Replace the sky in images

Last updated on Oct 27, 2025

Learn more about replacing and enhancing skies in Adobe Photoshop using the Sky Replacement.

Replace a sky in your image

Select Edit > Sky Replacement.

In the Sky Replacement dialog, select a sky from the presets or add your own.

Adjust the sliders to refine the sky and blend the foreground with the background.

  • Shift edge: Determines where the border between the sky and the original image begins.
  • Fade edge: Sets the amount of feathering from the sky image to the original photo along the edges.
  • Brightness: Adjusts the brightness of the sky.
  • Temperature: Adjusts the temperature of the sky warmer or cooler.
  • Scale: Resizes the sky image.
  • Flip: Flips the sky image horizontally.
  • Lighting mode: Determines the blending mode used for lighting adjustments.
  • Foreground lighting: Controls contrast in the foreground.
  • Edge lighting: Adjusts lighting applied to object edges; a setting of zero makes no adjustments.
  • Color adjustment: Adjusts how strongly the foreground is harmonized with sky colors.
  • Output: Selects whether the result is placed on new layers or a duplicate flattened layer.

You can also adjust the sky by following tools:

  • Sky Move : Moves the sky within the frame for better composition.
  • Sky Brush  : Paints over areas to refine where the new sky is applied.
  • Hand : Pans around the image at higher magnifications.
  • Zoom<insert icon here>: Zooms in or out to adjust details with precision.

Select OK.

Improve edge quaity in sky replacement

In the improved sky replacement workflow, the foreground-background contrast around thin objects is better preserved. In comparison, halo artifacts are reduced when bright skies are replaced with darker ones or vice versa. Additionally, a new Edge Lighting Group is added to the layer stack, which includes adjustment layers and a refined mask to enhance the overall quality of the result further.

To control the edge adjustments:

Open the Sky Replacement dialog box.

Use the Edge Lighting slider to set contrast on object edges. Larger values provide higher contrast and reduce halos.