The Simplest Way to Do Your Own Sky Replacements

Learn how to blend a sky into a scene that was taken at a different exposure, and how to do a sky replacement.

Watch the video for a step-by-step breakdown in Photoshop ⬆️

What are Sky Blends?

A sky blend is a type of exposure blend where you blend a separate image of a sky into your photo. This can be done for two reasons- either to compensate for lack of dynamic range, or to do a “sky replacement,” to swap a boring sky for a better one.

I tend only to do sky replacements if I personally have taken the photo of the replacement sky. Meaning, in a scrap-booking mindset, I often take photos of beautiful skies with the intent of possibly using them in a future photo.

I never use AI or other photographer’s skies in my photos.

Practical Uses of Sky Blends

• Ensuring your image doesn’t have blown out skies if it’s bright out

• Replacing uneventful skies with dramatic ones

• Fixing “halo” effects on a horizon line

How to Do a Sky Blend

Watch the video tutorial above for a step-by-step breakdown in Photoshop.