Sky Blue Sky

In this tutorial, I'm going to show you how to make a dreary overcast sky like the one below into a picture perfect landscape. Start with your image, preferably one similar to this.

Step 1: Select the sky, and open a new blank layer. hopefully you won't have an annoying tree branch in your way. I could have gone over it, but I chose not too for the tutorial.

Step 2: go here, http://www.brusheezy.com/Gradients/3046-15-Realistic-Sky-Gradients and download the gradient pack. It comes with a lot of different and useful ones, but we will only use the clear blue for this. When you have the gradients loaded, place it on the new layer you made in step one in the selection. I found you need to start the gradient line tool thing high off the picture and end right at the horizon for the most realistic effect.

Step 3: Go here, http://www.brusheezy.com/Brushes/10710-Clouds and download the clouds brush set. load the brushes, and then put them on that same layer. Make sure they are white! after that, you have a picture-perfect blue sky!!

Makin' a Shadow

So, a fun trick that i recently learned is how to make a realistic shadow. It helps to make objects that you put into other photos look a little more authentic. So, I'll start with my picture. I just took a picture of a subject that didn't have a shadow, but you can easily do this same thing with a person you put on a new background or something.

Now, select the subject that you want to put a shadow on. Then, create a blank layer.

Then, on the the new blank layer, fill the selection with black.

Then, under Transform, (under the Image tab in Elements) click "distort", and move your shadow layer into a realistic position. Then use the eraser tool to get rid of any parts that cover you subject or are out of place. (some will be because of distortion)

Then, go to the filter tab and under the blur menu, click "gaussian blur". depending on the resolution of your picture, you may need to raise it more than other pictures. Play around with it until you find the perfect setting. From there, all you do is lower the opacity a little bit so it looks like a real shadow! and that's all! here's how mine turned out!