Luminar Neo
AI-powered photo editing software
Luminar Neo is an AI-powered photo editor by Skylum that combines traditional editing tools with advanced AI features like sky replacement, portrait enhancement, generative erase, and scene expansion. Available as a perpetual license or annual subscription, it offers a creative-focused alternative to Adobe for photographers who want powerful AI without the complexity.
Key Capabilities
Luminar Neo features AI-driven tools including Sky AI for automatic sky replacement, Enhance AI for one-slider improvements, and Face AI, Skin AI, Body AI, and Portrait Bokeh AI for comprehensive portrait editing. Three generative AI tools let users erase unwanted elements (GenErase), swap scene components (GenSwap), and expand images beyond their borders (GenExpand). The Light Depth tool adjusts exposure based on distance from the lens for independent foreground and background control. Photo Restoration uses AI to repair damaged vintage images, and the AI Assistant suggests optimal editing adjustments.
Who Should Use Luminar Neo
Luminar Neo is designed for hobbyist and semi-professional photographers who want powerful AI editing without the learning curve of Photoshop or the ongoing cost of Adobe subscriptions. It appeals to landscape photographers using Sky AI, portrait photographers leveraging Face and Skin AI, and photographers restoring old family photos with the restoration tools.
Getting Started
Download Luminar Neo from skylum.com and install it on Windows or macOS. Open a photo and explore the AI-powered tools in the sidebar. Try Enhance AI for quick one-click improvements, then experiment with Sky AI or Portrait Bokeh. Use GenErase to remove unwanted objects and GenExpand to extend your composition. The software activates on 2 computers with a single license.
Pricing & Accessibility: Available as a lifetime perpetual license starting at $119 (includes 12 months of free updates) or an annual subscription at $79/year. Both options include all AI tools, Pro Tools, and one year of access to generative features. Activates on 2 computers.
Why Consider Luminar Neo: Luminar Neo offers the most accessible entry point to advanced AI photo editing with a perpetual license option, generative AI tools, and specialized portrait and landscape features that rival Adobe at a fraction of the complexity and cost.
Pros
- Perpetual license option available unlike most AI photo editors
- Comprehensive portrait AI suite with Face, Skin, Body, and Bokeh tools
- Generative AI tools (GenErase, GenSwap, GenExpand) for creative editing
- Sky AI delivers convincing automatic sky replacements
- Light Depth tool enables independent foreground and background exposure control
Cons
- Generative tools require annual renewal after the first year
- Performance can be sluggish on older hardware with large files
- Catalog and organizational features lag behind Lightroom
Who is this for?
Replacing skies in landscape photography, enhancing portraits with AI-powered face and skin tools, removing unwanted objects with generative erase, restoring old or damaged family photographs, expanding compositions beyond original frame boundaries
Frequently Asked Questions about Luminar Neo
Is Luminar Neo a one-time purchase or subscription?
Luminar Neo offers both options. A perpetual lifetime license starts at $119 and includes 12 months of free updates. An annual subscription at $79/year is also available. Both include access to all AI tools and generative features for the subscription period.
Can Luminar Neo replace Lightroom and Photoshop?
Luminar Neo can handle many common editing tasks that would require both Lightroom and Photoshop, especially with its AI-powered tools. However, it lacks Lightroom's robust cataloging and organizational features, and Photoshop's advanced compositing and layer manipulation capabilities.
How does Sky AI work?
Sky AI automatically detects the sky in your photo and replaces it with a selection from its built-in sky library or your own sky images. The AI adjusts lighting, color, and reflections in the rest of the image to match the new sky naturally.
Pricing
paid
$79/yr
Details
APINo
Open SourceNo
LanguagesEnglish, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Dutch
Learning CurveModerate
Integrations
Adobe Lightroom pluginAdobe Photoshop pluginstandalone desktop app
