Replacing the sky with a sunset effect while working on Adobe Photoshop gives your images a calming feel. It turns a boring scene into a heartwarming moment and makes your photos more attractive.
So, we’ll walk you through the steps to effortlessly change the sky with the sunset in your pictures. We’ll also provide some tips and common mistakes to avoid so your editing is flawless.
Table of Contents
Methods To Apply Sunset Effect To Images In Photoshop
You can replace the sky with sunset using two different techniques in Adobe Photoshop.
Method 1: The Sky Replacement Tool
Sky Replacement in Photoshop lets you quickly change the blue color of the sky with a sunset theme. The downside, it doesn’t exist in the older software version. The remedy here is to upgrade to the new versions or manually change the sky with the twilight effect.
Method 2: Manual Replacement
To manually replace the sky, you have to select the sky backdrop using the selection, lasso, or magic wand tool to create a mask and then replace it with another picture of the sunset. This gives you more control but might be a bit challenging for novice users.
Steps For Changing Sky Backdrop To Realistic Sunset In Photoshop
The built-in Sky Replacement option offers a simple way to change the blue sky with sunset. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Upload The Picture
In the first step, open Photoshop, press Ctrl/CMD+O or click Open on the main screen, choose your picture, and select Open again.
Alternatively, click File in the top left corner of the screen and choose Open to launch the Open window. Select your picture and choose Open to import it.
Step 2: Convert to Smart Object
Open the Layers panel in the right sidebar, right-click the image layer (background layer), and select Duplicate Layer. You can also hit the Ctrl/Cmd+J keys on your keyboard.
Rename the duplicate layer to Sunset Layer and click OK.
In the Layers panel, right-click the Sunset Layer and click Convert to Smart Object.
Step 3: Use The Sky Replacement Tool
In the next step, click Edit in the top toolbar and choose Sky Replacement.
Click the Sky drop-down icon, open the Spectacular or Sunset folder, and select the sky that complements your photo.
Set Shift Edge to 1, Fade Edge to 100, Brightness to -6 or 0, and Scale to 98 or 100. For the Temperature, you can set the value that you like and click OK.
You can also use the Sky Brush option in the Sky Replacement dialog box to extend or reduce the area of the sunset.
Step 4: Export The Image
At the end, click File in the top left corner of the Photoshop interface, select Export, and choose Export As.
In the Export As window, select the file format, choose the Image Size and Canvas Size, and click Export. Choose the location where you want to save the picture on your computer and click Export again.
Tips And Tricks
Try Out Different Settings
Experiment with different Sky Adjustment settings, like the temperature and brightness, to get the ideal sunset look. Otherwise, your pictures will lose their natural charm.
Choose the Right Sunset
Always select a clear sunset based on the tone, color, details, and lighting of the picture. For instance, bright sunsets work well with more lively and colorful scenes, while softer ones are better for images with dark looks.
Adjust The Foreground Settings
If the automatic changes don’t look right, click the Foreground Adjustment and move the sliders to fix the Foreground Lighting, Edge Lighting, and Color settings.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Overlooking Shadows
Your images will look off and unnatural if you fail to adjust the shadow according to the direction of the sunset light. So, always consider how the sunset affects the shadows in the scene and checkmark Flip to adjust it.
Forgetting Foreground Reflections
If you forget to add the reflection to reflective surfaces or water in the picture, the sunset may look disconnected from the rest of the scene.
FAQs
What Versions Of Photoshop Support The Sky Replacement Feature?
Adobe first introduced the Sky Replacement feature in October 2020 in Photoshop, and it is now available in the 22.0 and newer versions.
Can I Use My Own Sunset Image With The Sky Replacement Tool?
The Sky Replacement tool allows you to upload your own sunset or other sky images and use them in your projects. To do this, simply click the sky drop-down in the Sky Replacement dialog and choose the + icon at the bottom to import a sky.
What Should I Do If The Sunset Doesn’t Match The Lighting In My Image?
Experiment with the Brightness and Foreground Lighting sliders to adjust the lighting of the sky to match it with the overall tone of your image.
Conclusion
To conclude, we’ve discussed the easy-to-follow instructions on changing the sky to sunset in your pictures using the Sky Replacement option in Photoshop.
Now it’s time for you to go on and take full advantage of this tool to add a stunning and natural-looking twilight effect that brings out the peacefulness of the evenings in your images.
