Creating realistic clouds

[Denny]

Hi,

I would like your suggestions on how to create realistic clouds for an image that has a perfectly blue, cloudless sky. I know there is a filter for this but I'm having trouble blending it. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Boater]

Hi Denny,
if you visit the numerous Photoshop sites you can d/l
free cloud brushes hope this helps.
Norm

[frank abramonte]

Denny, there are many free sky and cloud photos to choose at this link.
You can search for other links.

In photoshop there are cloud brushes under Filters>Render>Clouds

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu9DHiBlJNTEAFY5XNyoA?p=blue+sky+an d+clouds+free+photos&y=Search&fr=yfp-t-501&ei=UTF-8

[ken1]

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?from=1&o=desc&cat=196&event=productHome&s=3&l=-1&exc=16

The cloud brushes from the Studio Exchange are excellent. Scroll down until you come to "Return to Eden."

When using the brushes, be sure that your foreground color is set to white.

I ususally place them on a separate layer so that I can adjust the opacity.

[Diana]

Hi Denny,

I take photos of the sky whenever I see a beautiful blue sky with fluffy white clouds, just to use as replacements for dull, washed-out skies in some photos.

An easy way to replace a sky is to add the new sky photo in a layer above the photo with washed-out sky, then changed the Blend Mode of the new sky layer to Darken. Only the portions of the sky photo that are lighter than the photo below will show. If you see other parts of the photo affected that shouldn't be, just use the Eraser tool or a layer mask to remove that part of the sky photo. This method works with a lot of photos, but may not be suitable for photos with a light of light colors.

Here's an example where I used this technique, with the Before and After.....
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1mPwjr6FKcklCG5xljtcCYPdJg6lIK1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1mPwjr6FKcklCG5xljtcCYPdJg6lIK1)

I have also used a gradient layer stamped with a white sky brush, as mentioned here by my Village brothers.

If you have a clear blue sky to start with, stamping with the sky brushes would probably work just fine.

Diana

[Denny]

Ken,

I downloaded these brushes. They work great. Thanks to all for your suggestions.

[Denny]

Diana,

Next time we get a blue sky in Ohio I'm going to try this.

[ken1]

Ken,

I downloaded these brushes. They work great. Thanks to all for your suggestions.

Denny,
You're welcome. Glad that it worked out for you.

:):)