HOW TO Create a perfect sunset

2022-07-26 -

1 Import shot

In Luminar Neo’s Catalog workspace, click Add Photos and browse to a landscape. This Raw shot has a flat contrast. Distant details are washed out due to atmospheric haze, and the colours are dull and desaturated.

2 Dehaze

Click on the Edit panel’s icon. Go to the Tools panel’s Essentials area and open the Landscape section. Drag the Dehaze slider to 60 to increase midtone contrast. This helps reveal more distant shapes and details.

3 Enhance foliage

Drag the Foliage Enhancer slider to 100. This lightens leaves and helps them stand out. Toggle open the Landscape panel’s Advanced section and drag Foliage Hue to -65. This creates more contrasting yellow leaves.

4 Replace sky

Go to the Creative section of the Tools panel. Click on Sky AI. Click Sky Selection. Click on the menu and choose Sunsets. Here, we’ve selected Sunset 4. This more scenic sunset replaces our original bland sky.

5 Match lighting

Scroll down to Scene Relighting and drag the Relight Strength and Saturation sliders to the right to warm up the colder blues of the original shot. Go to Sky Adjustments and increase the Warmth slider to 70.

6 Add sunrays

Scroll down to open the Creative section’s Sunrays panel. Click the Place Sun Centre button. A white circle appears. Drag this to overlap the sun in the background. Increase the Amount slider to intensify the rays.

7 Fine-tune sun

Set the Sunrays Length slider to 44 so the rays fade towards the frame edge. Increase penetration to 50 to make the rays stand out against the busy background. Increase the Warmth of the sun and the sunrays.

8 Colour tweaks

Go back to the Essentials panel. Click Color and take the Vibrance slider to 28 for more striking colours. Click on Vignette and set Amount to -80 to dramatically darken the edge of the frame. Set Size to 64.

9 Save as template

Click the Actions drop-down menu below the image. Choose Save As Preset. In the My Presets label it ‘My Sunset’. Browse to another shot. Click the Presets icon, and click My Sunset to instantly apply your custom sunset.