Hint based spot healing techniques

A method for automatic spot healing comprises: obtaining data indicative of spot patterns corresponding to different types of unwanted features (e.g. defects, spots, dirt, streaks, artifacts, or facial blemishes such as pimples, acne, hair, cuts, freckles, birthmarks, or background, obscuring or distracting objects) detectable by an image processing module including at least some spot patterns learned from prior user interaction; recognizing unwanted features in an image matching the spot patterns; and performing an automatic spot (defect) healing (correction) operation, removing recognized unwanted features without reliance upon explicit user selection of image defects. A spot pattern library, containing both learned and pre-defined spot patterns, may be used. Hint based spot (defect) healing may be used, comprising: detecting user selection of a feature in a particular image, the selection used as a hint to detect additional features matching the user selected feature and generate a feature set of potential features for spot healing including the user selected feature and additional detected features; designating features for spot healing by de-selection and selection of the candidate features in the set, individually; and applying the spot healing operation accordingly.