Photoshop Elements /
Gradients & Skies /
2 - Darken a Sky
Be sure to check off as you go along.
Preparation
1) Preserve your
original file.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Preserve
Your Original File.
2) Make a Background
copy.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Make a Background
Copy.
Select a Gradient
1) Select the
Gradient tool.
2) Select the
Foreground to Transparent gradient from the Gradient Picker window,
as described in the
previous section.
Foreground to
Transparent Gradient
2) Create a Levels adjustment layer.
Click the Create
adjustment layer icon, the half-dark, half-bright, circle at the
top of the Layers palette, and select Levels.
The Levels window will open.
Click OK.
3) Make sure
the Levels adjustment layer is active (highlighted).
Make sure, in
the options bar, that Mode is Normal and the opacity is 100%.
Make sure Reverse,
in the options bar, is not selected.
Make sure Dither
and Transparency, in the options bar, are selected.
click, hold,
and drag a gradient from the center of the photograph
to its top.
The mask created with the gradient will appear in the Levels
adjustment layer mask thumbnail.
If you haven't already done so, go to
Masking.
4) Double click
the Levels thumbnail in the Levels adjustment layer to reopen the
Levels window.
Slide the gray
middle triangle to the right to darken the sky.
The default setting is 1.00.
Here, 1.00 was changed to .50.
5) You can adjust
the opacity of the levels adjustment layer to reduce the effect.
Compare
Compare the two versions by deselecting the Eye icon of the Levels
adjustment layer.
Original
With Levels Midtone Slider at .50
Mode: Normal
The sky is darker.
Where the mask is black, the effect of the Levels adjustment
layer is blocked.
As the mask changes from black to transparent, the effect of
the Levels adjustment layer is revealed.
If you need to make further adjustments, double click the Levels
window thumbnail in the Levels adjustment layer to reopen the Levels
window.
Mode
You can change the Mode, at the top of the Layers palette, from
Normal to other blending modes.
Original
Mode: Normal
Hue, Saturation, & Luminosity Are All Affected
Mode: Color
Only Color Is Affected
Mode: Luminosity
Only Brightness Is Affected
Mode: Overlay
Contrast Is Increased
When the Color blending mode was used, the sky in the upper-right
corner of the photograph changed, as seen below.
Mode: Normal
R: 20
G: 112
B: 196
Mode: Color
R: 70
G: 162
B: 245
Different Placement & Angle
If the sky is brighter on one side of a photograph, you can draw
a gradient, on that side, and at an angle, to preserve this feature.
Drawn on the Right Side
Resulting Mask
Angled Gradient: Sky Slightly Brighter on Right
Side
Saving the Photograph
If you haven't already done so, go to
Saving Files.
You can edit a preset gradient to better fit your needs.
