Changing Backgrounds Revisited

[Hans Oscarsson]

Again I turn to this illustrious group for assistance.
I've tried several ways of changing the background sky with somewhat dissatisfying results, incl. using "past into selection". My problem is when the foreground includes several trees and the selection becomes very difficult, to say the least.
Is there a best(!) way of replacing the original bleak sky with a vibrant one from another pic. in Elements 5?

TIA!

Hans

[ljameso1]

One way would be to get a selection of just the sky. To do that with trees add a levels adjust layer and move the highlite slider(the right 1) to the left until the sky area turns white. Select the sky with the magic wand tool. Copy this selection to another layer c+j. Trash the levels layer. Paste a new sky onto the sky selection layer or make a gradient with varying shades of sky blue and apply to that layer. This will get a new sky in without covering tree branches. You may need to play with feathering and tolerance settings to get the best selection. Hope this helps. Linda:D

[Daviskw]

Hi Hans

Washed out skies are a common problem and usually they can be corrected in Elements sometimes with ease.....sometimes not. The method used depends on the photo.
Linda has given you a method and it may work fine but it may not. The best thing to do is post your picture using a web hosting service like Pixentral.com (http://http://www.pixentral.com/)if you continue to have problems and we could give more advice.

Butch

[NYBOB1]

Hi,if you have Grant's Tools installed in Elements, there is a great video tutorial that you can view here (http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=222).It shows an easy way to replace a blown out sky.

Bob


Grant's Tools add a Selective Color option to Elements.Along with other useful tools.Curves,Channels,Masks,etc.You will need Selective Color to use the tutorial.

[rkmart]

Why would a person need GRANT'S TOOLS ??? :confused: :confused:

[Wendy]

Hi Robert ...

Because it gives you a Layer Mask :)

Wendy

[rkmart]

Is there a Selected Color Adjustment Layer in PSE5 ?

[Wendy]

Hi ...

No too sure what you mean ... but if you mean the Select>Colour Range that Photoshop has then the answer is no ..


Wendy

[rkmart]

Grant's Tools add a Selective Color option to Elements.Along with other useful tools.Curves,Channels,Masks,etc.You will need Selective Color to use the tutorial

GRANT'S TOOLS for PSE5 does NOT have Selective Color option. Do you know were I can get that option for PSE5?