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Photoshop Tutorial - Easy Blue Sky

By
Real Estate Agent with Real Estate Showcase Photography

 

 

      Blue Skies, Smiling At Me! Nothing But Blue Skies, Do I See!

 

So you have a great landscape shot, but the sky is washed out, or gray. Here's a very easy fix for a photograph with an open and uncomplicated sky.

 

Change it from this:                                                                          To this:

Trout CreekTrout Creek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Photoshop, open your jpeg file. Now, go to the Color Picker, click on the top box to open the color box, and choose the shade of blue you want for your sky. Click OK to select it. The top box of the color picker will now be the shade you chose.

 

Photoshop Color PICKER

 

Now, you need to select the area you want to change. Grab the 'Magnetic Lasso' tool, second box down on the left, (right click to select the tool you need, in this case the magnetic lasso), and outine the area you want to be blue. The Magnetic Lasso tool will "grab" where there is a difference in color. Here, it can tell the difference between the gray sky and the mountain, so you don't have to painstakingly outline. You should be able to do this fairly quickly. Below, the area is outlined in red to make it easier for you to see.

 

Photoshop Magnetic Lasso tool

 

Ok, now find the 'Paint Bucket' tool, sixth box down on the right, and right click to choose the Paint Bucket. Place your curser within the outlined sky area of the photograph, and left click to dump the bucket. Your sky is now blue!

 

Photoshop Paint Bucket

 

As always in Photoshop, there is more than one way to get something done. This is the easiest way I've found to change a simple sky.

 

 

Position yourself above your competition - Utilize a "Real Estate Showcase" Slideshow DVD as a listing tool. Gift a DVD copy to the buyer at closing to share with out of town friends and family. Post it on your own website. Post it on your blog to advertise your listings.

Photos taken by Debi Boucher, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced without express written permission.  Memories DVDs Photo Slideshow DVD and Web Presentations, "Real Estate Showcase", to assist with marketing and advertising endeavors. More affordable, more interesting, and more captivating than a virtual tour!

Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Great job explaining how to make an easy blue sky, Debi!

While I would never misrepresent a home in my photos, all of my listings have beautiful blue sky backgrounds; and I touch them up exactly how you showed your readers here in this blog!

Well done my Photoshopping friend!

Mar 17, 2009 09:56 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Thanks, Gary. I enjoy being able to 'give back'!

Debi

Mar 17, 2009 10:04 AM
Emelyn Morris-Sayre
The Berkshire Group - Lakewood, CO
CRS, REALTOR, Lakewood/Denver 303-517-5116

Hi Debi - thanks for the tips. Ihave Photoshop on my computer, but haven't taught myself about all that it does. Thank you for taking the time to "give back."  Can't wait to meet you!

Mar 17, 2009 11:45 AM
Michael Cole
CPG Tours - Corona, CA

Hi Debi,

Great tutorial. And you're right, people should find this super easy to do. However, the 'magnetic' lasso and I are not good friends. Now, the 'polygon' lasso is a different story. I love that one. So, I'll typically use that or some other means of selection, extraction, or masking.

Mar 17, 2009 12:48 PM
Tamara Perlman
Referral Network Inc. - Truckee, CA

Hi Debi--Thanks for the info!  PS has soooo many great "tools".  Now, to just find the time to correct all those old photos...

Mar 17, 2009 02:18 PM
Shirley Parks
Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX
Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

Hi Debi - You are a doll for sharing these tips with us... I will also show this to my hubby.  Thanks.

Mar 17, 2009 03:21 PM
Lynn911.com ~ Dallas Real Estate Agent Top Team
Dallas Houses for Rent Dallas Apartment Rentals Lynn911.com - Dallas, TX

WOW I never knew this... thank you I will need to try this out ! Have a great and successful week.

Mar 17, 2009 11:14 PM
Zane Coffin
Century-21 Homestar - Geneva, OH
(Geneva Ohio Real Estate Agent)

Hi Debi thanks for the education this morning I will have to try that out....peace zane

Mar 17, 2009 11:37 PM
Gail MacMillan
Titusville, FL

Hi Debi:  You and Michael Cole are terrific at offering these "How-To" tutorials for PhotoShop CS.  I have use for this particular one right now and will follow your way and check out Michaels too.  Maybe between the two of you....this amateur can become better :-)

Mar 18, 2009 01:36 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY

Debi - Great tutorial, thanks for sharing.  Your post has been featured in the Photography group.

Mar 18, 2009 03:54 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

You are not only a great photographer Debi, your parents taught you how to share. Thank-you...Regards,

Mar 18, 2009 04:37 PM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Debi - WOW!! No more excuses for not taking pictures on a cloudy day! Great screens shots, and simple steps. Thanks Debi!

Mar 18, 2009 04:45 PM
Photo Photo
Chicago, IL

Debi,

Good photoshop tip. May I add to it? I do not disagree with any part of your tip. So I will happily say that I use this method all the time.

But, I have a helpful tip that will keep people from having a sharp edge or jagged look to their photo when applying this tip. When you select the 'Magnetic Lasso' tool, change the feather option to 1px.

Photoshop Magnetic Tool

Thanks again Debi!

Mar 19, 2009 04:31 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Hello to you all - and thanks for having a look! I hope you find it useful!

Ian, Thanks for adding that wonderful tip! We all appreciate it!

I just got back from a two day photo trip to the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado, and it was all I thought it would be, and MUCH MORE! Will share soon!

Debi

Mar 19, 2009 03:10 PM
#15
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I've never used the paint bucket tool before, thanks for filling me in!  Pun intended!

Mar 21, 2009 11:08 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Sharon, My pleasure! You're too funny!

Debi

Mar 21, 2009 12:02 PM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Evening Debi,   Thank you, thank you, thank you !  New to photo touch up - great tip !

Mar 21, 2009 03:30 PM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

My absolute pleasure, Bill! Go for it!

Mar 21, 2009 03:40 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Boy now I have absoultely no excuse not to learn my programs......can these tips work with PS6....I deleted my CS one as it seemed too complicated for me.

Mar 27, 2009 09:51 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Hi Kathy, This is pretty basic stuff, so I believe it will work in PS6 as well. I'd be surprised if it didn't. CS is the only one I've ever had, so I have no experience with PS6. No excuses! Go play!!! ;)

Debi

Mar 27, 2009 03:18 PM