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Skylum Luminar AI Review + exclusive promo code

30 July 2022

*UPDAT E: On september 9th, Skylum announced the pre-order launch of Luminar Neo AI – check our review + exclusive deal.

Hi guys! I finally managed to get my hands on this software that I have wanted to try for a long time (it was released at the end of 2020). If you are a photography enthusiast like me, take the opportunity to read the article and I promise you that your time will not be spent in vain!

I also received an exclusive Luminar coupon code – CATTURAVIDEO10 – that will be valid throughout the year. We are trying to keep an updated list of Skylum Luminar promos and discounts too.

On July 27 the update 1.4 arrived. If you want to check what has been improved click here.

What is Luminar AI and what makes it different from the rest of the photo editing software?

Luminar AI is the first photo-editing software that uses Artificial intelligence to save you time and achieve spectacular results. One could say that Luminar AI’s goal is to make the photo editing process easy and fun, allowing users to surpass their creative skills while being guided with intuitive and fast features. For example, I was quite shocked by its powerful automatic AI editing features.

Though Luminar 4 doesn’t lack AI tools, the new software relies on a completely new artificial intelligence engine. If you already own Luminar 4 or you don’t know which app you should purchase you can check here Luminar AI versus Luminar 4.

But now let’s take a closer look at this exciting Luminar AI editor.

Who is Luminar AI intended to ?

Luminar AI is designed for every level of creativity, from novice photographers to professionals, although the latter will likely use it more as a Lightroom plug-in to other image softwares. If you fall into one of these categories (or not) than you should definitely try out this amazing photo editor.

If you want amazing photos quickly, without extra complexity or wasted time, Luminar^AI is for you.
If you want to solve problems, Luminar^AI is for you.
If you care more about the results created, than the process used, Luminar^AI is for you.

Skylum Luminar AI Exclusive Promo Code

Skylum LuminarAI review

In this basic review, I tried to identify the Top 5 Luminar functions that differentiate the software from the rest.

The minimalistic workspace (UX) for fast editing

There are 4 main workspaces: Catalog, Templates, Edit and Export:

The Catalog shows all photos, image edits, recent addition and the bin. It also shows folders and albums that have been added.

The Templates are presets that use artificial intelligence to analyze the contents of each photo and suggest the best edits for a fenomenal outcome.

Edit gives you access to a selection of normal and AI-based image editing tools, separated into 4 separate tool panels: Essentials, Portrait, Creative and Professional.

Export allows you to save to disk, mail, messages, SmugMug and 500px (I recomend saving to disk first).

Getting images in Luminar AI is easy, either by using the + button or by dragging and dropping into the editor or app icon.

Photography “newbies” will not be intimidated by Luminar AI’s design and workflow: everything is very visual and schematic.

In less than one hour, even the most inexperienced beginner will have a good understanding of how it

works.

2.Templates for “assisted” editing

Templates are the “brain” of Luminar AI and function as a highly advanced version of presets and filters.

The Templates feature AI technologies that are content-aware. Templates adjust their edits based on the unique image content, while maintaining a visual style. Luminar^AI reviews your image and recommends multiple templates that are well-suited. These will automatically adapt to your pictures.

The Templates in Luminar^AI can also guide and inspire you. Choose from the recommended Templates or browse the full offering. Any template can be customized easily. For fastest results you can use the Strength slider to dial it in. But all Templates are fully editable. You can customize the results of the Templates with the robust Edit module.

To truly save time, be sure to Sync a template with multiple photos. This allows you to apply the same visual style to several images. You can even create your own templates with the AI powered tools in Luminar^AI for custom results applied to multiple photos at once.

Essentially, no two edits are alike – it all depends entirely on the photo you choose and what AI thinks of it.

Skylum Luminar Artificial Intelligence presets

There is no doubt that the templates are simple and fun to use, after all it’s just a matter of clicking to find the one that suits your needs.

3.Luminar AI – use it as a plug-in for Lightroom or other software

credit Skylum – Luminar AI plugin for Adobe Lightroom

Luminar AI works both as a standalone photo editor and as a plugin for other software such as Lightroom or Photoshop.

Every Luminar AI purchase includes the plug-in, which automatically installs itself on any of the 3 softwares you may already have on your computer.

Using the Luminar AI plugin, there’s no need to interrupt your existing image editing workflow – you can choose when to use its toolset, and then go back to your original editor.

The plugin offers easy access to features not currently offered by Luminar AI, such as layer-based editing. If advanced users require it, they can simply switch to Photoshop and go back.

4. Exclusive AI editing tools

Click here for all the main features of the AI editing tools.

These AI tools are unique and can save you hours of time that would otherwise be spent on editing in other programs.

In addition to the AI tools, the Edit workspace also has the basic editing tools like Exposure, Contrast, Temperature and so on. There’s also a very useful History panel, which lets you go back in time to a previous change.

photo credit Avi Richards – Luminar AI tools section

Despite having a fine-tuned set of basic tools for image editing, it’s the marvellous AI tools that set Luminar apart from every other photo-editing softwares on the market in 2021. Check out here the Top 15 Luminar AI Tools you can leverage for your photo works.

5.Manual masking tools

Any AI changes can be selectively removed using the Mask feature. This feature is most relevant to users who are comfortable with more advanced image editing techniques or who wish to take full manual control over all the AI black magic going on here!

Each of Luminar AI’s core tools includes an Edit Mask option, which allows you to selectively “erase” any changes automatically applied by the software, leaving you in complete control of the final result.

When you apply the Face Light tool to an image containing multiple people, for example, you can selectively erase the effect on all group members who have much lighter skin.

Another example would be when Skin AI is applied to a mother holding a baby to smooth out her wrinkles, then erasing the effect on the baby’s face.

In summary, it’s nice to know that we retain the ability to influence the final change … even if we want to cheat a little with the AI!