How to darken skies?

[Paul001]

Hi all

A basic question as a PSP beginner.

I have a landscape photo. I am happy with the 'land' part of the photo, but the sky part is washed out and there is no detail. What options do I have to just adjust the sky so I can see detail in it without affecting the land?

Thanks in advance
Paul

[JoeB]

If there is actually no detail in the sky then you can't bring out detail if the data doesn't exist. If there is actually some detail and it's just faint then tools like Curves, Histogram, etc. could help. Otherwise you could simply replace the sky with a sky from a photo where you like the look of the sky.

In all cases, you have to isolate the sky from the rest of the image first if you don't want changes to affect anything but the sky area. You do that by making a selection of only the sky area and promoting that selection to a layer. Without seeing your image I can only suggest that selection tools like Magic Wand and/or Freehand might be the best tools for the job. You will want to make adjustments in the tool options bar before making your selection by first checking Anti Alias, and finding a suitable setting for Smoothing and Feather. Trial and error might be necessary to ensure getting those last 2 settings adjusted to give the most natural look to how the sky will blend smoothly into the rest of the image.

[Kathy_9]

This might give you some ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqdh0p7dt7A

[flagpole]

Just post the pic, so we can have a go.

[Paul001]

Sorry, I tried to post the image a few times but it keeps telling me it is too big. It's 12MB and I reduced it to 500k, then it told me it has to be 0 pixels high! So I gave up! But I'll try the suggestions, thanks.

[Jean-Luc]

Sorry, I tried to post the image a few times but it keeps telling me it is too big. It's 12MB and I reduced it to 500k,

It is the wrong way. Don't do that.
Resize your image to 800 pixels wide. It is enough, so we can see it. And post it in JPG, compression 10.

[Joelle]

My 'general' method to darken a sky is to select the sky using the smart Selection Brush with Smart Edge ticked, Promote the selection to (a new) layer : Shift+Ctrl+P on the keyboard.
Apply Back Lighting to the promoted layer, repeat once or twice, but not more, if necessary.

To make life easier with the very restricted allowed image size that can be uploaded here I have made a maximum-allowed-image and saved it:

You need to stick with pixel size, not MBs

I agree that the wording is a bit odd when referring to a minimum of 0x0 pixels !

Joëlle

[JoeB]

I agree that the wording is a bit odd when referring to a minimum of 0x0 pixels !

A BIT odd??? What it is is seriously stupid! I would really like to know what whoever wrote that info thought he/she would see if one were to post an image of the "at least" pixel dimensions mentioned. Sounds like the type of person who writes IKEA instruction sheets but with even less ability. Somebody obviously got left out of an evolutionary step.

[Joelle]

He he, yup, seriously stupid describes it nicely

Joëlle