With Luminar 4, Skylum’s image editing software has become more focused on AI-based features. The latest free update, Luminar 4.2 is now out. It could be a real treat for everyone dealing with composites and digital art – or those of you who would like to try it out. Of course, there are a few other improvements and features for the rest of you, so let’s dive in and see what’s new.
The brand new feature introduced in the latest update is Augmented Sky. It’s an AI-based tool aimed particularly at creative digital creations and composites. Augmented Sky lets you create composites even with photos that have complex backgrounds like trees or buildings without using masks or layers.
The tool detects the sky in the photo automatically and adds the element you chose to the sky area. You can choose from Luminar’s database for your composites, or use any other photo you like, of course. “We’re really excited to see how photographers use the AI Augmented Sky to create digital works of art,” said Dima Sytnyk, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Skylum. “AI Augmented Sky can be used to make everything from subtle tweaks, like moving the moon in the sky, or to totally transform the world around us. The possibilities are endless!” Here are a few before-after examples so you can see some of the creations made with the Augmented Sky tool:
Other than the Augmented Sky, Luminar 4.2 also brings new enhancements to portrait tools. Thanks to automatic face detection you can now restore skin in overly shiny areas with the Shine Removal Technology. You can also make the faces slimmer more effectively with improved Slim Face 2.0 Technology. The face detection itself has been improved, and it can detect even “tricky” faces in your photos. This includes head tilts, unusual angles, badly lit or partially hidden faces, and even those with heavy makeup. And of course, it can detect people of any hue of skin or age, as well as spotting all the faces in a group photo.
Other improvements to Luminar 4.2
In addition to the features above, there are a few other improvements in Luminar 4.2. Here’s what you can expect: Located “under the hood” of the AI Sky Replacement tool is an improved Relight Scene technology. Prior to Luminar 4.2, AI Sky Replacement in rare cases gave a yellow and unrealistic glow, particularly on crisp, white objects. This improvement solves this problem, letting you retain the colors as you originally captured them in-camera. Improvements have also been made to ML Cache, which will increase the efficiency and speed of interaction with the machine’s processor. Windows users also have various other updates specific to the platform, including:
Preview Preset Multithreading – For multi-core systems, generating previews has received a boost, making for faster and more comfortable viewing and usage.Third-party Plugin Implementation – Popular plugins can now be used. At this time, plugins for the Aurora HDR, DxO Nik Collection family, as well as the Topaz plugins collection, are supported.
Price and availability
Luminar 4.2 is available on Skylum’s website as of today. If you’re a current Luminar 4 user, the Luminar 4.2 is a free update for you. Here’s how to get it:
On a Mac, click in the Top Menu Bar and choose Luminar 4 > Check for updates. If you purchased via the Mac App Store, simply open the App Store and go to the Updates tab.On Windows, in the Top Menu Bar choose Help > Check for updates.
If you are running Luminar as a plugin with Photoshop, Lightroom Classic or Photoshop Elements, it’s also recommended you rerun the plugin installer. An expanded user manual has also been added, making it easier than ever for users to search and find answers to questions they might have about the software. If you’re a new user, Skylum currently offers Luminar 4 for $89 with the Inspiration Looks pack ($49 value) for free. You can also upgrade to Plus Edition, which includes Luminar 4, the Inspiration Looks pack and the California Sunset skies pack, for $99. Finally, you can get Luminar 4, the Inspiration Looks and California Sunset packs plus Aurora HDR 2019, for $169.
