--I learned a great new technique from joining NAPP which I have adapted for replacing those blown out skies we all hate. If you are interested, I am posting an example of before and after and the steps. It is much better than using the Magic Wand and preserves details like wires, branches, etc. It also gets us to use those mysterious Blending Mode options!!!http://www.pbase.com/image/19901719/medium.jpg

Adding Blue Sky Using Blending Modes

1. open image with blown sky
2. duplicate Background layer by dragging it to the New Layer icon at bottom of layer palette
3. turn off Background layer by clicking on eye icon (leave copy on)
4. right click on blank space of Background copy layer icon to bring up menu and click on Blending Options
5. confirm that "Blend If" box is set to Gray
6. go to "This Layer" slider and drag right slider to the left until blown sky disappears (very slight move!) and click OK
7. open a blue sky image and drag it onto the subject image
8. drag blue sky layer below subject image layer (adjust size if necessary using transform tool)
9. expand image to 100% and look for white fringing around edges of deleted area. If there is fringing, reactivate Background copy layer and reopen Blending Options dialog box, then hold down Alt key and drag left half of right slider to the left until fringing disappears (slider splits in 2) Click OK.
10. activate top layer and Merge Down into blue sky layer
11. reactivate Background layer by clicking on eye icon
12. add layer mask to top layer and mask out any areas where blue sky is showing through where it should not
13. merge layers to finish

Bill Richardson
Barrington, IL (USA)