Solved! Auto Reflection with Photoshop Sky Replacement

Here's some Sky Replacement hacks for Photoshop 2021 if you want to use it to add a reflection too.
Free Sky Sample Pack: www.mattk.phot...
The Full Sky Replacement Pack: mattk.com/prod...

[@JVStorck]

you can also easily put any background without adding new textures to the sky replacement section, just replace the background with any sky then change the image of the sky for whatever background you like direct in the new layer photoshop created, because the hard work of this its just the mask, so keep the mask and change the bg.

[@cgrape22]

Great idea!

[@lizclayton8464]

I love the way you creatively "push and pull" PS to see what you can get out of a particular tool.

[@sjv]

To extend the texture trick, I like to convert the sky to a Smart Object, then use Replace Contents and choose a stock texture from my library.

[@judyboyd9530]

Great video Matt. I have done a few sky replacements w/reflections and I will definitely give this a try. Thank you 😊

[@maxphunn6189]

I love the tip of importing textures. Importing your own skies into Sky Replacement also works with a night star filled sky, even a Milky Way sky.

[@ninacleven7889]

Great video Matt, thanks for all the useful videos you create.

[@MattKloskowski]

My pleasure!

[@Jack-se2iz]

Great video, Matt. Will have fun today. Thank you!

[@rolsonn]

Cool technique! So far, I've not replaced any skies. I do like the sky selection because it saves so much time creating the selecting and avoiding issues masking trees, etc.

[@cnicolo]

Wow thank you Matt, now this is a huge help...! Thank you very so much :)

[@MattKloskowski]

Happy to help!

[@rongeffin5323]

Awesome -- great creativity in finding a solution to reflections.....

[@SEAKPhotog]

Love the creative use of sky-like textures! Good tip on flipping for reflections too.

[@MattKloskowski]

Glad you like it!

[@SEAKPhotog]

@@MattKloskowski I'm enjoying messing around with the sky select tool + select and mask. Makes refining the initial sky selection a breeze.

[@bcrossphotos]

Stretching the sky all the way to the edges for the reflected water would make it line up better when the upper sky section gets added.

[@janechernova6462]

Brilliant!!👏🏼👏🏼 You made me lough loudly how simple it works 😄😄

[@colinweir5807]

Certainly worth trying and pushing P.S. boudaries. We never stop learning. Also good to hear you give credit where credit is due.

[@SuperIceteapeach]

Insane tips and tricks!

[@leniehulse1621]

Wow! Nice video!! I was finding it difficult to match the sky with the reflections!

[@perryhoag8915]

Matt, try using the "Image" menu and go down to "Rotation" and select "Flip Vertical". It solves the problems you discussed regarding rotation.

[@rossstevenson9703]

Wow!! That's awesome Matt

[@richardgagne7931]

Wow very nice and easy to do. Thanks for doing the video

[@Dickymint1000]

Great video Matt, many thanks

[@Ronin760]

Great tip on the reflection and you answered a burning question I had - can you change other backgrounds (i.e. textures) using the sky replacement feature. Thank you for this!

[@PhotosRFun4Me]

Great tutorial. I suspected that you were going to flip the image... nice to know this work around works. It is a shame that the flipped image sometimes moves, as you could have just duplicated the original sky mask from the folder to use on the flipped image. I too think the Photoshop team will improve this cool new tool.

[@TrevorMcGrathPhotography]

Deadly!!! Just DEADLY

[@chrisrohwer5481]

Very cool way to use the tool, thanks.

[@PTPhotography]

This was so incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for such an excellent tutorial and the free sky pack!

[@christopherdias2355]

Thankk You once again Matt! Im sure to use this a lot!

[@robertgrenader858]

Oh far freaking out. Thank you Matt

[@beechy45]

matt many thanks for the sample skies pack cool vid btw

[@Daddy4rime]

Amazing little trick! Thanks for sharing again good sir! :)

[@easy56wedge]

This is great. I discovered it on my own the day I downloaded and installed PS21. I like the Sky Replacement tool/option but it does have some issues - namely "holes" where sky shines through trees. I've tried Dodging and Burning on the mask but it's an iffy remedy. Sometimes it looks "ok" while other times it's just plain bad. I'm finding I really have to pick and choose images carefully. But it is a cool tool and saves a lot of time. By the way, it works for Milky Way photography too. I use a tracker when I shoot the MW but doing so blurs foregrounds and backgrounds. So I have to take images of the foreground/background separately without the tracker. Then combine the static image of foreground/background with the tracked image of MW using masks in PS using Raya Pro 5 / Lumenzia 8.5.1 / AstroPanel 4.2 / OrionX 2 / or TK7. But this Sky Replacement really helps - again with the exception of "holes" in trees! Thanks for posting Matt!

[@rcharlespearce]

In this tutorial, after the new sky is added to the reflection, flipped vertically again to its original orientation, and after the two background layers are lined up again, you add a layer mask to the reflection sky replacement and paint away the top of the layer to get back the original background. I found that that isn't necessary--just turn off the background layer copy (or delete it) because the masks are already there. I hope my explanation was clear enough. Thanks for the tutorial--I've been going back through dozens of landscapes and replacing dull, cloudless skies with more interesting ones.

[@w3tua]

Output the sky replacement as a duplicate layer. You can then add a layer mask.

[@Kalasapurada]

brilliant!

[@TheTsikpan]

Thank's a lot Matt!

[@chrissargent4090]

Hey Matt.. Glad my tip inspired this hack video, appreciate you taking the time to pull this demonstration together. BTW - I had to try the same hack with Luminar 4 - turns out that you can't 'fool' the AI in the same way.. it just does the replacement on the upside-down image.. interestingly it also inverts the sky when applying it!

[@MattKloskowski]

Thanks so much Chris! I can't believe how good of a job it did!! And that definitely is interesting. Don't they have a "reflection" feature or did I see that it is coming out soon?

[@chrissargent4090]

​@@MattKloskowski - Yes. I understand that Luminar AI is due to get a reflections feature in 2021 Given how well Photoshop manages with the 'Flip' it feels like Adobe could quite easily beat Luminar to the punch. If Adobe is watching your video channel perhaps they will work on an update :)

[@FalharNomads]

Hey loved tis video and the way the background is replace in the portrait photo. Thanks

[@neilsteinmetz687]

Hi Matt, Neat trick. Thanks. General comment about replacing skies: From an artistic perspective, although not always from a legal one, if you use someone else’s sky you should share creative credit for the final image with the other photographer even if you have paid for and licensed a “sky pack.” After all, the other photographer took the time and effort to be out photographing that spectacular sky that turns your ordinary image into a great one.

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi Neil. Thanks for the message. Actually that's incorrect. When you license an image, you are licensing that image for your use based on the licensing terms. In most cases, using the photo without photo credit is part of what you're paying for. When a company licenses a stock photo to use in an advertisement, they don't have to (nor should they) put the name of the photographer on that image / ad. The photographer chose to allow licensing of their work, hence giving up the requirement for some one to attribute to them. Or, they can always make this a requirement of the license if they choose, but virtually no stock website in the world would allow it. In your example, the photographer that took the time to capture a great sky is being compensated by some one buying their skies in a sky pack. Now, that's when we're talking paid usage. If you're using it privately for personal use, I'd see even less of a reason to attribute the sky. You're just doing it for fun. For me, I don't want the credit. And if some one does, then they should state that if they're giving those skies away for free. It could get to a gray area if you were submitting this to a contest, but most contests have a requirement that the entire photo is yours and not part of anyone else's work. Thanks!

[@nsteinmetz]

@@MattKloskowski yes I totally agree with you about legal requirements. I am strictly speaking of sharing creative (artistic) credit with a photographer who contributed a large portion of the final photo. An example might be a photo contest. Even if manipulations such as sky replacement were allowed, it would be deceptive for a photographer to present a joint work as her own and accept a prize for it. This is no different than the requirement to include joint inventors on a patent even if one inventor has bought all rights to the invention from the others. Similarly, plagiarism is unacceptable even if the work of another that an author is trying to pass off as his own is in the public domain.

[@MattKloskowski]

I see what you're saying. For me personally, I don't care if people credit me. Almost all of the people following me just like photography for the fun of it and I have no issue with them using my skies without mentioning me. Plus, if they purchase from me, then they have already given me all the credit I need. But I guess it's up to the person who provides skies to determine if/how they want to be credited. Thanks!

[@gbee8888]

8:38 The reflection is way too far to the right relative to the sky. Can it be repositioned somehow?

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi... Yep. It’s a layer so just move it like you would any other one.

[@johnfletcher3533]

@@MattKloskowski But it seems like PS also makes a point of cropping the original sky photo to something smaller, making post manipulation more difficult. That's the main annoyance I'm having with it trying different variations and manipulations. But thank you so much for these tutorials. They're helpful in the information and giving me new ideas.

[@SteveStanger]

"Get the F outta here!" Is what I literally just said out loud! So cool! 🤣

[@igornemec5738]

I did as instructed but when I have linked layers than grouped them but when I select flip vertical my sky replacement just wont flip. It stays on top. I have Photoshop 2021 version.

[@NarenMediaWorks]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing this

[@williamcurran9290]

You mention an advanced sky replacement video. I can't find it on your page. Can you provide a link?

[@DiviPhotos]

very nice video

[@billtaylor1319]

Awesome video I was just trying to figure this out. Problem; I create the Group & Flip but when I lower opacity to move it jumps into the Foreground Lighting Layer even though I have linked all the layer masks. For some reason I had to link all layers at Group 1 to move all the layers. Feel like I'm missing something.

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi Bill. Not sure about that one but if it works... it works! Don't mess with it too much :-)

[@korhankumral3260]

A great technique, thank you.

[@1BigBucks1]

I expect Adobe to add a Make Reflection checkbox in the foreground part of the panel to automatically do what you just did manually. Until then, good trick.

[@ruedistaehli]

You say it only works with photos Lightroom recognizes as sky. But couldn‘t you use the process first with a sky image and then at the end replace the sky image with any other picture?

[@romiemiller7876]

I've been thinking that this technology could be used to replace backgrounds as well, especially in portraits. It can, but Adobe has it set so that usually cant be done, though it could if they'd allow it. Luminar does it, and so do a few other programs.

[@awardwinningimagesexplained]

Great tutorial Matt. When you did a flip vertical to correct the image and had to nudge the layers into place, have you tried doing a select all - the entire canvas before flipping? That should flip it correctly.

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi. I haven't tried that.

[@janetclark8754]

wooooo, love this!!!!

[@rgarlinyc]

Ha ha, neat trick - and as usual so-o-o obvious once you know the trick! 🤣👍🏻

[@ramigrafx]

Very good description on how to use this new feature. The problem that I have is that it uses skies from Adobe and I want all content to be my own, How can I import a folder of skies that I have collected over the years into this?

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi. Click the plus icon I showed in the video. You can only import one at a time right now.

[@ramigrafx]

@@MattKloskowski . Thanks Matt I suspected so. One at a time. A bit laborious but if that's the only way at the moment I will have to do it that way.

[@montsergirl]

Haha that’s so smart I didn’t even think of this

[@billgreenwood]

Instead of relinking the layer masks, will selening them all and making them a smart object group all the elements into one item to transform?

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi Bill. I’m not sure but give it a try. I don’t use smart objects so the linking works best for me.

[@hotjazzbaby]

Thank you 🎖🎖🎖

[@DavidHicksPhotography_OR]

When adding my own sky pics to the sky replacement tool does it help to use raw files for greater color depth? Love your shot of Sparks Lake and the South Sister.

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi David. Since you’re not in a raw editor when you apply it will not help. But the best thing you can do is give it a try for yourself and see how you like the results and compare it with a JPG. Thx

[@bobcoggin4618]

Brill 👍🏻

[@denniscooper8258]

Matt, quick question. When you added the sky to the inverted (reflection) position, the sky replacement appeared to have been reduced in size and shifted to the upper right corner of the mask (3:35). The entire replacement image appeared to be a compressed version of itself. When the sky was then added to the normal upright position, it completely filled the top of the frame and as such, the mask was placed completely across the top of the image (5:09), or full frame. When combined, the reduced "sky replacement" of the reflection was smaller, offset to the right and could not line up with the "sky" above. Is there a way to convert or re-size the replacement when you initially added it to the "reflection" component so it will mirror the sky above, perhaps by using the scale function? My guess is PS only added the sky replacement to the area of the reflection that was not completely covered by the rocks. Since that corner had no sign of any sky, it compressed the replacement image to fill where it sensed the sky to be and reduced the overall image to fit. As a result, instead of adding the "sky" across the entire width of the frame, it added a compressed sky image it to the right 2/3's of the frame only, throwing everything off. A quick look at the clouds and their relation to the peaks is a quick indicator. Sorry for being so long winded!

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi Dennis. Yes, you could use the Scale option. Also check out the Advanced tutorial that I did last week and that should help too. Thanks!

[@ursacamera]

This also works with Sky selection.

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi. There’s already a Select sky menu item so this would be the long way around if you wanted to select it.

[@stevechoatie249]

Loved your tutorial on sky replacement, both this one and the one you did explaining sky replacement and all the sliders. I do have a question that I haven't seen anyone mention. I've noticed the few times I've used the sky replacement tool that my file sizes become extremely large. Just looking at the layers created I don't see why it's so huge. Do you have any thoughts about this?

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi Steve. It's not just the Sky Replacement feature. Any time you add layers in Photoshop your image size will grow substantially. It's just the way that Photoshop and layers work - they're much bigger than just a JPG or raw file. Thanks!

[@stevechoatie249]

@@MattKloskowski Thanks for your reply. I didn't really feel the layers were adding that much to the file size until I did a side by side test. The first test was using the sky replacement tool. The second test I manually added similar adjustments and lo and behold the file sizes were pretty close. I guess I just wasn't expecting that big of a file size. Thanks

[@ClintonFerrara]

Idea. The sky replacement creates a mask. Use that mask copy to insert your non sky texture. Maybe it will work.

[@MattKloskowski]

It will :-)

[@fabienb]

I did try to flip the image on day one... and it didn't work! Then of course you do it and it's perfectly fine! 😂😂😂

[@gthulin]

Cool :-)

[@peterwilson9699]

Oh dear! I am getting quite tired of replacing sky etc now!

[@MattKloskowski]

Simple cure.... don’t do it ;-)

[@tfechtenburg]

I just do the normal sky replacement. Make a smart object of the sky layers. Make a duplicate, put the layer on the very top, and flip it. Use soft light as blending mode. Adjust blend if for your liking, adjust transparency, and a tiny bit of masking. Very quick, easy method in my opinion 😀

[@MattKloskowski]

Hi. Yes, that is the old way and indeed works. However, I'd encourage you to try the new tool as Adobe not only does a better selection than most people can do, but also included many more blending tools than just changing the blend mode to Soft Light. I've done it both ways, and the new feature blows the old way out of the water. GOod luck!

[@tfechtenburg]

@@MattKloskowski I’m a Nerd 🤓, and try out different things a lot 😀 I don’t use fine selection in my method, only blend modes, as well as blend if. This gives me greater control over where the reflection is placed. In your example, the reflection is to far to the right, for my taste. The good thing about Photoshop, is that there is no right and wrong 😀 Thanks for a great video, and inspiration. Keep on exploring new ways to “trick” Photoshop 😀

[@tfechtenburg]

@@MattKloskowski Oh, we might not understand each other. I use the new Sky Replacement feature in 2021. It is the new Sky layers that Photoshop creates, I convert to a Smart Object. The rest of my workflow is in the other description 😀