Yesterday I showed you how to add fake skies where the sky is completely blown. Today’s tutorial will teach you what to do if you have a nice sky that is just a little too light and could use some depth. Thank you to our guest blogger Daniel Hurtubise for this fantastic tutorial.
One note: if you use Photoshop actions after doing this tutorial, and they call upon the background layer – you may need to bring the photo back in from Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw (not as a smart object) and/or rename a flattened/merged copy “background.”
Using Camera Raw to salvage a blown up sky
Often if you don’t use a filter it’s hard to balance the exposure to get nice details in the sky and in the landscape. Look at the example below, it’s a picture taken in Central Park, NYC.
The picture was taken at f/10. I could have used one less stop for the bush and one more stop for the sky. But then I would have totally blown part of it.
To work around that we will use Camera Raw and Smart Objects.
First of all, open the image in Camera Raw
I will now adjust the image to my desired look for the landscape part.
So now, instead of doing a standards Open Image
, press the Shift key and you will see Open Object ![]()
This will open the image as a Smart Object. You can see that it’s a smart object by the icon on the layer.
Now to work on the sky, we need to copy the layer. Make sure you do it through the menu and not CTRL + J
Double-click on the Smart Object icon to open the new layer in Camera Raw
Adjust the settings for the sky then click OK.
Now still on the “sky” layer I will make a selection of it using the Quick Selection tool
Add a layer mask and it will just effect the sky. If there is spill, you can clean it up on the mask as well:
You now have a more balanced image in a non destructive way. You can go back and forth using Camera Raw.
Tags: adding sky, adobe camera raw, editing, enhancing sky, fixing skies, Guest Bloggers, MCP, photoshop, Photoshop Actions, Photoshop Tips & Tutorials, smart objects3 Comments
Welcome to the MCP Actions Photoshop Blog
- Learn to enhance your images with time saving Photoshop tutorials. Join us for daily blog posts with the latest photography and photoshop tips, contests, photographer interviews, and blueprints teaching how to use photoshop actions.
Featured Posts
- Editing Landscape Images Using Actions in Photoshop
- My Camera Takes Really Nice Pictures
- Over-Editing in Photoshop: How to Avoid 25 Common Editing Mistakes
- Portrait Photography Trends & Fads: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
- Finish It Photoshop Actions Set Now Available ~ Changing the Way You Prepare and Display Images on the Web
- See All Featured Posts
Recent Posts
- Win Holiday Card Templates from Photographer Cafe
- Photoshop Alone Does Not Make a Good Photographer
- Watch Me Work: Photoshop Actions & Workflow Online Class
- Tips for After Your First Portrait Portfolio Building Session: Part 2
- 7 Tips for Your First Portrait Portfolio Building Session: Part 1
- See All Recent Posts
Polls
Photoshop Tips
- Outdoor Image Fixed in Photoshop: Better Sky ~ Better Lighting
- Senior Photography: Tips and Tricks on Posing, Locations and More
- Using Photoshop Actions to Enhance a Blue Sky and a Rainbow
- Photoshop Actions: Glossary of Offerings by MCP Actions
- Photoshop Actions: A Guide to Choosing the Best Actions
- See All Photoshop Tips
Video Tutorials
- Photoshop Video Tutorial: Watch Me Work {Color Pop, Eyes, Skin}
- The Secret to Using Photoshop on an iPad and iPhone
- Installing Photoshop Actions in Elements: Video Tutorials
- What Are Photoshop Actions And How They Can Help Or Hurt Photography
- Free Photoshop Action + Video: To Add Texture to Photos in Photoshop
- See All Video Tutorials Posts

Categories
- Activities
- Announcements
- Assignments
- Blueprints
- Business Tips
- Cancer Awareness
- Contests
- Discounts, Deals & Coupons
- FAQs
- Featured Post
- Free Actions
- Free Photoshop Stuff
- Guest Bloggers
- Interviews
- MCP Collaboration
- MCP Thoughts
- Photo Sharing & Inspiration
- Photography & Photoshop News
- Photography Tips
- Photoshop Actions
- Photoshop Tips & Tutorials
- Polls
- Social Networking
- Video Tutorials
- Workshops



































4:10 pmJune 25th, 2009
Just tried it. LOVE IT!!! Never knew you could do that in raw. Great tutorial. Thank you.
8:33 amJune 28th, 2009
[...] Enhancing Skies Using Smart Objects in Adobe Camera Raw and … [...]
2:57 pmJuly 10th, 2009
You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog.