Sky Replacement - Store your own custom Sky images within Luminar 4
Answered
Hi Guys and Gals,
As some of you may have already figured out, there IS a work-around on Mac for storing your own sky images within Luminar 4 as presets alongside the built-in sky replacement presets (I didn't investigate if this is possible on windows as I only use Mac for photo processing).
As this process involves editing the contents of your Luminar Application package/framework, I have been asked to point out that users should be aware that they do this at their own risk and any issues caused may require a complete fresh re-install of Luminar 4!
OK, with that obligatory caveat out of the way; I should say that this work-around has been working great for me and saves the effort of having to import a custom sky image into L4 every time. You can setup all of your own favourite custom sky presets in advance and simply select them from the AI Sky Replacement menu from within L4.
If you're interested, here's how it's done: -
Ensure Luminar 4 is not currently running.
Open Finder
Double click on 'Applications' folder
Ctrl+Click on 'Luminar 4' Application icon
Select 'Show Package Contents' from drop down menu
Double click on 'contents' folder
Double click on 'frameworks' folder
Double click on 'MPLuminar4Resources.framework' folder
Double Click on 'Resources' folder
Double click on 'SkyTextures' Folder
Copy your new sky images into this folder
Start Luminar 4 and your new Skies will now show within the Sky Replacement presets in addition to built in skies (as shown below).
Just to add some supplementary info; The first thing I did was to backup the original L4 sky .jpg images (just so that I could restore these if required at any stage). I then went ahead and batch processed all of the L4 stock images as well as my custom sky images to be the same resolution as my camera files and cleaned them up using DeNoise AI from Topaz. Also, it's handy to rename them so that they sit within their appropriate categories e.g. Stormy 1, Stormy 2... etc.
I hope in a future version of Luminar 4, this functionality may be added so that the process of saving your own sky images would be easier to import and manage from within the application menu, as opposed to needing to externally edit the Luminar 4 Package itself.
Hope this helps and remember, do this at your own risk!
Cheers for now,
Bill
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Just did the L4 (5380) update and noticed that all of my custom skies were replaced with the old factory skies again. No worries though, just followed above process again to delete the stock skies and copy my custom skies back in. Would be great to have this functionality built in to the UI with menu options for sky backup/restore perhaps?
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For those on a PC.
* I recommend you backup the folder "C:\Program Files\Skylum\Luminar 4\profiles\SkyTextures" before you begin this process. It's always a good idea to backup any program folder that you want to modify it. For the record I did not have any problems with this process.
1. Crop the photo you want to turn into your own sky replacement file. (remove everything but sky).
2. Export your sky file to your desktop as a jpeg.
3. Close all open Skylum 4 windows.
4. Rename the jpeg file to a name you will easily find when you are replacing a sky in Luminar 4
5. Copy or move the jpeg file to "C:\Program Files\Skylum\Luminar 4\profiles\SkyTextures"
6. That's it now try it out.
There may be others ways but I'm new to Skylum and this process works for me.
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Sure. I added 9; here are 2 of my favorites. Here's where I got them, which says at the bottom of the page they're "for personal, non-commercial use": https://wall.alphacoders.com/by_sub_category.php?id=118368&name=Lightning+Wallpapers
The ones I downloaded and added to Luminar, I edited so as to delete any city buildings, etc. These 2 here, I've edited.
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You might want to read Matt Suess's article in today's post -- apparently the coming upgrade of Luminar will affect any changes you have made to the sky replacement folder. https://www.facebook.com/groups/luminaraurorahdr/?multi_permalinks=2396121724051465%2C2395240684139569%2C2395712140759090%2C2395233880806916%2C2395219817474989¬if_id=1576536055376452¬if_t=group_activity
I have just been keeping any custom sky replacement files in a separate folder on my desktop -- not as handy but then, while I love the feature, I don't use it with every photo I process - so the extra few steps locating and using my custom files is not a big deal.
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Great tip! Especially about backing up the images. I suspect that you will need it sooner or later Future upgrades to Luminar 4, certainly will overwrite the originals we've stored there for convenience. It would be nice if there were another locale that could used and linked in the settings for these type of user-added items. Hint, hint Skylum.
Grading of the time of day (Sunset) might be a good idea. Sunset could be the first word in this case, followed by some description of the cloud pattern (light/heavy) and, if you're weather inclined the cloud types (Cirrus, Cumulous, etc.). My 2¢.
Also resizing the images might not be needed as the included images are supposedly BIGGER than most camera formats @6000x4000 (in the California Sunsets Collection. Note that the resolution and quality were reduced for size purposes on canned images. There is a guide to making your own which doesn't go into resolution, size issues, so it's good to keep these things in mind.
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Bill, in my isolation it was a toss up between trialling Lightroom Classic (my iMac has never liked Adobe products) or finding a solution for getting Luminar 4 not crashing almost every time I used my own skies. I found your solution and, no surprise, it worked a treat. I am very grateful to you.
I've only moved nine skies for now, six of them came from a pack sent by MacPhun in August 2017 and three of my own. To me, the importance of what you have achieved is that it allows me to use the impressive skies that we see in England. Oh and it stopped me trialling Adobe!
A word of thanks to Skylum for leaving this solution on the forum.
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So I follow these instructions on a MacBook Pro (OS Mojave, relatively clean install).
Kill Luminar
Make copies of Arctic Sky Pack into the designated Folder/Package
Restart Luminar
Now, I have NO sky selections. Not the stock, the new, or the ability to select my own.
So I delete those offending additions. Nope, still no AI sky replacement options.
Reinstall Luminar 4? No fix there.
I have to completely uninstall and reinstall Luminar 4.
And others are right. This functionality should be built into the UI, especially if they are going to sell sky packs. I assume it is coming in the same update as Loupedeck support: the one where they mail you the update on tape backup - 8-track tape because they make a huge comeback.
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Hi Verlon,
While it is indeed possible to open the Luminar Package and install skies, we do not recommend it and cannot guarantee the program will run correctly. Instead, please try loading your skies via AI Sky Replacement > Sky Selection > Load Custom Sky Image.
I personally recommend keeping all of your external assets (skies, textures, LUTs) all in one easy-to-find folder so they are ready to use.
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Angela, it seems I have little choice, but I would REALLY like the ability to add the sky packs that you sell to me to the application so that I can select them along with the defaults. Ave the option to quick preview them as I scroll through would be a nice bonus. Surely you can see how this would be easier and more polished for your users.
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There are some .jpg and .png images that Luminar 4 will not allow me to save to either SKYEFX or SKY Textures folders. This is in the latest version of L 4 running on Windows 10. I get an message that I'm not allowed to do so but can save to Picture.
However some other jpg and png images ask me to click Load as Administrator before saving and this works. -
I love being able to do this, and thanks for the directions. However, after some Mac and L4 updates, etc., I find that ONLY my purchased sky packets (purchased separately) show up when I choose "sky replacement", and wonder if it means that they are really still in the folder (I believe that they are), but there is no way to scroll through a list longer than originally offered? Unfortunately, there are some instances when I just want an uncomplicated blue sky with clouds and no drama. I am on a MBP (2017) and have the latest updates from Luminar 4.
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