The Scratch Remover tool is one way to remove scratches, cracks, and other defects from your images. Use the tool to enclose the area with the scratch and erase it. The tool works best for scratches on relatively smooth backgrounds. The Scratch Remover tool uses the background image details to create new information to replace the scratch. If the background is relatively smooth, the result is usually satisfying. To remove scratches from a textured background, the Clone tool may be more effective. See Cloning Parts of Images. Note: This tool can be used only on backgrounds; it is not available when you are working on layers.
If there are many small scratches in the image, use the Automatic Small Scratch Remover command. See Removing Scratches with the Automatic Small Scratch Removal Command.
Important: This command works on 16 million color or greyscale images only. To increase the color depth of an image, see Increasing the Color Depth of an Image.
To use the Scratch Remover tool:
If necessary, click the background layer on the Layer palette.
To limit the correction to a specific area, make a selection. See Using the Selection Tools. This step works well when you need to be careful not to remove important details near the scratch.
Select the Scratch Remover tool
.
On the Tool Options palette, set the following options:
Width The width, in pixels, of the tool. Choose a width that is about 3 or 4 pixels wider than the scratch. If the width is considerably larger than the scratch, you will lose image detail. Note that you are also able to modify the width with the PageUp and PageDown keys while you are selecting the scratch.
Selection boxes The shape
of the Scratch Remover tool. Select the flat-end option 
to correct scratches that are perpendicular to object edges
in the image or are in an open area (the background is similar and has
no objects in it). Select the pointed-end option 
to correct
scratches at an angle to object edges in the image (with this option,
you can place the tool closer to the edges).
Center the cursor just outside one end of the scratch, then click and drag the bounding box over the scratch:
If the tool width is 10 or fewer pixels, the box is single-sided. Position the box so that the edges surround, but do not touch, the scratch.
If the tool width is more than 10 pixels, the box is double-sided. Position the box so that the inner edges surround, but do not touch, the scratch.
With the mouse button still pressed, you can adjust the size and position of the rectangle:
Press the Arrow keys to move the starting point of the bounding box by 1 pixel.
Press PageUp or PageDown to increase or decrease the width of the box by 1 pixel.
When the rectangle properly encloses
the scratch, release the mouse button. The scratch is removed.
If you are not satisfied with the result, click Undo 
to undo the scratch removal, then try selecting the scratch
again (perhaps varying the width of the tool).
Achieving the best results: If the scratch background is highly textured or contains many image variations (say, a flower, a face, and a wall), the result may not be as satisfying. Try these tips to get the best results: Before using the tool, select the area that contains the scratch. Use a tool width about 3 or 4 pixels wider than the scratch itself. For scratches over several different backgrounds, try removing the scratch a section at a time. Consider using the Clone Tool instead, see Cloning Parts of Images.
Basic Steps in Improving Photographs
How to Approach Color, Contrast, and Saturation Adjustments
Common Problems and How to Solve Them
Removing Image Defects and Noise