After more than 6 months of teasers and various announcements, Skylum has finally launched Luminar Neo, its new creative image editor. Based on the latest AI advancements, the software is set to reinvent image creation and processing with more flexibility, ease of use, and better performance. Let’s look at what’s new in Luminar Neo.
Enjoy Luminar Neo at a reduced price! Use the Luminar NEO Promo Code “AFS-RxhxJ2” to get a 10% discount!
Simpler and More Powerful Image Editing:
Skylum is not new to photo editing software. After Luminar 4, which is no longer for sale, the publisher released Luminar AI, a fast photo editing software based on templates and numerous automated AI-powered tools.
With Luminar Neo, Skylum hopes to give photographers greater flexibility in image creation, particularly by making it easier to achieve the renditions they envisioned when shooting. As a result, the software offers a wider range of creative options than traditional RAW development software. At this stage, Luminar Neo is more like a more accessible Photoshop, especially with AI-assisted layer and mask management.
Compare Luminar Neo
There’s a fine line between the photo you took and the photo you imagined. Often, details make all the difference. With Luminar Neo, we’ve built an editor designed to help you create the photos you can imagine. Ivan Kutanin, CEO of Skylum
Upon its launch, Luminar Neo will offer over 100 photo editing functions in addition to simplified cataloging tools, divided into 4 categories: Core Tools, Creative Tools, Portrait Tools, and Professional Tools.
Note that Luminar Neo is available in three phases: early access users have already benefited from the software and its basic functionalities. Presets and layer tools are available starting today, and a free update will bring AI masking and AI background removal in Spring 2022, as described below.
Luminar Neo largely incorporates the AI-driven tools from Luminar AI, while offering more modular layers and AI-powered automatic image masking (available now). Thus, each time you open a photo, the software recognizes the elements in the image and allows you to generate automatic masks using Mask AI.
The first application of this masking technology will be AI background removal, which can automatically and precisely crop subjects, for example, by replacing the background of a portrait. AI Mask will also allow more precise targeting of how the tool is applied to a part of the image, but not the whole.
Among the features labeled Luminar AI, we note Sky Replacement Tool AI, Atmospheric AI, Face AI, Structure AI, etc. Luminar Neo also uses the “traditional” basic settings found in other software, such as RAW development, noise reduction, detail enhancement, black and white conversion, and even adding presets using the software’s built-in preset library, which automatically suggests photos based on the subject.
Compared to Luminar AI, Luminar Neo introduces a new image processing engine and allows for new functionalities.
Consequently, the AI Relight function is based on image analysis and the construction
of a 3D map (from 2D images) to calculate image depth. Thus, the illumination
of an image can be precisely adjusted by choosing, for example, to darken the background, relight the foreground, or correct the image’s exposure. This mode is particularly useful in portrait photography where the background may be overexposed. Here, Luminar Neo draws inspiration from what we have seen with smartphone photographers over the years.
Luminar Neo also offers two features that can save you a lot of time when correcting images: Dust Off and Line Removal.
Dust Off, as its name suggests, identifies dust on the sensor or lens for each photo and removes it automatically.
The Line Removal tool uses AI to detect and remove wires from your landscape (and even street) photos. The initial results look promising and should save an exponential amount of time, especially if you tend to shoot with small apertures where sensor dust is very noticeable.
Finally, Luminar Neo allows you to stack multiple images in layers and provides a texture catalog. Thus, halos, light leaks, or other bokeh can be easily added to images. You can also add photos (even in RAW format) as layers and choose a blending mode.
Performance Improvement
Some photographers criticized Luminar AI for being too slow, especially on weaker computers. With Luminar Neo, Skylum has redesigned the internal engine and promises a huge performance improvement for complex operations.
Here are the figures provided by the publisher:
macOS
Image export is now 86% faster
Effect transition time reduced by 35%
15% reduction in time to switch from catalog mode to edit mode
Open RAW processing is 61% faster on average
RAF (Fuji) 75% faster
CR2 (Canon) 53% faster
NEF (Nikon) 58% faster
ARW (Sony) 51% faster
18% reduction in maximum memory consumption when exporting images
Windows:
Switching from catalog mode to edit mode is now 17% faster
Open RAW processing is 20% faster on average
RAF (Fuji) 24% faster
CR2 (Canon) 31% faster
NEF (Nikon) 28% faster
ARW (Sony) 42% faster
Adding new folders to the catalog has been accelerated by 69%
Luminar Neo is also available in an optimized version for Mac M1.
In addition to Luminar Neo, Skylum today launched its first mobile application. Luminar Share (free on iOS and Android) allows you to create a direct connection between your Luminar Neo and your mobile device.
As a result, photos can be quickly shared from the phone to Luminar Neo, processed, and retrieved on the phone for sharing. The workflow is seamless and can be done in both directions without any loss of quality as the image is not compressed.
Luminar Neo Pricing and Availability
Luminar Neo is now available with AI Relighting, Layers, Presets, and more. A free update planned for Spring 2022 will bring additional features such as AI background removal and AI masks.
Luminar Neo is available as a plugin for macOS and Windows, as well as Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, or an extension for Apple Photos.
Skylum offered a deal for Luminar Neo at launch. From February 17 to March 3, Luminar Neo is on sale:
1-year Luminar Neo subscription (1 seat) for €59 instead of €79
1-year Luminar Neo subscription (2 seats) for €79 instead of €99
Luminar Neo Lifetime License (1 seat), 79 euros
Luminar Neo Lifetime License (2 seats), 99 euros
Skylum offers a Luminar Neo trial version, and provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Enjoy Luminar Neo at a reduced price! Use the code “AFS-RxhxJ2” to get a 10% discount!
Our First Review of Luminar Neo:
Luminar Neo is the successor to Luminar 4 with the editing capabilities of Luminar AI. Skylum once again relies on artificial intelligence to simplify the photographer’s workflow. Luminar Neo is more flexible and advanced than Luminar AI, including tools for adding layers and masking, in addition to tools like Lightroom, it should appeal to those who use Photoshop. But Luminar Neo seems easier to use, and above all, less intimidating.
To learn more about Luminar Neo, visit Skylum’s website.
You can also find the results of my photo edits: The Most Beautiful Photos of La Réunion
What is Luminar NEO and what is it used for?
A: Luminar NEO is photo editing software that allows you to correct, enhance, and stylize your photos. It offers an easy-to-use interface with many tools and features to help you achieve the desired result.
Is Luminar NEO easy for beginners to use?
A: Yes, Luminar NEO is designed to be easy to use, even for beginners. The user interface is intuitive and the tools are simple to operate. Additionally, many tutorials and guides are available to help you get started.
What operating systems does Luminar NEO support?
A: Luminar NEO is compatible with Windows and Mac.
Is Luminar NEO compatible with RAW files?
A: Yes, Luminar NEO is compatible with RAW files, allowing you to work on high-quality photos.
Does Luminar NEO offer predefined filters to quickly edit my photos?
A: Yes, Luminar NEO offers many predefined filters to help you edit your photos quickly and easily. You can also customize the filters to create a unique look for your photos.
Does Luminar NEO offer advanced color correction tools?
A: Yes, Luminar NEO offers advanced color correction tools to help you improve the quality of your photos. You can adjust color balance, tones, and saturation to achieve a perfect rendering.
Does Luminar NEO offer portrait retouching features?
A: Yes, Luminar NEO offers portrait retouching features to help you enhance portraits by correcting imperfections and highlighting the subject’s features.
Can I share my retouched photos with Luminar NEO on social media directly from the software?
A: Yes, Luminar NEO offers sharing options to allow you to share your retouched photos on social media directly from the software.
Conclusion on Luminar NEO:
Luminar NEO offers many features to help you improve your photos and achieve the desired look. By using Luminar NEO, you can save time and effort by using automated tools to correct common issues such as color correction and brightness enhancement. Additionally, Luminar NEO offers advanced retouching tools to help you customize your photos and make them unique.The user interface of Luminar NEO is easy to use and intuitive, making it accessible even for beginners. Furthermore, many guides and tutorials are available to help you learn how to use the software’s features.Finally, Luminar NEO is compatible with RAW files, allowing you to work on high-quality photos. This gives you the freedom to work on images with a large number of details to achieve a perfect rendering.In summary, Luminar NEO offers a wide range of features to help you edit your photos effectively and creatively, without sacrificing quality.
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