SKYLUM [The Detailed Guide]

Software development firm Skylum, originally known as Macphun, has its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. It is well known for the picture editing programs Luminar and Aurora HDR. In addition, Snapheal, Focus, Tonality, Intensify, Noiseless, and FX Photo Studio were created by Skylum. Established in 2008 under the name Macphun, the business chose to change its name to Skylum in 2017 after deciding to create its Mac-only product for Windows as well. The main development hub for Skylum is located in Kyiv, Ukraine. Currently, Russia’s full-fledged conflict with Ukraine is causing Ukraine immense hardship. 

OVERVIEW 

The goal of Skylum is to provide goods that will enable countless photographers to realize their imaginative visions. Skylum’s AI technologies offer simple yet effective picture editing solutions that support photographers in telling their visual narratives. Skylum has earned the Red Dot Award, Apple’s Best of Year, Best Imaging Software awards from TIPA and EISA, as well as several other prestigious industry honors. It has more than 40 million users in 141 countries. All Skylum products, such as Luminar Neo, Luminar AI, and Aurora HDR, are made to enable users to simply produce amazing photographs. With industry-leading AI technology, the company’s main product, Luminar Neo, it is possible to produce images of a professional caliber. 

Dmitry Sytnik and Paul Muzok, two game developers and amateur photographers, developed Skylum in 2008 as Macphun. The business first created iOS applications. Vintage Video Maker, subsequently known as Vintagio, was one of its earliest applications. Apple listed Vintagio as one of the top iPhone applications of 209. A few years later, Oksana Milczarek, Ivan Kutanin, and Alex Tsepko joined the group. In its first three years, the business released more than 60 applications altogether. However, the photography applications got the most downloads. Skylum consequently decided to provide identical photography software for macOS.

LUMINAR NEO

What is Luminar Neo?

Skylum has just released Luminar Neo, a new software. To make Luminar Neo stand out from their earlier software offerings, they are introducing additional features. AI is being used by Skylum to speed up photo editing. AI solutions like Sky Replacement and Power Line have made difficult, time-consuming jobs simple one-click processes. Numerous settings for quick enhancements, a Relight AI, and tools to enhance pictures are all available. With the addition of layer and mask AI technologies, Skylum has changed the course of Neo. This increases the attractiveness of Neo and moves it in the direction of Adobe Photoshop. 

The AI algorithms in Luminar Neo are strong, and the additional overlay features make the software appealing to a wide audience. Photographers of all skill levels, from amateurs to experienced guys, will like Luminar Neo.  For those who create material for social media, the AI templates and settings are ideal. Making algorithm-busting pictures out of boring and monotonous photos is simple with Luminar Neo. The AI features in Luminar Neo are smart enough for professional picture editing. For editorial and fashion photography, the relight AI and portrait tools are superb. Professional photographers can edit their images with Luminar Neo before publishing them. The AI clean-up tool is one of the key draws. Dust specks and electricity lines may be eliminated from your images with Luminar Neo. And since the tool is AI, you only need a few mouse clicks to complete this.

Where can I get Luminar Neo?

The download links will be available in your Skylum account. Please keep in mind that your Luminar Neo purchase is automatically associated with your billing email, so make sure to create a Skylum account with that email or log in to your current Skylum account associated with that email.

STEP 1: Go to the Skylum account login page.

STEP 2: Sign in with your Google, Facebook, Microsoft, or Apple account if you already have one, or sign in with your email and password if you don’t.

STEP 3: If you don’t already have a Skylum account, you can sign up for one. Make sure to use the same email address as you used to purchase Luminar Neo.

STEP 4: If you have a Skylum account but purchased Luminar Neo using a different email address, you can merge your accounts in your Skylum account’s My Software > App isn’t showing. area.

STEP 5: You will notice a My Applications tab in your account that contains all of your Skylum software, including Luminar Neo.

STEP 6: Locate the Luminar Neo tab and download it by clicking the Download button.

Features of Luminar Neo

Engine

The Luminar Neo engine has a “modular” design. This implies that for greater optimization, each editing area gets its processor. The Luminar AI was quickly exhausted. The performance would decrease if there were too many effects used. The system would develop bugs and stop displaying the changes. The redesigned core engine in Luminar Neo makes a significant improvement. Quick changes are made. Additionally, Luminar Neo runs a lot more smoothly than in earlier versions. However, Luminar Neo gradually becomes less efficient with every software upgrade. When adding effects and layers, there is more of a wait.

Interface

The Luminar Neo user interface is superb. It promises to be easy to browse and devoid of mess. All the tools are easily available.  It is easy to find the photo you want to edit using the catalog view, which presents your photographs in a thumbnail style. And adding more from outside sources is simple.  You may add a whole folder of photos or just one, by selecting “Add Photos” from the menu. Your Neo Library opens when you choose the album or picture you wish to import. To modify a photo, click the “Edit” button at the top of the window after selecting the image in your collection. Even for inexperienced editors, Luminar Neo is remarkably user-friendly.

Mobile use

You may add your phone photos to your Luminar collection using the newest mobile app from Skylum. Transfer them back to your phone after the editing is complete.  The software works on both Apple and Android smartphones, however, they are unable to provide any other information at this time.

Masking 

 Nothing in the prior Skylum program had a Mask AI function. The goal of the Mask AI tool is to expedite the masking procedure. The AI tool intelligently highlights various things in your photo that it detects. You no longer need to manually highlight regions with the brush for extended periods. You may use manual masking tools as well. For more precise adjusting, you may choose between Linear Gradient, Radial Gradient, and the Brush tool. This technique saves a tonne of time. Additionally, it saves a lot of hard time spent manually marking and masking places

Control

To create an image editor that gives users complete control over a picture, the business collaborated with photographers and artists.  The application enables artistic people to make minute adjustments to their photographs and produce something fresh and fascinating.

Relight AI

Your photo’s tone may be easily changed using the Relight AI tool. You can’t always obtain the light you desire while filming outside. The lighting condition is frequently quite difficult for you to manage. However, you have control over the Relight AI tool. The device performs nicely. The adjustments are made fast without degrading the image’s quality. The absence of area control is the only issue. There are simple settings for close and far brightness. Additionally, if there are people in your photograph, the relight AI performs best. The tool has minimal impact and leaves the image flat in the absence of a clear object.

Power line removal

Power lines are easily removed in a couple of seconds. Power lines are instantaneously defined and removed by the embedded AI engine without changing the rest of the picture. For pictures shot in both bright and low light, this tool performs wonderfully.

LUMINAR PROS

1. Editing Tools

Luminar comes with editing tools that have artificial intelligence. To help you bring your creative ideas to life, Luminar Neo has a fantastic selection of artistic editing tools.  A lot of Luminar Neo’s features were created using artificial intelligence and machine learning to make editing quick, simple, and most importantly, efficient. These tools efficiently and quickly complete complicated adjustments while delivering top-notch results. The majority of Luminar Neo’s tools can be used locally or globally. 

2. Performance-oriented

The speed-oriented Luminar Neo has been completely rebuilt. Skylum claims that for difficult editing jobs, Luminar Neo outperforms Luminar AI by a wide margin. The performance improvements you get will depend on your computer’s specifications.

3. Utilize tools numerous times

This issue is resolved by Luminar Neo, which now allows you to use and add any tool repeatedly. This is helpful if you want to emphasize or minimize certain parts of a shot by using a tool at various levels.   If pushing a tool’s slider to its maximum doesn’t give you the desired result, you can also use many instances of the same tool to produce an extreme effect. Using a tool more than once offers amazing creative freedom when used in combination with MaskAI and other available masking tools.

4. Compatibility

Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, Photos for macOS, and Photos for Windows all connect with Luminar Neo. Luminar Neo makes a fantastic plugin for individuals who already have a workflow in place with another asset manager or other image editing programs. Photoshop (as of version CS5), Lightroom Classic (as of version 6), Photos for macOS, and Photos for Windows are all compatible with Luminar Neo.

LUMINAR CONS

1. A limited number of layers

It is unfortunate how Layers are managed in Luminar Neo. They act similarly to textures in Local Masking in Lumina AI, and as far as I can see, they don’t provide any further functionality. Only picture layers can be added at the moment. No system exists to produce a stamping or adjustment layer.

2. No changes were made to the Catalog. 

With just minor interface modifications, the Catalog module in Luminar Neo is almost identical to what was offered in Luminar AI. Users who had hoped to see more organizational features like Stars, Color Labels, Keywords, and the capacity to update information will be let down.

Luminar Pricing

Get the photo-editing program you’ve always wanted with just 3 costs effective plans mentioned below.

1. Pro Monthly: This plan comes with Photo editor Luminar Neo and gives access to all free platform upgrades, including those for performance and stability as well as access to every significant platform upgrade. All Extensions, including those released during your subscription time, are immediately accessible to you. 24/7 technical assistance is available with this plan. Monthly charges per user are 1189 INR and 14268 INR when billed annually. 
2. Pro yearly: This plan provides 24/7 technical assistance and photo editor Luminar Neo Pro yearly has access to all free platform upgrades, including those for performance and stability access for every significant platform upgrade available. All Extensions, including those released during your subscription time, are readily accessible to the users. This plan costs you around 583 INR per month and is billed at 6999 INR per user annually. 
3. Lifetime: Has Luminar neo photo editor and access to speed and stability updates, as well as any further free platform updates available for purchase in the 2022 Extensions pack. This plan normally costs you 7899 INR per user one time.

FAQ 

Can I install Luminar on more than one computer?

You can buy a license that allows you to use LuminarIA on two devices. This is ideal if you have both a laptop and a desktop computer. Alternatively, if you have a computer at both work and home. Two seats allow you to install and activate the software on two different devices, regardless of their operating system.

Is Luminar similar to Photoshop?

In terms of fundamental photo editing skills and ease of use, Luminar outperforms Photoshop. Luminar allows you to organize, edit, and export photographs in a cohesive workflow. Photoshop provides more customized and powerful modifications, but the editing procedure is more complex.

What exactly is the variation between Luminar 4 and Luminar AI?

The main differentiation between Luminar AI and Luminar 4 is the use of Templates. On the one hand, Luminar AI is built around “smart” presets that automatically recommend the best adjustments for your photographs. Looks, which are classic settings, are still used in Luminar 4.

Which one is preferable, Luminar Neo or Luminar AI?

If you’re new to Skylum photo editors, the option is simple, get Luminar Neo, which includes all of the most recent tools and improvements. AI editing technologies that are powerful and fast improve photos. Affordably priced one-time payments and exciting future updates

Is there a money-back guarantee?

They guarantee your satisfaction with Luminar AI. You’ll have 30 days to test Luminar AI and see if it meets your requirements. If you are not completely happy with Luminar AI, you can request a refund by contacting them. 

How do I get in touch with Skylum support?

If you have any questions, you can reach Luminar’s 24/7 support team at [email protected].

What is Luminar Flex?

Luminar Flex assists photographers of all skill levels in producing better-looking photographs in much less time. Great photography is now easier than ever thanks to its unique artificial intelligence and image-aware filters

CONCLUSION ON SKYLUM 

Skylum Luminar is an excellent RAW editor that lets you avoid the subscription lock-in that plagues many other popular editing tools. Windows users will be relieved that the PC version has finally received some much-needed speed improvements. Unfortunately, both versions of the software continue to lack some of the more important organizing tools that will truly establish Luminar as a contender in the world of photo editors. Casual photographers will appreciate the simple and powerful editing procedure, while expert users may be hampered by poor library browsing speeds and the lack of organization features. The software is quite simple to use. Regardless of your level of experience with photo editing software, it’s quite self-explanatory and should be simple enough for the majority of people to understand right away. For individuals who desire some of the features of the software but may not want to rely on it, the ability to utilize it as a plugin for your existing software, such as Photoshop, is also a benefit. It’s great for individuals who want to spend as little time editing as possible, as all of its artificial intelligence technologies step in to ease the discomfort and difficulty of editing. The quality of the edits made by Luminar AI is also really excellent. The outcomes are quite realistic.