how to create a realistically textured skybox using an image of the sky, the offset filter in photoshop, and 3DS max

i aquired an image of the sky and loaded it into photoshop. (image 01)

i then used free transform to make the image 512x512 pixals. (image 02).

After this i used the offset modifyer to make all the edges of the image meet (image 03).

after this i used the stamp clone tool to make all the bits in the middle fit, i had to use the offset filter a few times to make sure everything was smooth.

then i applied the image to a sphere with a normal modifyer which makes the textures visable from within the sphere. (image 04)

image 05 is a final render of my product, which has some simple flat land, and a big yellow sun.

i then took a camera and took some pictures of the sky (image 06).

i then applied the previous steps to the image featured in image 06, to make image 07 which is another render.