Luminar NEO: How to use the Sky AI Tool (2025 Update)

🔄 2025 Update: This post has been updated with a brand-new video tutorial using the latest version of Luminar NEO. Watch the updated video below to learn how the Sky AI tool works today.

Enhance your landscape photos like never before with the Sky AI tool in Luminar NEO. Discover how this powerful feature enables photographers to effortlessly replace and enhance the skies in their images, opening up a world of creative possibilities. Say goodbye to dull skies and unlock stunning visual transformations with ease.

Updated 1st Feb 2024 - The Sky AI has added a "For This Photo" section to help select an ideal sky for your photo.

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In this article:

• What is the Sky AI Tool
• Introducing the Sky AI sliders and tools
• Getting started with the Sky AI Tool
• Video tutorial
• Luminar NEO

What is the Sky AI Tool

The Sky AI tool in Luminar NEO revolutionizes sky enhancement in photos. With advanced AI technology, users achieve stunning results by easily replacing dull skies, creating vibrant atmospheres, and adjusting colors and tones. The tool seamlessly integrates new skies, maintaining a realistic appearance. It saves time and eliminates complex manual techniques, empowering photographers to transform their images and unleash their creativity.

Introducing the Sky AI sliders and tools

Fot This Photo

For This Photo

The "For This Photo" section in the Sky AI tool provides three sky suggestions for the photo you are editing. The software scans the picture and offers three options based on color, saturation, and style. The first two sky options are from your existing library, while the third option displays a new sky collection from Skylum's (Luminar) Marketplace, enabling you to explore new sky options.

Sky Selection

Sky Selection

Visually select the sky you want from the dropdown list and instantly have an idea of what your final result will look like. You can add your own skies individually or in bulk.

Sky Orientation

Horizon Position

Click this button to open the Shifting Horizon Control. There are three ways to use this tool to refine the position of the sky:

1. Position: Grab the center-line of the pin to move the new sky vertically to freely place it exactly where you want it in the scene.
2. Horizon Blending: Click and drag the line to smoothly adjust the transition between the current and new horizon. Use a higher value to achieve a more photo-realistic look.
3. Rotation: Move the pointer to the outside line until it becomes a curved arrow for Rotation. Then, rotate the new sky on the Z-axis for perfect placement.

Vertical Position

You can freely offset your new sky vertically and place it exactly where you want it in the scene. SkyAI will perfectly scale it to fit while keeping it aligned with the horizon. The Vertical Position slider controls the Textures in the sky and water areas but moves them in opposite directions in relation to the Horizon Position line until you get the ideal match between your new sky and its reflection.

Horizontal Position

With this slider, you can freely position the sky horizontally and place it exactly where you want it in the scene. SkyAI will perfectly scale it to fit while keeping it aligned with the horizon.

Flip

Flips the new sky to change its direction in the frame. Beneficial when a photo has shadows that you’re trying to match.

Horizon Position

Shift

Set the desired position of your horizon line.

Rotation

You can rotate the new sky on the Z-axis for perfect placement.

Mask Refinement

Global

This slider affects how the texture is mixed into the scene. A higher value will increase the amount of new sky that is added.

Close Gaps

This slider fixes small details and holes not initially filled by the replaced sky. You may need to adjust it if the image has refined details such as trees or wires.

Fix Details

This slider fixes small imperfections around the edges of your new sky.

Vibrance

This slider adjusts only the intensity of muted colors, ignoring well-saturated colors. It’s helpful in achieving fine control when adjusting color.

Scene Relighting

Relight Strength

This slider adjusts the exposure of the scene to match the new sky.

Relight Saturation

This slider adjusts the saturation of the relighting effect to realistically add the color from the new sky to the scene.

Relight Human

This slider controls relighting for any people in the scene, matching people to the new sky for a more realistic effect. Use it on environmental portraits and lifestyle photos to see the drastic difference!

Reflection

Reflection Amount

Allows you to adjust the intensity of the reflection to your liking.

Water Blur

Allows you to blur the reflected sky to better match an uneven water surface due to waves or ripples.

Sky Adjustments

Defocus

This slider defocuses the sky and is useful when a shallow focus is used with a foreground object.

Grain

Use this slider to match new skies to the grain in the original photo for a seamless, realistic effect.

Atmospheric Haze

Use this slider to add a soft haze to the sky. Haze is helpful in matching a replacement sky to the original image, especially if there’s moisture in the sky or environmental pollutants.

Warmth

Use this slider to adjust the color temperature of the image.

Brightness

This slider darkens or lightens the new sky. It’s useful for matching the original scene.

Getting started with the Sky AI Tool

With these simple steps, you can effortlessly enhance the sky in your photos using the powerful Sky AI tool in Luminar NEO. Enjoy the creative possibilities and transform your images with stunning skies.

Sky AI Tool: 

• Open the image in Luminar NEO by using the Add Photos button in the Catalog module (L)
• Move to Edit module (E)
• Then, navigate to the Sky AI tool in the Creative section of the editing toolbar (right side)
• Choose from the various sky presets available, or load your own skies from the Sky Selection drop-down menu by choosing Show Custom Skies … and copying your own JPEG files into the folder that opens.
• If needed, use the refine options to adjust the detection and blending of the new sky with your photo.
• Fine-tune the sky by modifying parameters such as color, tone, and mood using the adjustment sliders.
• Experiment with different skies and adjustments until you achieve your desired result.
• Preview the image to ensure the sky integration looks natural and seamless.
• Once you're satisfied, save your edited image in your preferred file format.

Sky AI Tool video tutorial

Watch the full video tutorial covering all sliders in this tool.

Luminar NEO: Edit Smarter with Powerful AI Tools

Luminar NEO is Skylum’s award-winning photo editing software, designed to help photographers achieve stunning results faster, thanks to its powerful AI-driven tools and user-friendly interface. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, Luminar NEO makes it easy to enhance landscapes, portraits, and everything in between.

Packed with intelligent features like Enhance AI, Sky Replacement, and advanced masking, it's a fantastic alternative to traditional software like Photoshop, especially if you want professional results without the steep learning curve.

👉 Click here to explore Luminar NEO.
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