Luminar Neo version 1.2 update and what’s new?
Welcome to my Luminar Neo version 1.2 Update Review
The great news here is that the update to Luminar Neo Version 1.2 is free to all Luminar Neo users and owners. Version 1.2 has a number of bug fixes in it and it also has the Dodge and Burn tool functionality added as well as the option to add the new expansion pack “HDR Merge” I have a separate blog post on HDR Merge here if you want to read more about it.
You can read my full Luminar Neo Review here for all the news on the latest version.
Also have a look at the newly announced Noiseless AI from Luminar here….
On the subject of expansion packs the really cool thing here is there are 5 other options in the expansion pack area that are blurred out with labels saying “Coming Soon” on them so keep an eye out for even more updates on expansion packs and facilities for Luminar Neo.
The Dodge and Burn tool is a very welcome addition in version 1.2 and it was something I was personally missing from Neo as well as the still missing Clone Stamp tool, good news coming there soon though about the clone and stamp tool, I can’t say any more for now but stay tuned…
The other thing I want to say here is that Skylum have confirmed they are committed to developing Luminar Neo, which should sooth some peoples concerns that there will not be a new app out again this year. Yes, there will be expansion packs available to purchase but they are things you either want or don’t and are more specialised like Aurora HDR was which is now HDR Merge in Luminar Neo.
Luminar Neo version 1.2 and how good is it?
Luminar Neo is now the go to photography editing app that I recommend to clients on my workshops and editing classes. Luminar Neo is fantastic value for money and the results are not only fast but also mind blowing. Neo has to be one of the best all round editing apps out there now for the money.
Version 1.2 has added a few bug fixes as I mentioned and also the addition of the Dodge and Burn tool and if you are on the subscription package then you get the HDR Merge expansion pack free also. If you bought Luminar Neo outright and you want the HDR Merge pack then you can purchase it for $49.99 or €49.99.
Don’t forget to checkout my full Luminar Neo Review here or to get my Luminar Neo Discount code below and claim your free gift also 🙂
See you out there,
Kieran.
Ps. The full Skylum press release is below also 🙂
The offical Skylum press release is below…
HDR Merge will be available as an extension to Luminar Neo, an award-winning app by Skylum with an extensive portfolio of tools that maximizes the artist’s editing powers. Post-processing photos becomes easy in Luminar Neo, which empowers artists to create jaw-dropping landscapes, retouch photos for social media, make creative art with composite images, and deliver stunning portraits with a dreamy bokeh effect — among other things.
Luminar Neo’s powerful new engine gives the platform an unlimited number of creative possibilities, allowing it to incorporate more editing tools for artists and making it easy to add such technologies as the HDR Merge extension without a loss of performance. With HDR Merge, Luminar Neo is transforming into a one-stop solution for landscape and architecture photographers.
The power of HDR Merge
Especially for photographers who specialize in landscape or architecture photos, the right HDR settings can help to create detailed and dynamic photos. The higher the dynamic range, the more details in the highlights and shadows can be shown in a single photo.
If a camera doesn’t have a high dynamic range, one technique to compensate for this is to take multiple exposure bracketed images. That’s where HDR Merge can help, merging up to 10 images into one single HDR photo.
Luminar Neo’s HDR Merge doesn’t produce halos or artifacts. Plus, with the help of intelligent technologies, Luminar artists can create HDR images even from a single photo, with no brackets needed. Artificial intelligence allows for the highest quality of bracket merging and a spectacular level of color enhancement.
What’s unique about Luminar Neo’s HDR Merge is that it can be combined with Luminar Neo’s other tools to create spectacular photos. After merging brackets, artists have a full arsenal of AI-based tools at their disposal. They can enhance with one slider, fix colors and toning, add glow, play with super contrast, add realistic sun rays or vivid foliage, there is a whole world to explore. Luminar Neo gives photo artists the power to achieve the best HDR photos and go beyond in their editing, all in one app.
Create impressive photos
HDR photography is especially important for architecture, landscape, and real estate photography, but it can be applied to any type of photography for a creative effect.
- Landscape
Landscape photos usually have a few layers with different colors and contrast, and it’s tricky to achieve a smooth photograph that brings out the best in each layer. With HDR Merge, photographers can create a deep and rich photo of a mountain range, for example, where the mountains in the background, the forest in the center, and the stream in the foreground all look vivid, bright, and well-exposed.
- Architecture
It might seem easy to take photos of architecture, as the subjects are static. However, the photographer must take into account a building’s design, location, shadows, light, and weather, as they all play an important role in creating the perfect photo. Taking multiple bracketed images with a range of exposures helps with capturing a full range of light that is closer to what the human eye sees. Then it is the job of HDR Merge to combine these bracketed images into one high-contrast dynamic photo that showcases the best details of the building.
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Real estate
A real estate photo should compel buyers to fall in love with a place. Whether a photo is of the exterior or interior, the building should appear well-lit, attractive, and highly detailed. However, the photographer doesn’t always have control over the conditions, as work is usually expected to be done quickly without taking into consideration the weather and time of day. HDR Merge helps real estate photographers achieve high-contrast photos quickly and easily, keeping clients satisfied.
Apart from that, applying HDR merge can help bring out details in underexposed nighttime photos or otherwise fine-tune images with exposure issues.
Aurora HDR owners will get the opportunity to buy Luminar Neo with a loyalty discount and receive the HDR Merge extension for free. Additionally, Skylum customers with Luminar Neo subscriptions will get the Aurora HDR Merge extension for free.