I previously blogged about ON1’s Photo RAW 2023, their all-in-one photo editing suite. Among its included features is Sky Swap, an incredibly useful tool for getting rid of and upgrading bland skies in your scenics.
Just this week, ON1 released Sky Swap AI 2023, an inexpensive standalone/plug-in version focused on just this feature! It’s currently on sale for $29.99 as part of the launch special.
You might be inclined to think that Sky Swap AI simply pops a new sky into your image. Part of that is true; the app quickly does the majority of the masking work for you, then presents you with a ton of preset sky options to choose from (plus you can import your own images).
Aside from just “adding skies”, there are a lot of corrective and creative adjustments you can make along the way, from basic cropping/rotation to burning/dodging, color shifting, mask editing, retouching (healing brush), saturation, vibrance and tint, etc.
I’ve got more than a few photos in my archives with empty or uninteresting skies just begging for exactly this kind of help! Let’s work through a few of them, beginning with this early morning shot of Long Beach, CA from the water. A few wispy clouds are present, and the shot is a bit crooked.
Immediately upon loading the image into Sky Swap AI, the app got to work creating the sky mask as seen in progress here:
In a few seconds after the setup is ready, you can begin your sky swapping adventure! I decided to explore the Storm collection of presets as seen here, with #22 loaded into the mask (I had already used the Crop tool to fix the leveling):
That’s a pretty convincing result! There are no lighting-related anomalies that stand out, such as the sun coming from the wrong direction in relation to the lighting on the subject. The foreground also got a bit of color treatment to match the sky, and this aspect (along with reflections) is fully adjustable.
Next we hop over to Manhattan for a daytime view of some old apartment buildings. Although a decent sky actually existed that day, I wanted to reinterpret this image into something more “urban dramatic” and graphic.
A Sunset preset combined with a black fill on the base image area resulted in this total reinterpretation of the original:
For my last example we’ll swing back to SoCal and create a progressively bad weather day from a sunny day original, using various presets and other edits. First, the original, followed by the incoming storm effects:
Think about how Sky Swap AI can be used for your particular type of photography, whether it be sprucing up travel scenics or real estate photos or creating fantasy photo art. Don’t miss taking advantage of the current sale!
Key features in Sky Swap AI:
•Most extensive library of curated skies, 231 built into the app (not a separate purchase or download)
•125 of the skies are 8K UHD skies from Ocudrone, a leading provider of ultra-high resolution aerial images
•Batch processing which is especially great for photographers who shoot real estate and need to work in larger quantities
•Sky Swap AI results can also be re-editable from Adobe Lightroom Classic using Smart Photos, an ON1 plugin technology that maintains the re-editability
•Allows users to blend in additional clouds or skies with an existing one, if a full sky replacement isn’t necessary
•Automatic matching of the foreground color with the new sky’s mood
•Local Adjustments allow users to modify foreground elements such as burning, dodging, color adjustment, and sharpness
From the press release:
Portland, OR – ON1, a leading provider of photo editing software applications, announces the new ON1 Sky Swap AI. With Sky Swap AI, transforming a lackluster sky into a stunning backdrop is effortless. The software automatically identifies the sky in your photo, then generates a perfect mask, enabling you to effortlessly replace or enhance any sky.
Photographers can choose from 231 included skies or upload and use their own library of skies. 125 of the built-in skies are sourced from Ocudrone, a leading provider of ultra-high resolution aerial images. Sky Swap AI uses the power of machine learning in tandem with expertly curated skies, bypassing the need for complicated masks and layers required by other applications.
Sky Swap AI is also a flexible plugin that works with popular editing software including Capture One, Affinity Photo, Corel Paintshop Pro, and Apple Photos along with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic. It seamlessly integrates with your preferred editing program and regardless of the software you use, Sky Swap AI offers unparalleled accessibility and ease of use making it an attractive add-on regardless of workflow. It can also function as a standalone application.
“We wanted to bring this great technology to all photographers regardless of the main photo editing application they are using. It’s a ton of fun to use and has some incredible skies built-in. It’s not only great for replacing skies, but also for making detailed sky selections and then enhancing the image based on that,” says Dan Harlacher, ON1 VP of Product.
Sky Swap AI’s key differentiators include the most extensive library of curated skies with 125 of the very popular OcuDrone skies built-in. Sky Swap AI also has the ability to batch process which is especially great for photographers who shoot real estate and need to work in larger quantities. Sky Swap AI results can also be re-editable from Adobe Lightroom Classic using Smart Photos, an ON1 plugin technology that maintains the re-editability.
This new application also allows users to blend in additional clouds or skies with an existing one, if a full sky replacement isn’t necessary. The software automatically matches the foreground color with the new sky’s mood, and you can manually adjust color and tone. You can also add realistic reflections for water in the foreground and motion blur for a long exposure effect.
The software also offers local adjustments, allowing users to modify foreground elements such as burning, dodging, color adjustment, and sharpness. Users can crop their final work to any size and use retouching tools to remove distractions and dust from the foreground. Additionally, Sky Swap AI provides powerful masking tools, including AI masks, that simplify region-specific adjustments or modifications to the sky’s mask.
Price and Availability
ON1 Sky Swap AI is available to purchase from the ON1 website for $29.99 for a limited time.
ON1 Everything subscribers will automatically receive the new ON1 Sky Swap AI as part of their plans. Please check your email for instructions on getting the free Sky Swap AI. ON1 subscription plans always include the latest versions of the ON1 Plugins and ON1 Photo RAW for computers and mobile, and up to 1TB of cloud sync storage. Starting subscription plans are as low as $7.99 per month or $89.99 per year.
Sky Swap AI is also fully integrated inside ON1 Photo RAW 2023.1.
About ON1
ON1 creates world-class photo editing software applications for photographers of all levels. Our mission is to help photographers get the best possible results from their photos in the shortest amount of time. Our software is innovative, intuitive, and easy to use. We are dedicated to providing our customers with exceptional support and resources to help them achieve their creative vision.