smudge questions

[cosmicgoose]

got some questions regarding the smudge techniques shown in the tuts.

1: do you stroke along the lines your trying to smudge, or against them?

2: i've noticed a slight streaking effect is caused by using the smudge, even at low strengths. is there a way to avoid this?

3: what are the settings for the smudge tool used in the tutorials? i know there's a file floating around here on them. but i use several computers. one at home, one at work, and one at school. it would just be easier for me to replicate the settings myself rather then fiddle around with a file. also, this way if my computer is ever reformatted, i know how to re-create the tools.

4: from other tutorials i've found on the net, i get the general impression the the smudge tool is viewed as the devil. why is this, and why do you continue to use it if its such a crutch?

thanks.

[Fatbpy73]

I don't know about the Tutorial in question,but as far as the smudge tool being the devil Ha Ha.In my opinion a tool is just a tool,if you learn all about that tool and know how to use it properly and how it's going to work and act then it's just as valid as any other tool in photoshop.People say the same thing about the dodge and burn tool as well,but if you know how to use it,it works quite well.It's just as absurd as saying a beautiful rendering using burnt out matchsticks isn't art because a valid "tool wasn't used.
We'll there's my .02 cents
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