New, AI-based tools specific to Luminar Neo include for compositing images, Portrait Background Removal, Sensor Dust Removal, Power Lines Removal, Relight based on image depth and Portrait Bokeh. The latest application, Luminar Neo, includes 36 editing tools plus 13 AI-based enhancements, extending those provided in the original Luminar and Luminar 4, which include, Skin Enhancer, Face and Structure tools that automatically apply relevant improvements. Each new version has added more tools and the software is continuously evolving.

The first version of Luminar was pretty basic and replaced by Luminar 4 in November 2019, followed by Luminat AI in December 2020. They also include numerous ‘one-click’ pre-sets for ‘fixing’ bland and unexciting photos to make them attract attention when shared via social media. Luminar applications are known for their AI-guided tools that can simplify previously complex editing functions. The support base when we contacted the company in mid-March was in the USA and we were favourably impressed by their responses to our queries even though they usually took a day to arrive due to the differences in respective time zones. Luminar Neo is the fourth in a line of software applications from Skylum, a company that originated in the Ukrainian city of Kiev but has since the Russian invasion in February 2022 been dispersed across Ukraine and to other countries but continues to develop and support its produce. On the whole, Luminar Neo is competitively priced for what it does and you get the benefit of purchasing the software directly, rather than a monthly or annual subscription. There aren’t enough adjustments in the tools available any key tools like Layers and Curves adjustments are either very limited or absent. It won’t appeal to anyone who is already proficient with Photoshop – or a similar powerful application. Luminar Neo is likely to be popular with users who like easy-to-apply creative effects.

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