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Make Your Landscapes Pop With the Sky Replacer

By Melanie Doncas | Photo Editor Tutorials

Have you ever taken a landscape or travel photo that looked amazing in the moment, only to realize later that the sky didn’t quite do it justice? Maybe it turned out dull, gray, or completely overcast – even though everything else in the scene looks crisp and vibrant.

In situations like these, one of the easiest ways to improve your photo is to replace the sky entirely. We know what you’re thinking though: doesn’t that require advanced editing skills or expensive software?

Thankfully, BeFunky’s Sky Replacer (located within the Edit menu of our Photo Editor) will do the job for you. The Sky Replacer uses smart AI to detect the sky in your image and seamlessly swap it out with a new one of your choice – all within a few clicks. From bright blue skies to soft sunsets and everything in between, it only takes a few seconds to completely change the mood of your photo. Keep reading and we’ll show you how!

How to Use the Sky Replacement Tool in Your Landscape Photos

Ready to swap out the sky within your landscape photo? Head directly to the Sky Replacer to get started, then open the landscape or travel photo you wish to edit.

Step 1: Open the Sky Replacer

From the Sky Replacer tool, you have plenty of options for editing your image’s sky. For this tutorial, we want to change our existing sky entirely for a new one. To do this, click Change Sky.

BeFunky Sky Replacer interface with a landscape image ready for sky replacement

You can change your sky to a transparent one, a color, or an image. We’ll be swapping our sky out for another realistic-looking sky, so have selected Image > Select Sky.

Waterfall scene edited with sky replacer tool showing realistic sky options on sidebar

Step 2: Choose a New Sky

There’s a curated selection of skies ready for you to use. Click on each sky to sample how it will look in your own image. Can’t find the perfect sky to match your landscape? You can also browse our stock image library to find exactly what you had in mind or even upload your own sky photo from your computer.

Sky replacer adjust settings for color and placement with a photo of a pink sunset sky

Simply click and drag the sky on the canvas to adjust the position of your new sky. You can then alter various elements of your new sky by clicking on the Options button.

The Colors tab of Edit sky menu

Step 3: Apply and Save Your New Sky

Navigate back to the main Sky Replacer menu using the back arrows, then click Apply to save your changes.

Edited landscape with new sky and settings menu open in BeFunky Sky Replacer

Finally, all that’s left to do is to save your sky replacement. Click Save at the top of your canvas and choose your desired save location and format.

Final image with edited sky being saved using BeFunky’s sky replacer tool

An Inspiring Sky to Complement Our Landscape

There’s no need to over-edit your landscape or travel photos to make up for a dull or dreary sky. Sometimes, a quick sky replacement and a few basic adjustments are all it takes to make skies more vibrant and bring your scenes to life!

Landscape photo with a vivid sky applied using the sky replacer for dramatic effect
Original photo with a cloudy, dull sky before using BeFunky Sky Replacer

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After

Other Ideas for Replacing the Sky in Your Landscape Photography

If you're looking to enhance your landscapes but aren’t sure where to begin, here are a few ways the Sky Replacer tool can help you get creative and bring new life to your favorite travel and nature shots.

Add a Golden Glow to Nature Scenes

Landscape photos taken during the middle of the day can sometimes feel a little flat, especially if the lighting is harsh or the sky is completely washed out. Using a golden hour sky is a great way to add warmth and depth without needing to be there at sunset. A soft glow in the sky can enhance natural elements like trees, water, and rocks, making the whole scene feel more vibrant and inviting.

Golden hour sky added to nature scene using sky replacer to enhance warmth and depth
Nature scene with a bright midday sky lacking color and warmth

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After

In this example, we also added the Warm Sun Lens Flare effect to our photo to enhance the existing lens flare captured by the camera.

Add Drama to Cityscapes

Urban skylines can sometimes feel a little too clean or neutral, especially if the sky doesn’t add much visual interest. By replacing the sky with a more dramatic option – like a moody, stormy backdrop – you can add contrast and intensity to your shot. It’s an easy way to give your photo a more artistic or editorial look while keeping the focus on the unique city architecture.

Edited cityscape with dramatic clouds added via sky replacer for visual impact
Urban skyline under a dull sky with low contrast and lighting

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Give Beach Photos a Pastel Sunset

Beach and vacation photos often rely on the sky to set the tone – but the weather doesn’t always cooperate. If your photo came out dull or overexposed, try adding a pastel sunset sky to soften the image and evoke a calm, dreamy feeling. Soft hues like pink, orange, and purple can complement the natural tones of the sand and sea beautifully.

Sky replacer adds a pastel sunset sky for a soft, dreamy beach atmosphere
Beach view with a flat, gray sky lacking mood and tone

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Replace the Sky in Any Landscape or Travel Photo

Landscape photography doesn’t always go as planned – but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for dull or uninspired photos. Whether you want to replace the sky in your latest landscape photo or travel snaps, the Sky Replacer tool is a quick and powerful solution.

Want to give it a try? Head to the Sky Replacer and start transforming your own landscapes today!

Change the Sky of any Scene


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