Photographic Retouching and Restoration
Adobe Photoshop


Removing Unwanted Haze and Restoring Sky Areas

Removing unwanted haze and restoring blown out sky detail from images using Adobe Photoshop can be accomplished using several sophisticated techniques for a seamless effect. Methods may include creating advanced selections using the Magic Wand and Lasso tools, and inflicting density adjustments to localized areas employing the use of adjustment layers (Curves, Brightness/Contrast) and masks.

Attention to detail and technique is crucial in acquiring a seamless effect. Changes to localized areas may take some experimenting to obtain the desired results. It is best to operate with the texture and detail that is already provided in the image. When creating selections, use a feather to hide any noticeable edges that may occur with specific and intense changes.


1. Create a selection of the problem area using one of several selection tools. Start by clicking with the Magic Wand in the area of the desired change (a selection tolerance can be adjusted in the options panel). Other methods of selection may include the Lasso tools if the desired effect is not obtained immediately with the Magic Wand. A combination of selection tools may have to be employed to refine the selection area.

* Hold the shift key to add to a current selection, hold the alt/option key to subtract from a current selection.

2. Once the selection has been obtained, it is important to save the selection. This will save time and effort when certain selections have to be recalled later down the road. Go to the Select Menu and Save Selection.

*Be sure to name the selection descripitively. The saved selection is now an alpha channel.

3. After the selection has been saved, refine the edges of the active selection to hide any evidence of an adjustment area. Do this by first navigating to the Select Menu and Modify>Contract the current selection by 1 pixel.

4. Go to the Select Menu again and Feather the edges of the current selection by 5 pixels. This will provide the selection area with a slightly gradual and softer change to the edge.

5. With the selection still active, make a tonal adjustment using an Adjustment Layer activated from the Layers Palette. Adjustment layers are created as separate and independent layers that are displayed with masks. These masks can be painted on to refine adjustment/selection areas. The mask will follow the same outline of the selection that was currently active. White areas are affected with adjustments, black areas are excluded.

* Adjustment layers can be manipulated without destructing original information. When the mask is highlighted, a selection can be painted on using the eraser/paintbrush and white/black in the color palette area. White to add to selection area, black to subtract.

6. Using the Curves Adjustment Layer allows for precise changes to occur in tones and density of the area. Color can also be improved when adjusting specific channels (Red, Green, Blue) in the Curves Pallette.

7. The Lasso tool can now be employed to create a selection that will enhance the edge of water and horizon line. Hold shift to add area from other side of tree. Apply a standard Feather (i.e. 5 pixels) to this active selection. Use another Curves Adjustment Layer to further bring down the tone in this specific area for added separation from the horizon.

* Be sure to have the Background Layer activated when creating a new selection.

8. After adjusting the horizon and water area, load the previous sky selection formed in Step 1 by navigating to the Select Menu and Load Selection. Apply a Feather to the edge.

9. Create a new Brightness/Contrast Adjustment Layer and reduce the brightness of the selected area.

* The layering order of Ajustment Layers will affect all underlying layers unless Grouped.

10. After adjusting the brightness/contrast of the selected area. Make one last adjustment to the human subjects in the image. Be sure to have the sky selection active and navigate to the Select Menu to choose the Inverse. Create another Curves Adjustment Layer to allow for the minor adjustment of tones in the foreground including the human subjects.

11. Before finalizing the image for print, it is best to initially save the file with all layers intact (for any future adjustments). Next, Flatten Image from under the Layer Menu and File>Save As using another name for the image document. Apply the Unsharp Mask to the flattened layer for finishing.

* Flattened images require less processing time for the printer due to the reduced file size.

Example 1:

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