How do I boost skies in LR or PS ?

<p>Hello.</p>

<p>Here's a little picture of mine: http://www.fredscalliet.com/fotoblog/?showpost=21</p>

<p>And here's my question: I'd like to add some depth/drama to the clouds, because I find the sky a bit too flat compared to the bottom of the image. (That ray of light, on the other hand, doesn't need boosting.)</p>

<p>I guess that would mean enhancing luminance contrast without affecting color contrast... or something.</p>

<p>I'm using Lightroom 4 and Photoshop CS5. Now, my present Photoshop expertise dates from version 6.0, from... 1998. Just so you know.</p>

<p>Maybe there's a good tutorial to recommend ? (Oh, wait. Right, Google! I'm gonna google for a tutorial right now ;-)).</p>

<p>Any hint or insight welcome !</p>

<p>Cheers.<br /><br /></p>

<p>There are lots of ways to do this. For example, it could be done in ACR or LR using the adjust brush, it could be done in PS by softly selecting the portion of the sky you want more dramatic and simply applying a curves adjustment to that part of the image. Once the region of interest is selected you could also apply a large radius USM treatment (say, 100%, 100 pixels, 0 threshold) to a separate layer set to the "darken" blending mode. Another way is to use a commercial plugin such as the "dark details" algorithm in the latest version of NIK color efx pro or Topaz Adjust. If you really want to go off the deep end, you could even apply a tone-mapping algorithm from one of the HDR packages to just the part of the sky of interest.</p>

<p>I went the USM, Topaz adjust route.</p>

<p>BTW, for this little demo, I really didn't pay any attention to noise or other artifacts that can really pop up when you do major level adjustments like this.</p>

<p>So the attached image is just a smaller version of yours, cropped for in-line display in this forum and to make comparisons easy.</p><div></div>

<p>... and here it is after some minor tweaks in ACR followed by large radius USM (100,100,0) on a layer set to "darken" blending mode.</p><div></div>

<p>... and finally, after all of the above PLUS Topaz Adjust.</p>

<p>Don't feel constrained by my choice of these particular processing steps. There are a huge number of other ways to get this sort of effect, many probably much better than this. ;-)</p>

<p>HTH,</p>

<p>Tom M</p><div></div>

<p>Mask for sky - Apply Image @ 60%. Color correction, Level horizon, mask for rocks - Contrast added.</p><div></div>

<p>Here is my go in Lightroom 4. I used the adjustment brush and have done a screen shot showing all the changes I made.</p><div></div>

<p>Ok, thanks.</p>

<p>I haven't really paid attention to all this because of all the Christmas things, but I will !</p>

<p>Merry...</p>

<p>Luminosity mask might work. I have liked this approach since I found it (on photo.net). Not sure if it is more powerful than just developing the RAW file, but it is cool.<br>

http://dustylens.com/luminosity_mask.htm</p>

<p>Or just use the Graduated filter in Lightroom, adjust exposure (like a graduated ND filter) and saturation to your hearts content.</p>

<p>I use this all the time, as the simplest for skies.</p><div></div>

<p><em>"I'd like to add some depth/drama to the clouds, because I find the sky a bit too flat compared to the bottom of the image. (<strong>That ray of light, on the other hand, doesn't need boosting.</strong>)"</em><br /> <br /> <em><br /></em>That is why, in this instance, the graduated filter is useless. The only way to do what is asked, is to make a selection, the only way to do that without plugins is to use the adjustment brush. I have often thought a brush to eliminate parts of the graduated filter would save a lot of time.</p>

Holy Blooming Onions- why do you want to boost the sky- you should instead

tone down that blooming in the sky- very unnatural looking and way over done/

blown outish IMO.

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<p>why do you want to boost the sky- you should instead tone down that blooming in the sky- very unnatural looking and way over done/ blown outish IMO.</p>

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<p>Please read the "About This Forum" section:</p>

 

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<p>Please don't use this as a forum for criticizing types of images and/or processing you don't like. People come here for advice on techniques, equipment, and software, not evaluation of their likes and dislikes.<br>

</p>

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<p>This is not the Critique Forum. If you want to criticize people's choice in photo appearances, do it on that forum.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your responses.</p>

<p>I've tried something simple, with Lightroom's graduated filter, and it seems to be going the direction I was looking for. I increased clarity tu outline the clouds, decreased saturation to bring the yellow lightray back in line, and then a touch of contrast and fill light for the overall balance...</p>

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