Using Photoshop Actions to Enhance a Blue Sky and a Rainbow

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Using Photoshop Actions to Enhance a Blue Sky and a Rainbow

As photographers, we have no control over the weather conditions. Sometimes we get rained on and other times we get lucky enough to get beautiful light or even to cross paths with a rainbow.

This photo was sent in by Crystal Smith of Envision Image Photography. She wrote, “Saturday night, after a short cloudburst on their outdoor reception, Robin and Jeremy were lucky to be the beneficiaries of a beautiful full-arc rainbow on their wedding day.  It was a photographer’s dream!
When I got the pictures home that night and chose what shot I was using as my ‘sneak peek,’ the sky was a very overpowering gray do to the weather, which made the rainbow almost imperceptible. I knew the only Photoshop action I had in my arsenal that would bring out both the color of the sky and the the colors of the rainbow was color explosion from the Complete Workflow Action set for both Photoshop and Elements.  Here is what I did to this photo, step by step.”

1. I masked off the house in the background and cloned it out.
2. I ran PW’s “cooler” action from her Set 2 to bring some blue into the sky.  I had it at 100%.
3. I flattened the image.
4. I ran MCP’s Color Explosion to bring out vivid blue colors in the sky and all of colors of the rainbow. I was very careful to make sure Robin and Jeremy did not get brushed over with that powerful color action…her hair is already a fiery red!  This brought out the blue sky and the rainbow to perfection.
5.  I finished up with PW’s “boost” action from her set1, at about 50%.

robin-and-jeremy-before-and-after Using Photoshop Actions to Enhance a Blue Sky and a Rainbow Blueprints Photoshop Actions Photoshop Tips

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No Comments

  1. Brendan on August 20, 2010 at 11:35 am

    I’d recommend masking out the clouds as well. The blue color in the clouds is a clear giveaway that the photo has been “shopped”

  2. MarshaMarshaMarsha on August 20, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    Oh WOW! That is a GORGEOUS shot! Thanks for the tip!

  3. lani on August 20, 2010 at 5:14 pm

    Who is PW? I already have everything Jodi sells! LOL but I am always looking for new ways to stream line my workflow.

  4. Crystal on August 22, 2010 at 11:43 am

    PW is Pioneer Woman…its a blog that Jodi does commentary on…which is how I found Jodi’s actions in the first place! 🙂

  5. Webestools on August 23, 2010 at 3:18 am

    Nice result! Thanks for this tip!

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