Best practices with Sky AI

Sky replacement is one of the most powerful features in Luminar Neo, allowing photographers to dramatically enhance their images with AI-driven sky transformations. However, to achieve a realistic and visually compelling result, it’s essential to follow best practices. In this guide, we’ll explore when it’s best to change the sky, how to make it look natural, and specific considerations for adjusting the sky visible through windows.

When to Change the Sky in Luminar Neo?

1. Overcast or Dull Skies: If your original sky is flat, gray, or lacks character, replacing it with a vibrant sunrise, sunset, or dramatic cloudscape can bring new life to the image.

2. Unbalanced Composition: A weak sky may result in an unbalanced composition. Enhancing it can add depth and interest to the overall scene.

3. Storytelling Enhancement: If you want to change the mood of an image (e.g., making it more dramatic or serene), modifying the sky is an effective way to do so.

4. Fixing Exposure Issues: Sometimes, the sky may be overexposed or underexposed compared to the foreground. Usually, such a sky looks completely white. Replacing it can help correct these imbalances.

Note: if your sky is overexposed or blank white, the Sky AI tool might not detect it. If that’s your case - no worries, it’s possible to fix. Add the sky via Layers and use Masking to adjust the edges.

How to add the sky via Layers?

1. Click on the plus sign “+” at the top left corner to open the Layers panel.

2. Click Load Image to open the Finder/File Explorer and choose the file in JPEG format. Confirm your selection by clicking Open.

3. Now, move the newly added Layer beneath your photo. Click on it and drag it with your mouse. The new sky won’t be visible for now.

4. Select the Layer with your main scenery. In Layer Properties, open the Masking tab and mask your sky. It can be done via Mask AI. Use Brush to refine the mask.

5. After the sky is masked (the mask is displayed as a red tilt over the area), go to Mask Actions at the bottom of the Masking tab in Layer Properties and click the Invert button.

6. Now, you will see the added sky peak through the masked area. Make adjustments as needed: correct the position, balance lighting, and colors.

How to Make the Sky Replacement Look Natural?

1. Match the Lighting and Color Temperature Ensure the new sky’s color tones match the overall lighting in the scene. A warm sunset should have warm reflections on the landscape, while a cool, cloudy sky should maintain cooler tones. You can use ‘White Balance’ in the Color tab of the Develop tool to make slight adjustments. Also, try to set Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights in the Color Balance tab of the Professional tool - ‘Color Harmony’.

2. Adjust the Horizon Position Drag the sliders in the Sky Orientation section. Use the ‘Horizon Position’ tool to align the new sky naturally with the original landscape.

3. Blend the Foreground with the Sky Use ‘Scene Relighting’ or ‘Relight AI’ to harmonize the lighting between the sky and the foreground. Adjust ‘Defocus’ to match the depth of field of the original image. If your sky is added via Layers, use ‘Blur’.

4. Ensure the Reflections Are Consistent If the image contains water, ensure that the reflections of the new sky match the direction and colors of the replaced sky. You can copy the Layer with a new sky and transform it via Layer Properties using ‘Flip’ to reverse it upside down and then use the ‘Opacity’ slider in combination with the Blend modes to achieve the natural look. Apply Masking if needed to correct the edges of the reflection according to the form of the water source.

5. Modify the Sky Mask for Fine-Tuning Use the ‘Mask Refinement’ tool in Sky AI to ensure accurate blending around objects like trees, buildings, and mountains. The ‘Close Gaps’ slider helps if the sky in your image peaks through arches or tree branches.

6. Avoid Overuse of Dramatic Skies While adding a dramatic sky can be tempting, using an overly bold or unnatural sky in an otherwise subtle scene can make the edit look fake. If there are shadows from direct sunlight in your photo, choose the sky that matches the position of your sun.

Tip: You can add the sun to your sky via the Sunrays tool. It’s located in the Landscape section of the tools.

Note: if you used the Crop tool on the photo to rotate it, the sky will not apply correctly, as it will detect the original position of the horizon and not as you rotated it. To change the sky correctly, save your photo first and re-open it when the horizon on the image is in the right place.

When to Change the Sky in a Window Scene?

When editing interior (real estate) shots where the sky is visible through a window in the room, special care is needed to maintain realism. Consider changing the sky in the window if:

1. The Outside View Looks Overexposed. When the sky outside is too bright, replacing it with a balanced exposure can improve the overall look.

2. The Color Temperature is Inconsistent. The outdoor sky should match the indoor lighting for a natural feel.

3. There’s a Need for a More Appealing Background. If the window view is cluttered or uninteresting, a subtle sky replacement can improve aesthetics, especially if the window is big and noticeable.

Tips for Sky Replacement in Windows

1. Add the Sky via Layers: Since Sky AI requires at least 15% of the sky in the photo, it probably won’t detect a sky through the window. Upload your sky via Layers and add it to your photo.

2. Use the ‘Masking’ Tool: Manually mask the window area to ensure the sky replacement only affects the outside portion.

3. Adjust Brightness and Blur: Ensure the replaced sky isn’t too sharp or bright compared to the interior. Use ‘Develop’ and ‘Blur’ to make adjustments.

4. Keep the Reflections Realistic: If the window reflects part of the indoor scene, ensure that the new sky isn’t unnaturally crisp or misaligned with the reflections.

By following these best practices, you can change the skies effectively to enhance your photos while maintaining a natural and realistic look. Happy editing!