Luminar V1.2 ‘Neptune’ review update

Updated performance and features for MacPhun Luminar

MacPhun has released a new version (V1.2) of their Luminar image editor.

It’s a free update for existing users.

Keith has reviewed many of MacPhun’s collection of plugins and editing software – There will soon be Windows Versions – see Luminar for Windows

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Luminar – the ‘Neptune’ update

[contentblock id=39 img=html.png]First up, the blurb from Macphun…

New feature highlights in Luminar Neptune:

• Accent – AI-filter – Uses artificial intelligence to create stunning images with a single slider movement, tapping into the power of dozens of filters.
• Quick & Awesome workspace – A workspace consisting of the Accent AI, Saturation & Vibrance and Clarity filters. Great for achieving fast results in a fun and easy way.
• Plug-in integration with Creative Kit and Aurora HDR 2017 – Seamlessly access Macphun’s other photo editing tools you own with Luminar as the host application
• Brush, Gradient and Radial Gradient tools – Dramatically faster performance yields smoother selective editing.
• Vignette filter – Addition of Vignette Styles, Place Centre and Pre- and Post-Crop modes deliver even more flexibility to this popular photo finishing tool.
• Memory management – Increased overall performance for large files and 5+ simultaneous open images.
• User Interface changes – Extensive improvements to in-app animation and mode transitions make for a more pleasing editing experience.
• Crop tool update – Added the ability to specify custom crop ratios.
• Local history – Provision for reviewing separate history while in Transform, Denoise, Clone & Stamp modes helps optimise editing.

Using the software

Note: my original review is a lot longer and goes into much more detail about just how you might use Luminar.

If I fire up the standalone version (not the plugin I normally use from within Photoshop) I get a choice of modes from simple to ‘everything’

I note the terrible ergonomics for image editing shown in No.3 – that person is going to have back/neck/arm problems really soon ;-)

The software works pretty much as before (see my much longer Luminar review for stuff about layers and masking) but shows the definite refinements you’d expect from V1.0 to V1.2.

Whilst I’m in the stand-alone editor, I can also make use of my MacPhun plugins, such as here (click to enlarge), where I’ve used one of my Black and White Tonality Presets.

I can add any of Luminar’s filters to my stack (and save as a preset) These show up as new in V1.2

Accent and de-haze (from the V1.1 update) both work well at lower settings – of course you can crank them up for the more gaudy look preferred by many ‘sharing’ photos. ;-)

(2 images – click to enlarge)

Do be careful if you work on 8 bit (JPEG) images, since it’s easy to get posterisation.

To be fair though – this is a risk however you edit JPEG files if you push it too far.

As before, MacPhun have lots of tutorials and guides on their site.

More Luminar info

You can get $10 off when purchasing Luminar with discount code northlightimages10

For a short time there is a Luminar + video training, eBooks, presets and overlays combo package.

See also the Luminar + video training, eBooks, presets and overlays combo package (available for limited time, the code above will work with this package).