Have you ever taken a photo of a vibrant sunset, only to look at it later to find that it’s nowhere near what you thought you had captured? Perhaps it’s less vibrant on camera than it was in real life and you want to change the color of the sky to add a fun flair. Whether you’re upping the saturation in a sky image, creating glitter clouds, or using lens flare effects, there are tons of options when considering how to edit the background of a picture. If you’re looking for how to edit sky color in a photo, then you’ve come to the right place! 

Photo backgrounds can really vary. Sometimes it’s a plain white wall in your living room, a busy downtown street, a serene beach, or an amusement park. One of the most common backgrounds in photos is the sky, and unlike in home photo setups where you can control and perfectly set the scene, you can’t really control mother nature. This is exactly why learning how to edit the background of a picture, and in this case, learning how to edit sky color is really a must when starting your photo editing journey.

Outdoor photography brings with it a variety of variable weather factors such as fog, grey clouds, surprise rain showers, and more. Photographers love golden hour, but if you get stuck in traffic or are late, you could miss an entire day’s worth of shooting. Sky photography is even more variable. You never know what sort of a sunrise you’re going to wake up to, and it could range anywhere from a clear bright blue sky backdrop all the way to dull grey on a particularly cloudy day.

Knowing how to edit sky color is essential for any rising photographer. Luckily for you, the whole process couldn’t be any easier, if you already know how to edit the background of a picture then you’re 70% of the way there. With photo editing software and sky effect apps, like PicsArt, the entire process is no different than changing the background of a photo – and we’ll show you exactly how!

Ideas on How to Edit the Background of a Picture

Learning how to edit the background of a picture, or how to make a background transparent, can take you a long way as a photo editor. But before you begin, keep in mind that no matter the type of background editing you’re trying to do, starting with a high-resolution photo will always lead to better results. If your photos aren’t high resolution, consider trying to upscale your image before you start editing the background. 

There are two methods we recommend when considering how to edit the background of a picture. They’re both very accessible – you don’t even have to use the brush tool or layer masks. You simply have to choose between editing on your phone or on a computer in a web browser.

If you want to edit backgrounds on your phone, simply follow the below steps:

1. Open the PicsArt app on your mobile device and tap the + button to start editing.
2. Select the image you’d like to edit the background of. You can upload a photo from your own library or select from thousands of #FreeToEdit images in PicsArt.
3. Remove the existing background of the image by selecting Cutout from the bottom toolbar. 

You can either let the AI Select tool automatically detect the parts of the photo you’d like to keep and remove the background for you. Or if you want to edit only certain parts of your background, you can manually select which parts you’d like to keep or remove by swiping across your image with the Eraser tool.

1. Now that your background is removed, it’s time to add a new background to your image. You can add a solid color, sticker, premade background, or upload a photo from your own gallery as your new background.
2. Save and share your finished piece!

If you’re looking to edit the background of a photo on your computer:

1. Open your browser and head to PicsArt’s online editor, hover over “Products” at the top and select Background Remover.
2. Click Upload and select the photo you’d like to edit the background of. Alternatively, you can use an image from PicsArt’s library of free-to-edit images.
3. Now select either Person or Object and the AI will automatically remove the background from your image, leaving the rest intact. Alternatively, you can manually remove certain parts by using the Eraser tool.
4. Click Apply to save your progress.
5. Now you can add colors, photos, and stickers where the old background used to be.
6. When you’re done, click Download in the top right corner to save your work.

With these two methods, you can easily edit the background of any photo whether you’re on your phone or computer. 

Best Tips on How to Change the Sky Color

Now that you know how to change the background of a photo, it’s time to diven in to how to edit sky color and sky effects.

Lucky for you, you’re right where you need to be. With this quick tutorial, editing the sky in your photos couldn’t be any easier. Luckily, PicsArt is so much more than just a sky effect app, so you can accomplish post-production editing like color changing sky and so much more in one fell swoop. Here’s how to change the color of the sky in an image:

1. Open the PicsArt app on your phone and tap the + button to start editing.
2. Select a photo with a sky so you can practice how to change the color of the sky. You can upload your own photo or select from thousands of PicsArt’s stock images.
3. Go to Effects and select the Colors category.
4. Select the Color Replace effect and set the reticle on the sky in your photo, this will automatically select the entirety of the sky in your photo.
5. Adjust the hue in different ways until you get the color you’re looking for.
6. Save and share your work.

You can use this method to change the color of the sky in seconds. If you’re looking for some more advanced sky change methods then check out some other types of sky edits below.

What Are the Types of Sky Edits?

Editing the sky in your photos is very similar to editing just about anything else – the sky’s the limit! There are so many beautiful sky edits, but here’s a few to get you started: 

• Adjust the Color Balance

Adjusting and enhancing the color of the sky in your photos is very easy and super quick in PicsArt.

Follow the first three steps outlined above, then select either Saturation, Brightness, or Contrast, depending on the edit you’re going for. Once you select one of these three effects, tap the Eraser tool at the top. 

There are two ways you can do this next step here:

• You can manually brush over the sky using Erase. 
• You can use AI Select and then tap on Sky to let the app automatically select the sky for you.

Now apply your selection and adjust the level of saturation, brightness, or contrast, until you get the result you’re looking for.

• Go Deep with Color Burn

You can use the Color Burn blending mode to achieve some really deep and brooding sky edits.

Simply follow all of the steps above, except right before adjusting the level of saturation, brightness, or contrast, select the Color Burn blending mode. Pro tip: there are a variety of different blending modes underneath the slider.

• Add a New Sky Overlay on Your Original Image

Follow the first two steps above. Then either use Sticker or Add Photo to add the new sky that will replace the original photo’s sky. Pro tip: use the Search tool to find some amazing sky assets.

Once you have your new sky sticker or photo, add it to your edit and adjust it so it covers the entirety of the sky in the original photo. Now reduce the opacity a little bit, so you can see the original image underneath. Then tap on the Eraser tool at the top, and brush over the parts of the original image that you’d like to keep. In this case, it’s anything that’s not the sky. Make sure to reduce the size of the brush to erase the exact pixels you need much more accurately.

Once you’ve finished this step, raise the opacity back up and you’ll have your original photo with a completely new sky.

@picsartSweet Escape 🌄 #photoediting #photoedit #picsart #creativephotoshoot #window #windowview #view #picsarttutorial♬ MISS CINDERELLA – JDVBBS

Create a Starry Sky with PicsArt Photo Editor 

Want to create a starry sky? Here’s how to capture the perfect starry night without having to leave the house. 

@picsartThe sky’s the limit 🌌🪐#picsart #sky #skyedits #galaxy #outerspace #creativephotoshoot #photoedit #photoediting #picsartedit #surreal♬ LIMITS THE SKY – Mpax

Step 1: Open the Clipart Menu
Open your image in PicsArt. Scroll across the bottom toolbar and tap on Sticker. Search for “stardust” and select your favorite starry night sky.

Step 2: Select Image
The sticker you select will now show on top of your image. Enlarge and rotate the image so that it fills the sky.

Step 3: Reduce Opacity and Erase
Use the slider to reduce the opacity of the sticker, then tap on the eraser at the top and use your finger to erase part of the star sticker so it only covers the sky on your original image. Tap on the check mark to save. Then go back to the opacity slider and adjust so your image shows at its full opacity.

Step 4: Save and Share
Repeat the same process to add any additional sky stickers. You can also play with color burn, saturation, add masks and filters, and so much more. When you’re done, tap to apply, save, and share your work. 

Congratulations. Now you know not only how to edit sky color but also how to edit the background of a picture. It’s time to get editing!

Make Awesome

PicsArt all-in-one Photo and Video Editor, Collage, and Sticker Maker is the world’s largest creative platform with over 150 million monthly active creators and influencers. PicsArt has collaborated with major artists and brands like The Jonas Brothers, Gwen Stefani, Maroon 5, Lizzo, Meghan Trainor, One Direction, MONSTA X, Warner Bros. Entertainment, iHeartMedia, Condé Nast, and more. Download the app today to level-up your photos and videos with thousands of quick & easy editing tools, trendy filters, fun stickers, and brilliant backgrounds. Unleash your creativity with PicsArt and upgrade to Gold for awesome premium perks!