First let me say:
1.) I'm an Amature ( with pro skill aspirations )
2.) I'm always looking, and learning, for the "best" (read easy) way to PP.
It seem's that there are a thousand ways to PP a shot, especially with CS2, and get the same results. To that end, I've been searching, for all methods that I can easily comprehend, and accomplish, a "sky fix", and came-up wih this today. So... maybe this will help some others, who face the same "brain-lock" dilema; and frustration as I, when PP'ing a photo using photoshop. And, yes, I understand, that "if" I'd taken the shot "right" to begin with, I wouldn't put myself through the rigor's, and torture of PP. But,, until I reach the "purist" level, I'm afraid the only alternative for me is PP, or the delete key !!
( can't wait to try this on a "good" photo)
I "stumbled" across this "fix" in an effort to define the "deliniation", between, sky, and treeline. I'm sure there has to be a billion other ways, and several other methods I've attempted, have butchered the point where sky meets land.
I found this to work in CS2, and PSE3. My workflow is within CS2, PSE3 is just about the same.
I learned HERE on P.O.T.N., to always! shoot RAW !!
From Adobe Bridge
Select photo to correct.
In ACR I adjust the WB.
ALT key before hitting open button in ACR, toggles button to "open copy".
In CS2:
1. Magic Wand> select the sky
2. Select> Modify> Contract (in dialog box I chose 50 pixels)
your "marching ants" should move up 50 pixels from treeline
3. Select> Feather (in dialog box I chose 50 pixels)
very important for "blending" your adjustments.
4. Image> Adjustments> Levels (what looks good to you?)
5. Image> Adjustments> Photo Filters> Cooling (your choice, use small adj.'s)
Your "sky" should look the way you want it, at this point.
6. Select> Inverse
your "marching ants" should now be around the "land", and 50 pixels
down from "skyline".
7[COLOR=blue]. Image> Adjustments> Levels (what looks good to you?)
8. Image> Adjustments> Photo Filters> Warming (your choice, use small
adj.'s)
9. Image> Adjustments> (Whatever if anything, you feel the photo might
need, I did a little hue/sat, shadow/highlight .)
10. Select> Deselect
11. At this point, I used the Straighten Tool, Cropped.
12. File> Save As> .psd for archive, .tiff for printing, .jpeg for web, your
choice.
Did you know in CS2, that the Alt. key, will toggle "cancel" to "reset", in most dialog boxes, geez whata time saver.
raw
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fix
[ HOSTED PHOTO DISPLAY FAILED: ATTACH id 47905 does not exist. ]
raw

