Changing white sky to blue: I have a fine photo but the sky is white. It was cloudy when I took it so the white cloud layer is the sky. I use Corel's Paint Shop Pro. What can I do to...

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

I have a fine photo but the sky is white. It was cloudy when I took it so the white cloud layer is the sky. I use Corel's Paint Shop Pro. What can I do to make the sky blue?

User ID

If it’s white sky it’s white sky. If you make it blue it won’t look like blue sky, it will just look like blue stuff. White skies are great backdrops. What’s the rationale for changing it ?

If the scene is lit by overcast sky then the lighting is all wrong for a blue sky sunny day anywho.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

There are sky replacement options in many types of editing software and software plug-ins. The only way to use them effectively, so that the effect does not look artificial, is to choose a pre-set sky effect that adds a bit of colour to texture to your overcast sky and alter the tonality and colour of the scene to match the skyscape you select.

If you select a skyscape that has rich blue skies with white puffy clouds, the light on the landscape will be incompatible with overcast or hazy sky conditions.

Those who have a "purist" philsosphy about the authenticity of photograher disagree with the techniques. If applied skillfully it can be effective. It's fun to experiment with and you might come up with somethg that pleases you.

I do not use this routinely, however, it comes in handy on commercial shoots of architecture, etc. where there is a deadline and the is no time or opportunity to revisit the site for a re-shoot. It looks OK in a real estate to travel brochure- it ain't fine art.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

revhen wrote:

I have a fine photo but the sky is white. It was cloudy when I took it so the white cloud layer is the sky. I use Corel's Paint Shop Pro. What can I do to make the sky blue?

If there is no detail in the sky, and it is solid gray, there is not much you can do to change the color except to replace the sky. However, if there is sky detail like clouds you may have something to work with. I assume your software allows you to create local correction masks. If so, select the sky, create a mask for it, and play with lowering highlights, changing the temperature of the sky, adding contrast and sharpening. The first image is the original. In the second I brought out the details in the sky that were already there. I could have done a much better job and avoided some of the artifacts around the tree limbs but this was just quick and dirty to show you what may be possible depending on the image. The results are generally better when editing a raw file rather than a jpeg.

Before

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After
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Brokenland

Depending on your software, try "Dehaze" which will remove as much or as little of the white background and add a darker blue background.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

What works occasionally in Lightroom is to adjust the Blue Luminance slider to bring up the blue.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

ClarkJohnson wrote:

What works occasionally in Lightroom is to adjust the Blue Luminance slider to bring up the blue.

But, understand that the adjustment is global, so it will bring up the blue tones in your subject as well.

Best solution is to use software that can adjust by layers, and select the sky in one of the layers.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

User ID wrote:

If it’s white sky it’s white sky. If you make it blue it won’t look like blue sky, it will just look like blue stuff. White skies are great backdrops. What’s the rationale for changing it ?

If the scene is lit by overcast sky then the lighting is all wrong for a blue sky sunny day anywho.

There are white sky's, and there are dramatic sky's, your choice in Photoshop.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The color of light in landscapes (golden hour and all the rest) is a very worthy study topic. In the context of this topic, edits could include dramatic statements or subtle variations beyond simply a sky color change.

revhen, would you be willing to post the pic in question? There may be options you haven't considered, and seeing the photo could prompt further learning and interesting discussion.

Observation re billnikon's example: look along and just above the tree line. The fog has become muddy colored and unrealistic IMO.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

DirtFarmer wrote:

But, understand that the adjustment is global, so it will bring up the blue tones in your subject as well.

Best solution is to use software that can adjust by layers, and select the sky in one of the layers.

Excellent point. Learning layers is well worth all the blood, sweat and tears - at least it was for me

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Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Linda From Maine wrote:

The color of light in landscapes (golden hour and ... (show quote)

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

ClarkJohnson wrote:

What works occasionally in Lightroom is to adjust the Blue Luminance slider to bring up the blue.

And everything in photo, so be careful, and very light adjustment.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You have several options -

https://digital-photography-school.com/two-ways-replace-the-sky-using-photoshop/
https://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-replace-a-sky-in-photoshop/
https://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-editing/replace-sky/
https://photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/sky-replacement-and-adding-clouds-to-a-photo-in-photoshop-tutorial/
https://petapixel.com/2017/07/18/replace-sky-photo-photoshop-2-minute-tutorial/

Ted d Loc: Green Valley, AZ.

On1 makes that easy, also you can add clouds.

nikonbrain Loc: Crystal River Florida

revhen wrote:

I have a fine photo but the sky is white. It was cloudy when I took it so the white cloud layer is the sky. I use Corel's Paint Shop Pro. What can I do to make the sky blue?

'
1 have been turning white skies blue for at least 5 years now . they do not look like "blue stuff" its is done with the "magic wand " by selecting the darkest part of the sky and changing the color with the path image , adjustments , color balance and adjust to your liking . the following image was done this way on a all white and grey sky making my selection on the darker part of the sky using the magic wand with tolerance set at about 30 .

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