Luminar Neo Photo Software Lets You Relight Pictures, Remove Power Lines
Ukraine-based Skylum (formerly MacPhun) today upgraded its slick, easy-to-use photo-editing application with Luminar Neo, which adds unique AI editing tools.
Neo packs features like AI Relight and automatic power line and dust removal into a pleasing updated interface, all of which is powered by a new, faster core codebase underneath.
Neo also adds Photoshop-like layer capabilities complete with blending modes, along with the gee-whiz sky replacement tools we've come to expect from Skylum, which had this type of tool well before Adobe did. Along with all the standard photo adjustment tools, you also get background removal, dust and spot removal, and a wealth of effects and texture overlays.
Luminar's co-founder, Dima Sytnik, demonstrated for PCMag the AI Relight tool, which lets you selectively alter lighting in the near and far parts of a photo based on a 3D depth map the program creates. The sample shots all had a floor or ground, but I was able to use it effectively in a shot that had no floor: this West Mexican Chachalaca up a tree.
Notice that the small trees further back on the right remain dark, while the closer objects are brightened. This tool is even more useful and effective for shots with people, like at weddings where you want to shine a light on the bride and groom.
Here's another, probably more common use for the Relight AI tool:
You may not need to use the new Remove Powerlines button every day, but it can sure improve many an urban street scene, as you can see below. I took the opportunity to apply the program's Old Town filter, too, for a markedly improved shot.
Luminar Neo is available today for a one-time price of $79 (there's a $59 offer until March 3) directly from Skylum. Look for a review on
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