Learn how to Use Luminar Neo in 2023: Newbie’s Information

Luminar Neo is a photograph modifying software program powered by synthetic intelligence.

I discovered easy methods to use Luminar Neo for my images enterprise, and it saved me a lot time and power I used to spend modifying images.

I discover it tremendous straightforward to edit and improve images on this software program, and I’d love to point out you easy methods to use Luminar Neo, too.

Take a look at this information as I take you thru the ins and outs of this thrilling picture modifying platform.

Learn how to Use Luminar Neo: Newbie’s Information

Luminar Neo by Skylum is a strong AI picture editor that simplifies a wide range of modifying duties for stunning completed photographs.

This software program works on Home windows and Mac, with sensible know-how used to boost lighting, change the background, or take away blemishes in just some clicks.

Listed here are my high tips about easy methods to use Luminar Neo and get probably the most out of this modifying software program.

Organising Luminar Neo

To obtain and set up Luminar Neo, you should buy the software program on Skylum’s web site.

There are presently 3 methods to purchase Luminar Neo – I like to recommend the ‘Lifetime’ possibility (accessible right here), because it means you personal the software program outright with no ongoing subscription charges.

Register for a Skylum account or log into your current account. Beneath My Software program, discover Luminar Neo and click on obtain.

You will want to activate the software program with a license key and observe the on-screen directions to put in the software program in your laptop.

Take into account Luminar Neo requires Home windows 10 or macOS 10.13.6 or larger. You possibly can learn the complete system necessities on Skylum’s web site.

Primary Interface and Navigation

Now, let’s dive into the Luminar Neo interface. There are two foremost areas with entry controls: Catalog for searching and navigating photographs and Edit for enhancing images.

To navigate the structure, merely click on between Catalog, Edit, and Data within the high right-hand nook.

Within the Catalog view, you’ll see a toolbar with regularly used instructions and navigation buttons to change between folders.

You possibly can regulate the magnification degree and consider the library aspect panel for shortcuts.

Edit view is how you improve photographs, with well-liked capabilities accessible within the toolbar.

Photograph histograms, layers, and adjustment instruments are within the aspect panel. It can save you one-click presets from the Motion menu within the Luminar Seems Panel on the backside of your display screen.

Data view is the place you’ll discover picture particulars, together with the present decision, measurement, and digicam mannequin used to take the image.

Importing and Organizing Pictures

Subsequent, it’s essential you know the way to import photographs into Luminar Neo. You possibly can import images from an inside or exterior arduous drive or a reminiscence card.

Click on the Open Button Menu and hover the cursor over Import Pictures, which is able to deliver up all accessible library folders.

Choose File>Import Pictures and choose the photographs and/or folder you want to import.

Select the Arrange dropdown menu to verify how the photographs ought to be sorted into subfolders.

You possibly can tick the Embrace Subfolders field if you’d like photographs from all subfolders to be imported.

Luminar Neo gives a number of methods to prepare and type photographs throughout the software program:

• One folder – place all photographs right into a single degree with no subfolders
• Present folders – preserve present folder setup with subfolders created
• Yr/month – Luminar will robotically create subfolders by the 12 months and month the picture was taken
• Yr/month/day – for extra detailed group, let Luminar type images by the precise date

You’ve got the choice of importing photographs to an current folder or making a brand new one. 

To create a brand new grasp folder, use the Add Folder button within the Library Panel. Use the New Folder button after which import your images accordingly.

Luminar Neo makes it straightforward to prepare photographs in folders and sub-folders throughout the platform.

You possibly can transfer images to totally different folders or transfer photographs from the Fast Edit assortment to a storage folder.

Enhancing Instruments

Luminar Neo has a wide range of fast modifying instruments to boost photographs in just some clicks.

Ensure you are in Edit view, after which you possibly can entry all of those instruments and extra.

The Adjustable Gradient filter is without doubt one of the key instruments for quick enhancements, because it enables you to selectively regulate publicity, distinction, heat, and vibrance in two totally different elements of the picture.

For publicity, transfer the slider to the left for a darker picture or the best for a brighter picture. 

Additional refine the picture by adjusting the relative publicity at each the highest and the underside.

Additionally, use the Adjustable Gradient to manage the distinction, adjusting the distinction between the colour and brightness throughout the picture.

The heat slider is a simple method to change how cool or heat a photograph seems. Select a constructive worth for larger heat or a unfavourable worth for a cooler look.

The Good Saturation management enhances vibrance by making much less vibrant colours extra noticeable. It has a minimal impact on already vibrant colours, so it’s very best for enhancing secondary shades.

Different choices for coloration correction embrace skilled filters. 

The Superior Distinction characteristic is a chief instance, with sliders for elective changes to highlights, midtones, shadows, and steadiness.

Channel Mixer enables you to fine-tune pink, inexperienced, and blue (RGB) coloration channels for customized photographs.

The Clone software replaces undesirable pixels with higher pixels to cover blemishes. The feathering characteristic is nice for seamless stroke mixing.

You possibly can shortly make layer masks, too. Luminar Neo has 4 masks sorts: brush, linear gradient, radial gradient, and Masks (AI).

Saving and Exporting Pictures

You don’t need to do something fancy to avoid wasting your edited photographs inside Luminar Neo, because the software program robotically saves adjustments in your Catalog.

When you’re able to export your photographs in varied file codecs for sharing or printing, discover the Export button on the high proper nook of your display screen. You can even right-click on the picture to deliver up Export choices. 

Both manner, you’ll see a dialog field with choices to avoid wasting the picture in a wide range of codecs, comparable to JPEG, PNG, PNG, PDF, and PSD.

A fast tip for you: for sharing images through electronic mail or the online, select JPEG and transfer the High quality slider to 85. Export the picture to generate the file.

I additionally recommend saving images as TIFF information if you wish to archive the picture and protect the colours and particulars. I like to make use of TIFF information for printing.

Different choices for exporting photographs embrace the sharpen setting, which will increase particulars and offsets compression in JPEG codecs.

You possibly can export in three coloration areas:

• sRGB – narrowest however most suitable with net functions
• Adobe RGB – generally utilized in software program and laptop graphics
• ProPhoto RGB – widest coloration area for the broadest coloration vary, the one one that may include all uncooked colours in a picture

JPEG is without doubt one of the accessible codecs that allow you to assign a top quality setting to regulate the file measurement and compression.

When exporting only one file, you possibly can replace the file title within the Export Picture show. For a number of picture exports, the exported information will maintain the unique file names.

How the Luminar Neo Catalog Saves Edits

One of many key advantages of modifying in Luminar Neo is automated saving. 

Any changes you make are saved as you’re employed within the Catalog database. 

The software program saves each edit, so you’ve got limitless undos and may evaluation adjustments within the Edits tab.

In case you stop this system and reopen the catalog, all particular person picture edits shall be preserved.

Picture edits are saved as a .state file so if there are any points, it gained’t corrupt the entire folder.

What Are Luminar Neo’s Finest Options?

Skylum’s Luminar Neo stands out from different picture editors with a wide range of modern options that help automated modifying to realize polished images in simply seconds.

Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at a few of the hottest options on this AI-powered picture modifying software program.

Luminar Neo Presets

In accordance with Skylum, Luminar Neo was created to make picture modifying quick and enjoyable, and Presets make that potential.

Presets use AI to scan every picture for robust and weak factors. Presets robotically repair widespread issues and improve photographs for a high-quality end.

This characteristic combines the most recent developments with traditional picture design parts to refine photographs for the perfect outcomes.

You possibly can refine and customise Presets, after which save these settings to sync throughout quite a few images, even these captured in numerous areas.

I discover Presets an amazing place to start out if I would like a little bit of inspiration to repair up a batch of images. 

Once I’m not glad with the preliminary picture coloration or lighting, Presets level me in the best course.

Presets are straightforward to make use of, as you simply have to click on on the high of the display screen to maneuver into Presets Browser.

As soon as the Presets panel is open, try prompt templates for a selected picture, or look by collections sorted into classes.

Simply click on on the Preset title and it’ll robotically apply to the picture. Click on on a unique Current title to experiment with a number of choices.

Swap to the Edit tab to make any additional changes. You’ll discover the instruments used for the Preset with a dot subsequent to the title if you wish to fine-tune the picture with software controls.

Bear in mind to press Save as Preset so your tailor-made changes are prepared to use to extra images sooner or later.

Luminar Neo Sky Alternative Software

The Sky AI software is without doubt one of the hottest inventive instruments on Luminar Neo.

If the sky in your unique picture seems common, this software robotically creates a extra compelling, eye-catching picture by changing the prevailing sky with a variety of kinds and colours.

Select from totally different shades of blue and cloud covers to remodel nature photographs and cityscapes into stunning completed images.

Sky AI robotically identifies the place the sky begins and ends and acknowledges any water mirrored within the picture. 

The software easily replaces the unique sky and provides water reflections as required for a sensible end.

All you have to do is choose which sky you wish to use within the software panel, and add your favorites to your customized skies folder. 

Whereas Luminar Neo AI robotically adjusts the sky to fit your picture, you possibly can nonetheless make edits utilizing the management choices.

Use Shifting Horizon Management to refine the sky’s place by rotating and/or mixing the horizon.

Slide Vertical Place controls to position the brand new sky exactly the way you need it, as AI matches the sky and reflection so the clouds and water look pure.

You possibly can flip the sky, shift and rotate the horizontal place, and use masks refinement to repair particulars.

A number of sliders assist with relighting the scene, too. Relight Energy adjusts publicity whereas Relight Saturation provides the colour of the brand new sky to the remainder of the scene. Relight Human helps match folks and the sky for a extra practical look, too.

Reflection Quantity, Water Blur, Atmospheric Haze, and Defocus are different adjustment choices to strive along with your new sky.

When you’ve got your personal skies that you just’d like to avoid wasting, you possibly can add the JPEG information into the software’s customized folder.

Luminar Neo Portrait AI

Luminar Neo additionally gives Portrait AI instruments, that are designed to acknowledge facial options and improve them in a delicate, pure manner.

To realize the perfect outcomes with these instruments, make certain the face fills 25% or extra of the body. If a number of individuals are within the picture, Portrait AI will choose up on them, so long as they’re giant sufficient.

To work with Portrait AI, open a picture and discover Portrait Instruments within the Edit sidebar.

Begin with the Portrait Bokeh AI Software, which is called after the Japanese time period bokeh, which describes the aesthetic blur behind the portrait topic.

If you need the world behind your topic to look out of focus, the Portrait Bokeh software simulates this impact on any portrait. 

Even when the lens and lighting weren’t that nice, Portrait AI can rework the background so the topic stands out.

You possibly can regulate the quantity of background blur as AI generates an preliminary masks to separate folks from the horizon.

The Quantity slider creates a ready-to-use masks, however you possibly can at all times refine it with the Focus, Defocus, and Restore brushes. You’ve got the choice to regulate the radius, softness, and opacity of the comb, too.

Background controls could also be used to regulate the brightness, heat, highlights, depth, and edges. Regulate the slider as wanted to achieve the best settings, in any other case, you should use the preliminary Portrait AI consequence for a fast end.

The Face, Pores and skin, and Physique AI instruments additionally turn out to be useful for portraits, simplifying the enhancement course of for sure options.

For instance, these portrait instruments take away darkish circles from underneath the eyes and whiten tooth robotically to make sure topics look their finest.

I additionally just like the Excessive Key software, which creates high-contrast photographs typically used for trend and sweetness shoots.

Use the slider to regulate the impact’s depth and add glow, distinction, and saturation as desired.

Luminar Neo Extensions

Luminar Neo’s 2022 Extensions Pack additional expands the software program’s functionality and assists with particular picture modifying duties.

Magic Gentle AI enhances road and background lights for glowing metropolis scenes. 

Use management sliders to replace mild depth, measurement, clearness, and glow. You could customise the variety of mild beams and widths, or use masking for larger precision.

Supersharp AI is one other well-liked Luminar Neo extension. It fixes misfocus and movement blur by analyzing the picture depth and perspective.

AI generates a compression algorithm for a crisp, sharp picture with larger stability and minimal blur.

Focus Stacking can stack as many as 100 images with varied depths, robotically aligning, cropping, and balancing them.

This AI software selects the areas with the perfect focus and corrects chromatic and lens anomalies for high-quality completed photographs with noticeable element.

Background Elimination AI detects the first topic and as much as 9 different parts to take away the background from. The refinement brush is nice for touching up imperfections.

There’s additionally the Upscale extension, which makes use of AI to boost picture decision as much as 6X.

Noiseless AI eliminates noise with out smoothing the picture, making certain a pure end to uncooked and JPEG photographs.

HDR Merge makes use of tone mapping know-how to mix as much as 10 photographs for larger dynamic vary.

Luminar Neo extensions additionally embrace Construction AI for background picture distinction and Relight AI to boost 2D photographs in 3D area.

Lastly, Supercontrast has six AI controls for detailed definition, highlights and shadows. The Accent AI sliders are nice for enhancing picture tone, saturation, and publicity, too. 

Is Luminar Neo Good For Novices?

Luminar Neo is a more recent picture modifying software program in comparison with Photoshop, however it’s shortly turn out to be well-liked with freshmen because of the simple interface, navigation, and modifying capabilities.

I undoubtedly agree that Luminar Neo is beginner-friendly, given the way it has quite a few AI modifying options to boost images in just some clicks.

Listed here are a couple of extra options to think about when utilizing Luminar Neo to edit photographs.

CropAI Software

Luminar Neo hurries up the cropping course of with the CropAI software, which robotically adjusts the picture’s crop, composition, and perspective.

Select from Auto Horizon Alignment or Auto Verticals Straighten, and use the guide crop to make any minor changes if wanted.

What I really like concerning the CropAI software is that it’s non-destructive, so you possibly can edit or reset the crop at any time with out dropping the unique picture.

One-click instruments make rotating and flipping the picture quite simple, too. Strive rotating counterclockwise or flipping on the horizontal or vertical axis.

There’s additionally quite a few facet ratios within the dropdown menu, together with free (customized form) and unique for preserving the picture’s form with a decent crop to take away particulars on the sting. 

Sq. and Fb cowl/feed are a few of the hottest facet ratios, and you may edit and export images in just some minutes to maintain your initiatives on observe.

Develop/Develop RAW Software

Luminar Neo additionally has the Develop/Develop RAW Software, which incorporates the highest controls for adjusting picture coloration and tone.

While you open an unedited uncooked file, the RAW indicator will pop up subsequent to the Develop tab. 

Any changes made with Develop RAW will replace the settings for future edits. 

All RAW photographs will apply this software first, though settings could also be adjusted each time you have to.

With the Develop software, you possibly can regulate the publicity, sensible distinction, spotlight, shadows, curves, sharpness, and noise discount.

Merely transfer the sliders to realize the specified settings for uncooked images.

I additionally advocate DNG digicam profiles to assist with uncooked file coloration and tone, dashing up the modifying course of much more.

Improve AI Software

Luminar Neo makes use of synthetic intelligence to shortly improve images for a elegant, skilled look.

The Improve software analyzes the picture and makes immediate corrections whereas supplying you with guide management over the extent of correction.

Accent AI incorporates greater than 12 settings, all managed with one slider. This consists of highlights, shadows, distinction, saturation, publicity, and tone.

The Sky Enhancer AI software identifies the sky in a photograph and robotically enhances the colour, texture, and tone.

Sky Enhancer distinguishes between the sky, water, and different background parts to make masking straightforward.

If you need a extra vivid sky to make outside images pop, I extremely recommend utilizing the Improve AI software. 

Erase Software

One of many greatest calls for for picture modifying software program is eraser capabilities. 

Luminar Neo’s Erase software is non-destructive and matches the picture’s unique lighting, shading, and texture and not using a new layer.

As soon as you choose the Erase software, the cursor turns right into a brush, making a pink overlay for eraser choices.

Merely click on the Deselect button to take away brush eraser choices. While you’re able to go, click on Erase and watch the affected pixels disappear.

You possibly can at all times restore the unique picture in the event you’re not glad with the eraser.

What’s nice about Luminar Neo Erase is that it examines the close by pixels to create new pixels with comparable texture and shading.

You might also wish to try the Take away Powerlines software, which shortly removes undesirable objects from the sky in a panorama picture.

I’ve used Take away Powerlines for phone poles, planes, and background buildings. I used to be actually impressed that it took just some seconds to scrub up the sky.

One different Eraser possibility is the Take away Mud Spots software, which cleans up the impact of mud and filth on the digicam sensor or lens.

AI makes it potential to take away mud blemishes from the picture with out compromising high quality.

Remaining Ideas on Utilizing Luminar Neo

In case you’re new to picture modifying otherwise you wish to spend much less time on the pc and extra time behind the digicam, Luminar Neo is value trying into. 

This AI-powered picture editor works for Mac and Home windows computer systems, with an accompanying app to share images to your cell gadget.

Lots of its sensible options can improve photographs in simply seconds, with auto changes to the colour and composition.

You possibly can undoubtedly sit up for sooner picture modifying and sharp completed photographs with Luminar Neo.