The following photo manipulation tutorial is going to illustrate the process of replacing the sky background in an image using Photoshop CS6.

1. Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni
Senior Graphic Designer &Manager of Marketingof
www.clippingpathindia.com
which is a brand of Outsource Experts Ltd.
eBookPhotoshop Tutorial
Photoshop Tutorial

2. This is a photo manipulation tutorial on
how to replace the sky in an image using
Photoshop CS6.
1
Most of the time the sky is a background feature, with the primary focus of the picture on
the subject or subjects in the foreground. However, it is possible to overlook the fact that
the sky is actually taking away from the focus of the image because it is too light, too
bright, or too dark. So it is important that you carefully examine your images and decide
if you need to change the sky background.
But you may not only want to adjust the sky because it is distracting. Sometimes the sky
needs to be enhanced so the image itself is more interesting. Whatever the reason, you
will be able to apply the steps in this photo manipulation tutorial to replace the sky and
use it to achieve the desired results.
Original Image
ClippingPathIndia.com Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni

3. Remember the replacing the sky in a photo is a matter of getting the eVect you desire,
so you may want to find several diVerent types of sky images to achieve your goal.
2
The Steps
Search sky image in Google:
Search your personal collection or go out onto the Internet and find a sky image that
has the qualities you are looking for.
ClippingPathIndia.com Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni

4. Paste the image onto a separate layer.You should now have two images to work with on
your screen.
3
Use downloaded sky with original image:
Open the selected alternate sky image and add it to your existing project by copying it.
ClippingPathIndia.com Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni

5. Select Color Range by clicking on Select menu.
4
Work on original image to select sky area:
Return to your original image by turning oV the visibility of the new image. You should
now only see your original image.
ClippingPathIndia.com Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni

6. 5
And be sure you are in Quick Mask Mode.What you would see is a black and white
image in the Color Range Window.
Adjust the Fuzzinessslider:
Next, adjust the Fuzziness slider to include all of the sky in the original image. Carefully
increase the amount of fuzziness to be sure that all of the sky in the original image is
selected, but also be sure to keep the level low enough so it does not include other
objects in the image that would be aVected by the sky changes you are about to make.
Do not to try to be too perfect with this adjustment, as you can deselect smaller items if
necessary.
ClippingPathIndia.com Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni

7. Add layer mask in sky image:
Now return to the sky layer you added to replace the original sky. Add the layer mask and
you will see the new sky replacing the sky in your original image.
6
Click OK to close the Color Range window and you will see the sky area is selected.
ClippingPathIndia.com Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni

8. At this point, you want to evaluate the sky image you have just added and determine how
realistic the new sky looks in relation to the primary subject(s) and to the image as a
whole. Remember that the goal is not merely to replace the sky, but to make it look as
natural in the original image as possible.
If you need to make more adjustments in color of sky image, you will have to go into the
Hue Saturation palate from Image>Adjustment>Hue/Saturation and make sure you have
selected Layer Thumbnail in the sky image layer.
7
Change the Blend Mode to Multiply:
Change the Blend Mode to Multiply, which will significantly enhance the edges of the
newsky.
ClippingPathIndia.com Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni

9. For realists: (Think about it. Why would you select a sky image that you will have to be
making significant adjustments to? It is a better use of your time to find a sky color that is
what you are seeking to change.)
For those who are more adventurous: (If you want a sky that is surreal, here is where you
can create unique and dramatic sky backgrounds. There are no guidelines to follow for
your creation, so adjust the slider bars until you get the desired eVect.)
8
You will see the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness slider bars that you can use to make
adjustments to the color of the sky. Changing the color is generally not needed, so you
will primarily be dealing with the lightness.
ClippingPathIndia.com Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni

10. Now select the brush tool from toolbar.
9
Use a gradient over sky image:
To make the sky more realistic, use brush tool to give a white shade at the lower part of
the sky image. To do it, you have to make a selection of the sky again by holding down
Command and click on Layer Mask Thumbnail in the sky image layer. You can hide the
selection by clickingCommand+H.
ClippingPathIndia.com Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni

11. So you now have this step-by-step program to go from an original image with an out-
of-place sky to one that fits the purpose of the original image. This is a basic method
and there are other techniques you can learn later to enhance your sky and be even more
creative. Yet it is important to keep in mind that for the purposes of most people, the sky
is a background issue. Images where the sky is the dominant focus of the picture will
rarely apply to this sky changing method.
After going through these steps, you can see that in most cases you will want the sky to
appear as natural as possible for the selected image. It is recommended that you first
learn these basic steps to change the sky background and become more confident in
their use before moving to more advanced levels of photo manipulation.
Now, create a new layer and apply brush tool at the lower part of the sky, make sure that
you have selected white color in foreground color palate.
Final Image
10
Then from tool option select a big size of the brush and select opacity by 50%.
ClippingPathIndia.com Creator: Rokaiya YeasminMunni