sometimes gives, takes a lot of time and practice. You're actually painting with a computer (a graphic tablet helps a lot). It's still better than the days of old by airbrushing on a large print and reshooting with special films to keep the contrast OK. Each copy lessened the image, unlike today's computer images.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

Both Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro can do that well along with a few other programs, (Capture One Pro can but is not meant to).

One thing about the PSP, (probably PS too), if you use the remove commands. Be careful because it can warp the surrounding area.

dixiebeachboy

Try InPixio it us user friendly & they offer a 30 day free trial, works great , I upgraded to the pro version! Most things are removed in just minutes!

jjbrenner Loc: San Angelo, TX

This is the one I use--does the job and is easy to learn to use.

rogerl Loc: UK (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)

I had Photoshop Elements 9 free with my Pc four years ago & I was blown away with how it removes wires & posts. I was bought PE 14 for Christams & am delighted with it for this & other things. It's not free but it's not that expensive either.

dixiebeachboy

Try InPixio, it is user-friendly works great and they offer a 30 day free trial simple to use