Skylum News

From Skylum:

Luminar Neo — innovatively solving problems for the modern creative

Skylum solves major workflow challenges with cutting-edge AI tools that free up time for creativity

NEW YORK, NY - October 18, 2021 — Professionals or hobbyists, visual storytellers are often challenged by boring routine tasks and the complexity of sharing their final results online. In the fast-moving era of social media and mobile photography, routine editing and multi-step sharing can hinder the goal of any artist: creating work that fulfills their creative vision.

Today, Skylum reveals more details about Luminar Neo, a creative image editor which ships this winter. Featuring a full suite of tools for visual storytellers, Luminar Neo solves common problems and allows artists to focus on being creative.

New tools solve common frustrations

The Luminar family is well known for providing AI-guided tools that give artists powerful ways to explore their creative muse. But no image is perfect right out of the camera. Many of the existing tools like AccentAI solve common capture problems with exposure and color balance. SkinAI removes blemishes from portraits while Portrait Background RemovalAI allows artists to completely isolate their subjects from the background and make them pop.

Still, right out of the camera, many images are plagued with visual distractions, some in the scene captured and others from within the camera itself. Luminar Neo introduces new tools which leverage AI to deal with these distractions easily.

Dust RemovalAI — When capturing images in the field, artifacts can be introduced from dust on the surface of a lens or dust that finds its way onto the sensor during a lens change. After using AI to automatically detect these artifacts, Dust RemovalAI removes them to provide a spotless result. Now, artists can easily fix ruined photos, clean distracting spots in images, and save their beautiful memories.

Line RemovalAI — Used separately or as part of SkyAI, this new tool automatically removes unwanted power lines and phone lines from the sky in landscape photos. Whether editing photos of weddings, landscapes, or popular sightseeing spots, automatically getting rid of unwanted lines allows artists to focus on making powerful images, not cleaning up distractions.

Overlays leverage the power AI-enabled compositing

Skylum has already revealed RelightAI and Portrait Background RemovalAI, two tools that use Layers and the new MaskAI feature to help artists move beyond photo editing and explore compositing as a tool for creative expression. Overlays, graphic and photographic elements with a transparency channel, are yet another way for artists to break out of the photographic box.

To light the creative fire, Luminar Neo includes a rich library of free overlay content. Our community of artists and ambassadors regularly add new overlay content to the Luminar Marketplace, which is directly accessible from within Luminar Neo. Finally, using MaskAI, creators can create and save custom overlays to be used across their body of work.

Luminar Share

After editing comes another important yet sometimes tedious step in the artist’s workflow: exporting images from desktop to mobile in order to share them. Today, the sharing process is complicated and requires third-party services. Syncing to cloud drives is helpful, but what is really needed is a round-trip experience that fully integrates mobile devices with desktop editing. Luminar Share does exactly that. With Luminar Share, we aim to completely remove exporting complications and give artists the possibility to share their work in one click directly from the desktop.

A native mobile app, Luminar Share connects the photo library on Android and iOS mobile devices directly to Luminar Neo. Using a QR code pairing tool similar to those found in WhatsApp, Signal, and other synced messaging services, Luminar Share creates a secure link between a mobile photo library and Luminar Neo. Advantages include:

• A completely secure and private connection
• Automatic, round-trip synchronization of photos and edits
• Direct sharing from Luminar Neo to social networks (e.g. Instagram)
• No additional cost for cloud storage

Skylum is looking forward to growing and developing in the mobile field, and Luminar Share is the first big step towards that goal. From photographers sharing their work to influencers sharing a new look or a new adventure, visual storytellers of every stripe will find Luminar Share to be a great resource. At launch, it will be available for Android and iOS mobile devices.

Availability

Luminar Neo ships this winter with Luminar Share, Dust RemovalAI, Line RemovalAI, and other exciting tools. Early-bird pricing for the Luminar Neo application and plugin is available here and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee from the time of shipping.

Orders

Don't forget to use our coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE to (usually) get a $10.00 discount.

For artists making a new purchase:
$76 for 1-seat license for Luminar Neo
$87 for 2-seats license for Luminar Neo

$105 for 1-seat license for Luminar Neo+Luminar AI
$126 for 2-seats license for Luminar Neo+Luminar AI

For artists who own Luminar or Aurora:
$54 for 1-seat license for Luminar Neo
$69 for 2-seats license for Luminar Neo

$83 for 1-seat license for Luminar Neo+Luminar AI
$108 for 2-seats license for Luminar Neo+Luminar AI

From Skylum:

Luminar AI Update 4 — Beautiful Bokeh In Seconds

With the fourth update to Luminar AI, Skylum introduces Portrait Bokeh AI, a powerful new tool for the portrait photographer’s toolbox.

NEW YORK, NY - July 27, 2021 — Today, Skylum released LuminarAIUpdate 4, which delivers the much-anticipated Portrait BokehAI along with other, useful, free features to help visual storytellers unlock their creativity.

Complete control of focus with Portrait BokehAI

Building on our AI-guided depth mapping tools, Portrait BokehAI isolates the subject of a portrait from the background. It recognizes people in groups or in unusual positions or poses. With subjects isolated from the background, Portrait BokehAI blurs the background to emulate the rich, hazy bokeh of a high end lens at a wide open aperture.

Intelligent mask creation. Thanks to amazing artificial intelligence, LuminarAI can recognize people in a photo and can create the perfect mask to separate subjects from the background. The mask is generated automatically, but the artist can still refine and customize the mask to add or subtract focus to a photo.

Creative control. While the bokeh is automatically generated, it is entirely controlled by the artist with a single slider.

Any lighting; any lens: Traditionally, creamy bokeh could require expensive cameras and lenses coupled with complex lighting. No more. Bokeh PortraitAI works on any portrait.

Refined backgrounds. In addition to adjustable bokeh, artists can further refine the background using sliders to adjust the background exposure, add glow to highlights, set a specific depth of field and refine edges.

Stunning subjects. With the background made perfect, artists can use our AI-powered Portrait Tools — FaceAI, SkinAI and BodyAI — to really make subjects stand out in the frame.

Audition Textures with visual preview

We’ve improved Textures to help artists see how they might be used to achieve their creative vision. To understand how a Texture might fit your work in progress, you can now visually browse Textures just as you do with our SkyAI and Augmented SkyAI tools. Using custom Textures? They are now also accessible right within the dropdown grid. Artists can also load their own textures for reuse to build up a library of their favorites.

Visual Horizon Control in SkyAI

We pride ourselves on making complex things simple for our artist community. With that in mind, we’ve reimagined how replacement skies are aligned to the horizon in SkyAI. The Vertical Position, Horizontal Position, and Horizon Blending sliders have been replaced with the Shifting Horizon Control, found in the Sky Orientation section. This single control allows the artist to better position a replacement sky in the frame to align it with the horizon and create a much more seamless and naturalistic final image.

Availability

LuminarAI Update 4 is a free update for current LuminarAI users. To update:

macOS: Open LuminarAI. In the Top Menu Bar, choose LuminarAI > Check for updates. If you purchased via the Mac App Store, open the App Store and go to the Updates tab.

Windows: Open LuminarAI. In the Top Menu Bar, choose LuminarAI > Help > Check for Updates.

If you are running LuminarAI as a plugin with Photoshop, Lightroom Classic or Photoshop Elements, it’s also recommended you rerun the plugin installer. Click here for more information.

The LuminarAI user manual has also been expanded to make it easier than ever for users to search and find answers to questions they might have about LuminarAI.

To purchase LuminarAI, visit https://skylum.com/luminar-ai.

Don't forget to use our coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE to (usually) get a $10.00 discount.

From Skylum:

LuminarAI Reinvents the Photo Editing Experience for Creative Artists

New AI-centric tools help drive a refined workflow, offering creatives the solutions they need without the manual, tedious tasks often required

NEW YORK – December 15, 2020 – Skylum is excited to announce that LuminarAI, the revolutionary new photo editing program for creatives of all levels, will ship December 15, 2020. LuminarAI features several AI-powered technologies that help to automate processes, without getting rid of a human-centric approach.

Built for beginners and pros alike, LuminarAI offers creatives a workflow driven by artificial intelligence. LuminarAI also intelligently knows where to apply each effect, letting artists enhance images without tedious, manual work, and includes new, state-of-the-art tools – all of which were heavily researched and developed in tandem by Skylum and professional photographers.

“Our approach to AI lines up with that of the best minds in the field. What differentiates it, however, is our human-centric application of this incredibly powerful technology. In my experience, only 30% of our time is actually spent being creative,” said Alex Tsepko, CEO of Skylum. “LuminarAI uses artificial intelligence to flip those metrics. We created LuminarAI so people can focus on the outcomes and photos, and not worry so much about the editing process.”

New AI-Forward Templates

A new Templates system automatically scans each photo for subject and problem areas, and then recommends Templates that challenge an artist’s creativity, while also helping them achieve common tasks. Artists can then choose to utilize a Template, tweak it for a custom look or skip the Template process altogether and edit manually.

Manual AI Tools

Portrait tools like BodyAI let creatives mold a subject’s body, increasing or reducing volume in a realistic way. Eyes can become transformed with IrisAI, allowing artists to change the color of an iris or add a twinkling catch light. FaceAI and SkinAI put the emphasis on fine-tuning the details of a subject’s face, while also offering options to reduce blemishes and shine.

On the landscape side, SkyAI lets artists reinvent their skies like never before, automatically recognizing the sky in an image and offering various replacement tweaks to make for a truly memorable photograph. AtmosphereAI allows artists to add realistic effects like fog, mist and haze, while automatically recognizing depth and other elements to the image.

All images can also take advantage of LuminarAI’s AccentAI, which intelligently enhances photographs, and CompositionAI, which helps artists achieve the perfect crop for their image by utilizing the golden rules of photo composition, including the rule of thirds.

Starting at $79 USD, LuminarAI is available now. It is available as a standalone application, a plugin for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop and an Apple extension. For more information, visit skylum.com/luminar-ai.

Our coupon code, THEDIGITALPICTURE, is often active for a $10.00 discount.

Skylum has officially released Luminar 4.

Luminar 4 works as both a standalone application or as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Lightroom Classic, and Photos for macOS Extension

Skylum's Luminar software has become quite popular. Browse the Luminar 4 home page to learn about the impressive-looking AI and other features built into this application.

Don't forget to use our coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE to get a $10.00 discount.

From Skylum Software:

Relive your best memories with Luminar 3.1.2

This morning, we released Luminar 3.1.2, the latest update to our award-winning photo editing and management software. One of the big things we’re excited to introduce is a brand-new feature, called “On this day.”

“On this day” will let you relive your photography memories. Available for both Mac and Windows, this new feature gives you the opportunity to look back on what pictures you took on this day exactly one or more years ago. To get started with this, simply click the “On this day” shortcut in the menu.

Please note that the “On This Day” feature will only show up if you have photos in your Library taken on the current month and day in previous years.

It’s a great way to look back on how you’ve grown as a photographer, and provide you with some inspiration to get your day started!

On the Mac side of things, we’ve also added a faster import from your memory card, giving you less time waiting and more time to spend creating amazing images.

You can also now easily add plugins from Nik Collection to your workflow, and enjoy what they offer in cooperation with Luminar 3.

As for the Windows side, you’ll see a faster scroll on Single Image view. You can now scroll more quickly and more effectively. Additionally, you’ll see speed improvements to the switching process between Single Image view and Gallery view.

We’ve also fixed a bug with the Japanese calendar that caused crashes.

Finally, both Mac and Windows users will see overall performance and stability improvements. As Luminar continues to develop into a groundbreaking management and processing platform, it’s important to our team to make sure that Luminar’s performance is up to par. With every update, we try our best to make it work faster and more seamless than before, giving you a more reliable and quicker way to express your creativity through photography.

Mac users can update to version 3.1.2 by choosing Luminar 3 in the top menu bar, and then clicking “Check for updates.” Windows users can choose Help > Check for updates on the top toolbar.

Use coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE to save $10.00 on a Luminar 3 purchase.

From Skylum:

We’ve been hard at work on Luminar 3 and we’ve got a significant update to share with you. With Luminar 3.1.0 you’ll find several new improvements for both Mac and Windows. The next generation of Accent AI makes enhancing your images easier than ever before. Plus some performance and usability enhancements will make your editing workflow even faster.

Accent AI 2.0. Reimagined.

The improved Accent AI filter lets you get natural-looking results in less time. New “human-aware” technology recognizes people in your photos and applies adjustments selectively for more realistic images.

With Accent AI 2.0, you can make dozens of adjustments (done quickly) with just one slider. Fix tone, detail, exposure, depth, color, and more thanks to behind-the-scenes AI. In less than a second, your photos can look their absolute best. Make Accent AI 2.0 your go-to filter. (Tip: It can even replace the Develop step for most photographers!) For beautiful photos, rely on Accent AI 2.0 as your starting point.

Follow your style.

Whether you’re working with the Library to organize your images or using the QuickEdit command, it’s now even easier to get the results you want. Take advantage of image-aware filters and professionally designed Luminar Looks to unlock the best image possible. Once you’ve created the perfect style, apply it to all shots in your series with the improved Adjustment Sync. You can now select multiple photos and apply the same adjustments in just one click. Filters and Looks are transferred in just one click, while image-specific changes like cloning and cropping are ignored.

RAW shooters can stay organized.

If you capture RAW and JPEG at the same time, it’s even easier to stay organized in Luminar 3. When you import RAW and JPEG pairs, you can decide which files to see. View just RAW or just JPEG for a less cluttered library, or see both and use the JPEG file as a reference while you edit. Edits to JPEG and RAW files are independent but can be easily synced. Use the View menu to control which images are shown for a clutter-free library.

Better Sorting.

Using the Gallery view to get organized or search for that perfect image? Now when you sort using a method like File Type or Color Label, a second organization is also applied. When you sort your images they are sorted by the new category first and then automatically sorted by date.

Trust your editing to Luminar.

Thanks to our users for reporting different issues. This version of Luminar offers general stability improvements. We’ve made hundreds of under-the-hood performance improvements based on user feedback. Windows users, in particular, will see tons of new features that bring Luminar for Mac and Windows into close alignment. Improved stability and performance along with robust catalog backups help keep your images and edits safe.

Luminar Updates for Windows Users

The Windows version of Luminar receives several updates with version 3.1.0 We hope you enjoy this new release of Luminar and appreciate your feedback and reports.

New features

• IMPORT IMAGES. You can now import images from a memory card or hard drive and copy them to a folder. You can also choose to include subfolders when importing
• SMUGMUG SHARING. The ability to post images to SmugMug has now been added to Luminar for Windows.
• SHORTCUTS. Folders and user albums can be added to the Shortcuts list. Just right-click for a context menu or drag & drop them into the list.
• IMPROVED SELECTIONS. Want to choose a range of photos in the Gallery view? Try the Shift or Ctrl key to select a range or group of images. You can also deselect images from a multiselection by Ctrl+clicking on an image.
• ROTATE IN GALLERY. Images selected in the gallery can be quickly rotated left or right by 90 °increments with no need to switch to edit view. Just use the Image > Rotate menu or just right-click.
• PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS SUPPORT. We’ve added Photoshop Elements support to the Windows platform. Just choose the Install Plugins command if you want to load Luminar as a plugin. For future versions of Luminar, plugin users should switch to Luminar Flex.

Performance Improvements

Get additional speed and performance from the Luminar update

• IMPROVED HISTORY. Undo a Sync/Copy/Paste adjustments with one step in the History list.
• HIDDEN FILES. Luminar does a better job of filtering hidden folders and photo. Additionally, unwanted items like Backups, History, Previews, and Caches won’t be shown when opening Luminar Catalogs.

Luminar Updates for Mac Users

Several performance improvements, as well as new features, await Mac users. We hope you enjoy this new release of Luminar and appreciate your feedback and reports.

• PROGRESS BAR. Keep better track of what’s happening when working with Luminar. You’ll see a progress bar when using tools like Erase or when running Luminar as a third-party filter.

How to Update

Updating your Luminar software is easy. Be sure to also rerun the plugin installer if using Luminar as a plugin for Photoshop or Lightroom Classic.

Mac – Please, launch Luminar 3, then in the Top Menu Bar choose Luminar 3> Check for updates.

Windows – Please, launch Luminar 3, then in the Top Menu Bar choose Help > Check for updates.

We hope you enjoy these improvements. We’re hard at work on more performance updates and features

Use coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE to save $10.00 on a Luminar 3 purchase.

You can pre-order Luminar 3 with Libraries for a reduced price along with additional bonuses during this pre-order offer, December 6- 19, 2018. Those who purchase Luminar during this campaign will instantly receive Luminar 2018 + bonuses and then a free upgrade to Luminar 3 with Libraries after its release on December 18.

Pricing

• New users can purchase Luminar 2018 for US$59 ( US$49 with coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE).
• Current users of Luminar 2018 will be able to update for free .
• Current users of Luminar 2017 can upgrade for US$49 ( US$39 with coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE).
• Current users of a Luminar 2018 trial (those who have downloaded it before November 1) can purchase Luminar 2018 for US$49 ( US$39 with coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE).
• Owners of Skylum legacy products (Creative Kit, Noiseless, Intensify, Tonality, FX Photo Studio, Focus, Snapheal, Filters for Photos) can purchase Luminar for US$49 ( US$39 with coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE).
• Current users of Aurora HDR (2016–2019) can purchase Luminar for US$49 ( US$39 with your coupon code).
• Current users of Photolemur can purchase Luminar for US$49 ( US$39 with coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE

Note that the price after the Luminar 3 with Libraries release will be US$69.

Bonuses

• ViewBug: 3-Month Pro Membership (US$42 value)
• KelbyOne: 2-Month Pro Membership (US$40 value)
• Rocky Nook: Choice of ANY e-book (US$40 value)
• Daniel Kordan: Awesome Landscapes Tutorial (US$80 value)
• Manfrotto & Gitzo: US$20 Gift card with US$120 purchase (US$20 value)

Preorder: Luminar 3 with Libraries

From Skylum:

Skylum releases the free update to Luminar and brings the AI Sky Enhancer designed to add detail and drama to the sky with just one slider.

Bellevue, WA – November 1, 2018 — Skylum Software today released the new free update to its award-winning photo editor Luminar and presented the AI Sky Enhancer filter. Developed in the company’s AI Lab, the AI Sky Enhancer adds depth, definition, and detail to the sky almost instantly, with only a swipe of a slider.

AI Sky Enhancer is a revolutionary new tool for automatically enhancing skies and making them beautiful without the need for creating masks and layers. This will save photographers an enormous amount of time in post processing while expanding the benefit of achieving dramatic skies to photographers who may lack the skillset needed to create these results.

Hundreds of thousands of photos incorporating varying degrees of tonal skies were used to “train” a deep neural network that powers the AI Sky Enhancer filter and allow Luminar to analyze the image and detect (and adjust) only the sky. The result is complete, automated control of the sky, from sunsets, blue skies, partly sunny, storm clouds, or virtually any other sky scene imaginable.

“Skylum continues to build Luminar into the most comprehensive photo imaging software available in the marketplace,” explains Alex Tsepko, CEO of Skylum Software . “Our goal is to create a software solution that is effective, innovative and fun while incorporating a value proposition that never requires an annual subscription fee. Our addition of Luminar 3 with Libraries will reset the standard for end-to-end imaging software solutions.”

The new AI-powered filter comes ahead of Luminar 3 with Libraries, which will begin its roll-out to Luminar owners on December 18 . Skylum made the unprecedented decision to include every new feature of Luminar – big or small – at no additional cost to customers through 2019. This includes Luminar 3 with Libraries, which will allow photographers to organize, browse, and edit images on-the-fly. And, Luminar customers will never pay an annual subscription fee.

New and current users of Luminar will also receive a value-add promotional package including a three-month Pro Membership to ViewBug ($42), two-month Pro Membership to KelbyOne ($40); a choice of any e-book from Rocky Nook ($40), Awesome Landscapes Tutorial from Daniel Kordan ($80), and a $20 gift card toward the purchase of any Manfrotto / Gitzo product valued at $125 or more.

Luminar is available to new customers for $59. Current users of other Skylum software titles including Aurora HDR , Photolemur and Skylum legacy products can purchase Luminar for a special price of $49.

Note: Use coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE to save $10.00 on your Skylum Luminar purchase.

AI Sky Enhancer joins Accent AI and Foliage Enhancer currently available in Luminar, to create a fast and extremely powerful trilogy of single slider solutions for automatic image correction.

Other key features and functions available in Luminar include (for Mac and Windows):

• NEW Faster opening of RAW-files. You can now open raw files much faster thanks to improvements in our RAW engine.
• NEW DNG Camera Profiles (DCP). Are you looking for truly professional control over your RAW files? Then give DNG Camera Profiles a try. Luminar recognizes the industry standard DCP files that you may already have on your computer (or have bought from third parties).
• IMPROVED Filter Performance. You can now add or subtract filters more quickly to an image.
• IMPROVED LUT Mapping. You can now easily scroll through your LUTs in the LUT Mapping filter.
• IMPROVED Batch Processing. Windows users gain the useful Batch Processing improvements. These include the ability to “Replace or Skip Files” when saving the file with the same name when Batch Processing. Additional options include the ability to create JPEG and TIFF files as well as improved reliability when renaming and numbering files on export.
• NEW Plugin Support. The following third-party plugins can now be used via the Plugins menu: Imagenomic Noiseware 5, Imagenomic Portraiture 3, Imagenomic Realgrain 2, and DxO FilmPack 5.
• IMPROVED Image History. It is now possible to use the “Save History” option when saving a file with the “Windows Compatible” option. Additionally, White Balance presets are now displayed in an image’s history with the preset name when using the RAW Develop and Develop filters.
• IMPROVED Blending Modes. When you choose a blending mode for an Adjustment or Image Layer, the experience is even easier. Just hover your mouse over a blending mode and it updates in real-time. This is an easy way to simply mouse-over the list to find the perfect blending mode.

Skylum's Aurora HDR 2019 is now available for purchase/download. It's $99.00 for first-time users or $59.00 to upgrade (use our coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE to get a $10.00 discount).

I installed the software earlier this morning and was really impressed with the results I got with the few HDR batches I loaded for testing. Real estate photographers will especially love the realistic results the software can achieve balancing interior ambient light with the exterior window light.

From a processing standpoint, this looks to be a worthwhile upgrade for Aurora 2018 users. My one complaint – Skylum hasn't increased the size of the scroll bars. They're ridiculously thin and hard to click (same as they were in the 2018 version of the software), making the scroll bars practically useless. Thankfully, using a mouse scroll wheel mimics the scroll bars' functionality. [Sean]

From Skylum:

We made some important decisions this week concerning Luminar, and we think you’ll like them.

We’re always working hard to take our products to new heights, but this last year has been special. We’ve been intensely working on new tools that will elevate Luminar from a supercharged photo editor to THE home for editing, organizing and enjoying your images. It’s been a long time coming, but it will completely change the way everyone uses Luminar. I’d like to give a preview of the big things that are coming… Starting with Luminar Libraries in December, we've got a series of huge updates coming over the next year. A much anticipated addition to Luminar, Libraries will allow photographers to organize, browse and edit images the fly. Libraries will be powerful right out of the gate, but it represents the first of many photo organization and management updates launching over the following months.

From Libraries to other killer features, these updates are so powerful, that we want them in the hands of as many photographers as possible. To this end, we're going to do something unprecedented. Through late 2019 (at least), we're making every new feature available to all Luminar 2018 users - at no cost! While software companies typically roll out paid updates every year, there will be no paid updates for Luminar until late 2019 at the earliest. From Libraries to innovative new editing tools, every monumental advance and every new feature will be provided as free updates for Luminar 2018 users. This is a reflection of how much we value our customers, and how confident we are in the incredible value of the features we've got coming! With so much on the horizon, communication is key! Check the blog regularly for updates on all the exciting upcoming features. We look forward to your feedback and support. Thanks for taking this journey with us!

Luminar with Libraries.

As mentioned last week, the new version will be released later this year. Anyone who owns Luminar will get the new update for free in December, if not earlier. This new version is now in a closed beta testing, and the feedback we have been getting so far has been overwhelming.

The first version of Libraries in Luminar is all about these main points: performance, comfort, and a complete user experience. This means the new version will give you speed to browse & organize images without the extra wait time. This means that you’ll enjoy your photos moments after you start the software.

Here’s a short speed test I did last week. Take a look and stay tuned for more videos, webinars, posts and live sessions about other features.

We spent years, studying the needs, workflows, and preferences of different photographers. So in the new Luminar, you get a truly great viewing/browsing experience that draws you in and helps you enjoy and organize your photos without extra distractions.

And since Luminar is already packed with dozens of innovative tools to edit, enhance, and share photos, you will soon get the most comprehensive and well-rounded photography experience available in a piece of software.

No paid upgrade. You will get all the great stuff for free.

Alongside the new Libraries feature, we also poured a lot of hard work, time & research to bring you new editing tools for portraits, landscapes, aerial and other genres of photography; new features powered by Artificial Intelligence, new looks and styles, and more.

We have initially planned to release those features in Luminar 2019, as a paid upgrade, just like we usually do. However, this week, we made a decision to forgo any paid upgrades at least until the end of 2019, and add those features to Luminar 2018 for free.

We will incorporate the new tools and features in the latest version of Luminar instead of asking you to pay for the upgrade. Expect first updates as soon as this year. And throughout the next year we will be frequently rolling out more free updates to make Luminar Libraries, and its Editing & Sharing tools faster, better and more powerful for you.

A new price for a limited time.

Skylum's software are priced so that everyone can afford them and designed so that everyone can easily use them. We do this because everyone takes photos, not just experienced and pro photographers. We do this because photos are more than just the captions they come with.

We believe that every single person deserves to make his/her photos look their best without the extra hassle and without having to study and master all those photo editing tips the pros use.

So for a limited time, Luminar will be available for just $59 for new users who have yet to purchase the software. For this price, you’ll get the current version of the software, the free update to the new version that boasts Libraries, and free updates for the new features we initially developed for Luminar 2019.

No subscriptions. No upgrade fees. No extra charges.

From Skylum:

About Skylum Aurora HDR 2019:

Skylum’s Quantum HDR Engine harnesses the power of AI for a more streamlined editing experience than ever before. It reduces burned-out colors, loss of contrast, noise and unnatural lighting caused by halos and unstable deghosting.

The Quantum HDR Engine has taken three years to create within Skylum’s AI lab, and contains the vast knowledge of the development team paired with artificial intelligence to bring you seamless HDR editing, be it with a single image or multiple bracketed shots.

Skylum’s developers tested thousands of bracketed shots through a neural network, and used the results to develop the technology needed for creating incredible HDR photographs - whether it’s real estate, landscape, cityscape or any other type of HDR photography.

Here are the most essential changes:

• New Quantum HDR Engine
• LUTs support with 11 New Integrated LUTs
• Photoshop plugins support
• New HDR Smart Structure filter for realistic and artefact-free structure (can be found in the new HDR Enhance filter)
• Presets are now called ‘Aurora HDR Looks’
• Improved Adjustable Gradient filter with new sliders for Shadows and Highlights added
• Improved HDR Details Boost Effect ( the photo is shown in high-resolution while fine-tuning the filter)

Aurora HDR 2019 is available for pre-order now and will be released on October, 4.

Pre-Order Pricing:

• Current users may upgrade at a price of $49 USD ($59 USD MSRP)
• New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2019 at a price of $89 USD ($99 MSRP)

Pre-Order Bonuses:

• Video Tutorial: Getting the Most from Aurora HDR 2019 by Trey Ratcliff
• Landscape Photography Handbook by David Johnston
• Burning Moods LUTs by Richard Harrington
• Exclusive interior Aurora Looks by Richard Harrington
• 3-month 500px Pro membership
• $300 USD OFF a multi-day Iceland Photo Tours

Preorder: Skylum Aurora HDR 2019

From Skylum:

Bellevue, WA – September 6, 2018 — Photolemur, a leader in AI technology in the photography industry and a winner of the 2018 Red Dot Award for High Design Quality, has released pre-order details for the latest product launch: Photolemur 3 With Photolemur, Skylum has taken the concept of photo enhancement back down to Earth, bringing the complex process of photo editing to the hands of mass consumers all over the world. The software has been developed with regular folks in mind, camera users who might not have the time for or a good grasp of editing, from amateur and beginner photographers to moms, bloggers, and occasional shooters.

Designed as an intelligent automated photo assistant that enhances images in the same way a professional photographer would, but much quicker than any standard editing software, Photolemur only requires its users to drag and drop an image. It takes care of the rest by automatically making pro-level enhancements and adjustments to the image within minutes. Photolemur uses 14 different AI technologies to think for itself, analyzing what aspects of a photo need to be tweaked to bring the image to its best. It saves its users from going through the long editing process or relying on unintelligent filters that aren’t exactly tailor-made for that particular image. The software is proving to be a gamechanger in the photography space, allowing everyone from basic social media users and amateur bloggers to the more seasoned pros to create the perfect photo. Photolemur is transforming the photography industry, benefitting both casual photographers and professionals, reducing an hour of complex photo editing to mere minutes.

At the heart of Photolemur is a smart engine with powerful technology that has analyzed millions of photos to find editing patterns. It enhances each photo accordingly based on those patterns. It utilizes similar technology used in manual editing software, from color recovery and noise reduction to auto color temperature and exposure compensation. Both pro photographers and casual shooters can trust its AI technology to recognize the differences in objects and make smart decisions when choosing the correct adjustments.

The software also allows users to batch enhance up to 200 photos at a time, making it a real time saver for users who don’t have a lot of hours to invest in photo editing. With this new update, Photolemur now fixes skin imperfections, whitens teeth, smoothes skin and hair, and sharpens and widens eyes, making it an ideal tool for casual photographers and social media enthusiasts.

By simplifying the editing process, seamlessly creating pro-level adjustments to any photo without any effort from its users, Photolemur is sweeping not only the photography community, but also the mass market. Photolemur is ahead of the trends in the photography industry, using its intuitive AI technology to make photo editing more accessible and to bring photography back to where it matters most, the millions of camera shooters who use it to capture memories and record important moments in their lives.

Photolemur 3 includes several updates across the software, from technology to user interface.

• Automatic face enhancement with skin retouch and teeth whitening. This feature detects and clears skin imperfections as well as whitens teeth for a more glowing portrait.
• Smart eyes enlarge. This feature analyzes your subjects’ eyes and makes eye enlargements accordingly.
• Adding styles to photos. Six new, crazily creative styles are now available to really get the look you want.
• New menu for opacity settings
• Quick access menu for face enhancement, lens correction, and eyes enlarge
• Apply settings from one image to all images in a batch, maximum 200 images
• SmugMug export for Mac

Until September 13 Photolemur 3 is available at a special pre-order price for $49 for a family license (5 activations) with a collection of bonuses. The product will be released on 14 September 2018.

Photolemur 3.0 Regular Pricing (starting on September 14):

• Current users may upgrade at a price of $19
• New users can purchase Photolemur 3.0 Family at a price of $59
• New users can purchase Photolemur 3.0 Single at a price of $39

Preorder: Photolemur 3

From Skylum:

The 1.3.0 update includes numerous features enhancements and bug fixes for the Windows and Mac versions.

Mac New & Improved Features:

• IMPROVED Raw Develop. The Raw Develop filter has improved handling of the Lens and Transform effects. Effects are not shown on the left side (Before) when using the Compare option. The effects are also not blended with original when using the Filters Amount slider.
• IMPROVED Sharpening. The Sharpening filter is more responsive and accurate. As you adjust the controls all changes are visible in high resolution with real-time feedback.
• IMPROVED Batch Processing. You can now export to several file formats including new options for PDF and JPEG-2000.
• IMPROVED LUT Mapping. You can now easily scroll through your LUTs in the LUT Mapping filter. Just hover your mouse over a LUT and it updates in real-time.
• IMPROVED Language Support. Luminar offers eight Improved localizations: Chinese, Chinese Simplified, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish.
• IMPROVED Image History. It is now possible to use the “Save History” option when saving a file with the “Windows Compatible” option. Additionally, White Balance presets are now displayed in an image’s history with the preset name when using the RAW Develop and Develop filters.
• NEW Plugin Support. The following third-party plugins can now be used via the Plugins menu: Imagenomic Noiseware 5, Imagenomic Portraiture 3, Imagenomic Realgrain 2, and DxO FilmPack 5.
• IMPROVED Filter Controls. To save you time, all filter checkboxes can be enabled or disabled by clicking on the control name or the checkbox. Additionally, be sure to try scrubbable number sliders. Just mouse over the value for a filter and then click and drag left or right to move the slider.
• IMPROVED JPEG Controls. Take precise control over JPEG and JPEG-2000 compression. You can see a numeric value for the Quality slider. You can also click on the number and enter a precise value.

Windows New & Improved Features:

• NEW Faster opening of RAW-files. You can now open raw files much faster thanks to improvements in our RAW engine.
• NEW White Balance Tool. A new White Balance functionality and eyedropper tool have been added to the Raw Develop, Develop, and Color Temperature filters.
• NEW Image History. It is now possible to use the “Save History” option when saving a file. Additionally, White Balance presets are now displayed in an image’s history with the preset name when using the RAW Develop, Develop and Color Temperature filters.
• NEW Layer Renaming. For all new layers, you add to a document (except for the original image) you can choose to assign a custom name. Just double-click on a layer’s name to edit it. This is a great way to organize adjustment and image overlay layers in your project.
• IMPROVED Filter Performance. You can now add or subtract filters more quickly to an image.
• IMPROVED Blending Modes. When you choose a blending mode for an Adjustment or Image Layer, the experience is even easier. Just hover your mouse over a blending mode and it updates in real-time. This is an easy way to simply mouse-over the list to find the perfect blending mode.
• IMPROVED LUT Mapping. You can now easily scroll through your LUTs in the LUT Mapping filter.
• IMPROVED Language Support. Luminar offers seven improved localizations: Chinese, Chinese Simplified, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish.
• NEW Canvas Color. You can now set the Canvas background color to White. Choose View > Background > White to set the working Canvas to White or choose from other shades of gray or black.
• IMPROVED Sharpening. The Sharpening filter is more responsive and accurate. As you adjust the controls all changes are visible in high resolution with real-time feedback.
• NEW DNG Camera Profiles (DCP). Are you looking for truly professional control over your raw files? Then give DNG Camera Profiles a try. Luminar recognizes the industry standard DCP files that you may already have on your computer (or have bought from third parties).
• IMPROVED Batch Processing. Windows users gain the useful Batch Processing improvements. These include the ability to “Replace or Skip Files” when saving the file with the same name when Batch Processing. Additional options include the ability to create JPEG and TIFF files as well as improved reliability when renaming and numbering files on export.

Note: Use coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE to save $10.00 on your Skylum Luminar purchase.

Download: Skylum Luminar v.1.3.0

From Skylum:

Aurora HDR 2018 now up to 2x and 4x faster on MacOS and Windows computers, respectively, and compatible with the brand-new Loupedeck+ photo editing console

Skylum Software has released the latest update to its award-winning photo editing software, Aurora HDR, bringing improved performance, new features, and updated tools to both MacOS and Windows versions.

What's New and Improved in Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0:

Here are the most essential changes:

• Speed boost for editing and adjusting. We’ve dramatically increased performance across all areas of Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 on Windows and Mac.
• Fast single-file opening. With an improved image processing engine, Aurora HDR is now much faster when opening single files.
• Loupedeck integration (for Mac & Windows). Now, users can quickly process photos in Aurora HDR using physical dials, knobs, and keys.
• Batch processing (for Windows). Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 will allow Windows users to edit a large number of photos simultaneously.
• Better memory management. Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 is also optimized to make better use of memory, with more intelligent memory management and improved stability.
• Windows version catches up to Mac version. Windows users will receive a flip/rotate tool, bringing Aurora HDR for Windows more in line with its macOS counterpart.
• Aurora HDR now supports more cameras than before. The full list across both Windows and MacOS includes: Canon EOS 3000D / Rebel T100 / 4000D, FujiFilm X-H1, FujiFilm X-A20, FujiFilm X-A5, FujiFilm X-E3, Olympus E-PL9, Panasonic DC-GF10 / Panasonic DC-GF90, Panasonic DC-GX9 / DC-GX7MK3, Panasonic DC-TZ200 / DC-ZS200 / DC-TZ202 / DC-TZ220 / DC-ZS220 / DC-TX2, PhaseOne IQ3 100MP Trichromatic, Sony A7 III.

Here’s a full list of the new features and improvements:

MAC:

• Performance boost when editing and opening single files
• Faster export
• Loupedeck integration
• Better brackets sorting during Batch processing
• Better memory management
• Plugin stability improved
• New camera support
• Better export performance
• Fixed brush drawing
• Improved opening of .DNG image

WINDOWS:

• Performance boost when editing and adjusting
• Faster export
• Better stability and memory management
• Batch processing added
• Added layers menu and layer options menu
• Ability to rename layers
• UX improvements
• Quick loading of single RAW files
• Hover on blends
• Added white balance color picker
• Localisation fixes
• Changed order of preset categories
• UI fixes and improvements
• Added histogram to tone curve filter
• Improved stability of Dodge & Burn filter
• Added context menu in the filters menu
• New camera support
• Better Windows document support
• Added flip/rotate
• Exif saving to document fixed
• Loupedeck integration
• Improved opening of .DNG image

Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 Offer Information:

Current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade for $59 ($49 with coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE).
New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0 for $99 ($89 with coupon code THEDIGITALPICTURE).

Bonuses included in the offer:

• 119 Dramatic & Romantic Sky overlays ($29 value) – The ultimate collection of 119 dramatic high-res sky overlays to turn photos with boring skies into eye-catching works of art.
• Complete HDR Tutorial by Trey Ratcliff ($99 value) – This entirely new HDR tutorial is perfect for beginners to mega-advanced professionals who want to see all of the latest post-processing techniques. Lisa and Trey discuss their artistic inspirations and challenges, how they compose a shot, their camera settings, and much more. You’re then transported back to Trey’s studio where he slowly takes you step-by-step through his latest techniques.
• Deep Dive into Aurora HDR 2018 video by Trey Ratcliff ($20 value) – Trey Ratcliff, the most famous HDR photographer, shares his editing process in the new Aurora HDR 2018.

Download: Aurora HDR 2018 1.2.0

From Skylum (developers of Aurora HDR 2018 and Luminar 2018):

Skylum also hires Alex Savsunenko, former CEO of Let’s Enhance, to lead AI-based photo technologies to the next level.

May 22, 2018 — Bellevue, WA — Today, Skylum Software announced the formation of a new research and development division dedicated to the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies in image processing. The Skylum AI Lab leverages the company’s prior work developing smart filters in its award-winning Luminar software, as well as technology from its “sister company” Photolemur, which was founded in 2016 by Dima Sytnik and Alex Tsepko, co-founder and CEO of Skylum respectively.

“Clearly, AI can simplify our lives. By using AI-based technologies in our products, our customers save time vs. manual editing, and can often get better results,” said Alex Tsepko, CEO at Skylum. “Our neural networks are being trained on millions of images taken by cameras from Fujifilm, Sony, Olympus, Nikon, Canon and many others, which means outstanding results for all photographers, regardless of what style they shoot and what gear they are using.” To spearhead the new Skylum AI Lab, the company has hired Alex Savsunenko, former CEO of Let’s Enhance, a leader in machine learning for visual content. Savsunenko will manage all research and development for technologies based on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural networks. Promising results will ultimately be implemented in Skylum products and solutions for image and video enhancement, with the aim to help users make their workflow faster, smarter and more efficient.

Currently, the Skylum AI Lab is testing over a dozen new solutions, including:

• Image upscaling: uses deep convolutional neural networks to improve low-resolution images and scale them up for superior viewing and printing.
• Tagging: generates tags that describe the image and its objects based on image recognition.
• Segmentation: smart recognition of image areas that can be automatically enhanced using different filters and corrections based on the type of object.
• Automatic enhancement: applies smart image corrections to photos based on a variety of issues

To further reinforce its AI prowess, Skylum has also joined forces with Photolemur, creator of the world's first fully automatic photo enhancement solution. Photolemur app has been sold for several years, with hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide. It enhances images utilizing artificial intelligence without the need to use any manual controls. Development will continue on Photolemur, with the next evolution of the app likely to be a cloud solution that helps high-volume users enhance images as batch process.

From Skylum:

This update features over 300 improvements and updates that make the app faster, more responsive and useful than ever.

The most essential features of the update are:

• Speed (Performance & adjustments): We’ve dramatically increased the speed of editing across all areas of Luminar 2018.
• Automatic Lens Correction: Our RAW Develop filter analyzes your image and the metadata to calculate a one click Automatic Lens Distortion fix.
• Enhanced image quality on image view: Most of the demosaic and green equilibration issues have been fixed.
• DCP Profiles Support (for the Mac version only. Coming to Windows soon): Luminar 2018 recognizes the industry standard DCP files that you may already have on your computer (or have bought from third parties).
• Import speed (for the Mac version only. Coming to Windows soon): re-engineered RAW import, optimized for speed.
• Windows version catches up with Mac: Added Batch processing feature, Free Transform image feature, Flip/Rotate image feature to the Windows version.

Here is a full list of the new features and improvements:

MAC:

• Fast RAW opening
• Super fast image editing and adjusting
• Faster image export
• DCP Profiles support
• Automatic Lens Correction (fix Lens Distortion, remove Chromatic Aberration and Defringe)
• Enhanced image quality on image view - most of the demosaic and green equilibration issues have been fixed
• Big number of stability fixes
• UI and UX improvements
• Localizations updated (German, Japanese, Chinese & more)

WINDOWS

• Super fast image editing and adjusting
• Faster image export
• Batch processing feature
• Free transform image feature
• Flip/Rotate image feature
• Automatic Lens Correction (fix Lens Distortion, remove Chromatic Aberration and Defringe)
• Big number of stability fixes
• UI and UX improvements
• Localisations updated
• Added ability to change localisation language in the application main menu
• Fixes with color profiles on export/in plugin mode
• Preview mode feature added (F hotkey)
• Enhanced image quality on image view - fixed most of demosaic and green equilibration

LUMINAR 2018 JUPITER OFFER INFORMATION:

• Current users of Luminar may upgrade for $49 ($39 with "THEDIGITALPICTURE" coupon code)
• New users can purchase Luminar 2018 for $69 ($59 with "THEDIGITALPICTURE" coupon code)

Bonuses included in the offer:

• The Complete Landscape Photography Guide ebook from Photzy (worth $50) - An outstanding guide written by professional photographer and writer Kent DuFault. This ebook has something for everyone, with 237 pages packed full of information and assignments that will transform your landscape photography.
• Aerial Photography & Video with Matt Granger (worth $79) - World-renowned photographer, Matt Granger will share planning, shooting and editing aerial stills and video. Matt will also demonstrate editing with Luminar 2018 on his still aerial images..
• Photography Tutorial by Daniel Kordan (worth $29) - Extensive tutorial with a full workflow demonstration by expert landscape photographer Daniel Kordan. This tutorial includes shooting and post-processing images in Luminar 2018.
• 119 Dramatic & Romantic Sky overlays (worth $29) - This is an amazing addition to your photo editing workflow, and will help give boring skies that ‘wow!’ factor.
• Splitsville Presets By Brian Matiash (worth $15) - Add a professional polish to your images with these cool presets.

Download Trial: Skylum Luminar 2018

In October 2017, Macphun announced that it would be changing its name to Skylum. Four months later, the name change is officially complete.

To celebrate the finalization of its name change, Skylum is offering special discounts on Luminar 2018 and Aurora HDR 2018 through February 26 when you use our special promo code, THEDIGITALPICTURE.

Luminar 2018

• Current users of Luminar may upgrade for $39 with coupon code
• New users can purchase Luminar 2018 for $59 with coupon code
• A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase

Bonuses:

• 2 E-books from Andrew Gibson: "The Creative Photographer" and "Mastering Exposure"
• Ultra Violet LUTs by Richard Harrington
• Ultra Violet Preset Pack by Richard Harrington
• Futuristic Preset Pack

Aurora HDR 2018

• Current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade for $49 with coupon code
• New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 for $89 with coupon code
• A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase

Bonuses:

• "Accelerate Your Photography" Ebook by Anne McKinnell
• Deep dive Video Tutorial from Trey Ratcliff
• Warm & Beautiful Preset Pack

Download Trials:

Skylum Luminar 2018
Skylum Aurora HDR 2018

From Skylum:

Aurora HDR 2018 1.1.3 version for Windows:

• Improved sliders: You can now directly enter values into a slider with the keyboard.
• Improved presets: Applying multiple presets is now handled correctly.
• Cropping improvements: The cropped state of an image is now correctly captured in the native Aurora HDR file.

Aurora HDR 2018 1.1.3 version for MAC:

• Batch process faster: We’ve fine-tuned our bracket-detecting algorithm to speed up batch processing.
• Align brackets better: We’ve updated our alignment algorithm to improve hand-held HDR photography.
• Adobe plug-in improvements: The plugins for Adobe products have been performance tuned.
• Improved cross-platform files: We’ve fixed issue with cropped photos created on Windows.
• Improved user experience: We’ve refined the software to make it easier to use based on user feedback and testing.

The update 1.1.3 is completely free to all Aurora HDR 2018 users. Just launch the app in order to get it.

Purchase Link: Aurora HDR 2018

From Skylum:

Luminar 2018 1.1.1 version for Windows:

• Added support for the following languages:
• English
• German
• Spanish
• French
• Portugal
• Chinese
• Korean
• Russian
• Japanese
• Added shift + scroll hotkey for brush size adjustment
• Curves filter improved
• Merge layers feature released
• Saving cropped image to document issue fixed
• Fixed several issues with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom plugins usage
• Sidebar UX improvements

Luminar 2018 version 1.1.1 for MAC:

• Fixed issues with Photos Extension
• RAW Develop support improved, added Leica Monochrome .DNG , HEIC formats, fixed support for Hasselblad and several other cameras.
• Fixed several issues with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom plugins usage
• Fixed issue with Dodge & Burn mask from documents created on Windows

The update is completely free to all Luminar 2018 users, and here is the instruction how to get it:

On Mac: Please, launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Menu Bar choose Luminar 2018 > Check for updates.
On Windows: Please, launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Toolbar choose Help > Check for updates.

Purchase Link: Luminar 2018

Both Luminar 2018 and Aurora HDR 2018 received updates recently that checked off some items on my personal wish lists, including native file saving (for Windows) and 16-bit TIFF exports. [Sean]

From Skylum/Macphun:

Luminar 2018 v.1.1.0

This free update brings the following new and improved features to improve your Luminar editing experience:

WINDOWS USERS

• Work faster. Luminar can now launch more quickly. Plus you’ll see a faster-editing performance and better RAM usage.
• Save Native files. Be sure to save your editing projects in the new native Luminar format. This makes it easy to come back and edit later.
• Clone & Stamp released. Remove objects and blemishes with ease!
• LUT Mapping. Any LUT you’ve chosen can now be stored to a preset with no need to link to the original .cube file.
• More export control. You can choose to export to the Adobe RGB wide color profile or the ProPhoto RGB color space on export. You can also sharpen an exported file which is great for printing.
• Better masking controls. Users can adjust both the feather and density controls on a mask to refine the blending of layers. When editing a mask, a user can also press the X hotkey to toggle between Paint/Erase brush mode.
• More editing control. Now even more raw formats can be edited natively with our RAW Develop filter. All filters also support advanced blending mode options as well.

MAC USERS

• Work faster. We’ve improved compatibility with OS X 10.10, 10.11 support. The Histogram also updates in real-time. Users will also enjoy Performance and RAM usage improvements. When editing press Cmd+L to quickly access the Filters list as well.
• RAW image improvements. Luminar does a better job of detecting noise in a raw file and automatically fixing it when you open to a photo. DNG file support is also improved for easier editing. Plus even more raw formats can be edited natively with our RAW Develop filter.
• Improved workflow with other applications. We’ve addressed several small bugs reported when working with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Lightroom, and Photos for Mac.
• Better batch processing. A streamlined user interface makes batch processing even easier to fix multiple photos at once. Additional improvements also made to address user-reported issues.
• Improved Native files. Save your editing projects in the native Luminar format which makes it easy to come back and edit in the future. Plus files can be shared between Mac and Windows users.
• LUT Mapping. Any LUT you’ve chosen can now be stored to a preset with no need to link to the original .cube file.
• More plugin support. Luminar can also use Topaz plugins within the Luminar editing workflow.
• Improved exports. Photos can now be exported to SmugMug for online sharing. The Sharpen on Export filter is also improved for crisper images.
• Better masking controls. Users can adjust the density controls on a mask to refine the blending of layers. When editing a mask, a user can also press the Backspace hotkey to reset gradient/radial mask drawing.

New Cameras Added

How to Update

• Mac – Please, launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Menu Bar choose Luminar 2018 > Check for updates.
• Windows – Please, launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Tool Bar choose Help > Check for updates.

This free update brings the following new and improved features to improve your Aurora HDR editing experience:

WINDOWS USERS

• RAW image improvements. Aurora HDR does a better job of detecting noise in a raw file and automatically fixing it when you open a photo. DNG file support is also improved for easier editing.
• Save Native files. Be sure to save your editing projects in the native Aurora HDR format. This makes it easy to come back and make edits. Plus files can be shared between Mac and Windows users.
• More export control. You can choose to export to the Adobe RGB wide color profile or the ProPhoto RGB color space on export. You can also sharpen an exported file which is great for printing. Plus even more file formats are supported including JPEG 2000, PSD, PDF. Creating TIFF files? You can control file compression, bit depth, and resolution on export too.
• Delete presets. You can now delete preset packs if you want to remove a set from your collection.

MAC USERS

• Improved Native files. Save your editing projects in the native Aurora HDR format which makes it easy to come back and edit in the future. Check the Windows compatibility option so files can be shared between Mac and Windows users.
• Improved workflow with other applications. We’ve addressed several small bugs reported when working with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.
• Work faster. We’ve improved compatibility with OS X 10.10, 10.11 support. The Histogram also updates in real-time. Users will also enjoy Performance and RAM usage improvements. When editing press Cmd+L to quickly access the Filters list as well.
• Import old Aurora HDR presets. You can now import presets from previous versions of Aurora HDR.

New Cameras Added

How to Update

The update is completely free to all Aurora HDR 2018 users, just launch the application to get it.

• Mac – Please choose Aurora HDR 2018 > Check for updates.
• Windows – Please choose Help > Check for updates.

Purchase Links:

• Luminar 2018
• Aurora HDR 2018

From Macphun/Skylum: Today, Apple named Aurora HDR 2018 as their Best Mac App of 2017. This is a big honor for all of the team and we’re very grateful to cap off a year of hard work this way. At the same time, we will continue to work hard to achieve our bigger goal of ensuring Aurora HDR is the industry standard for HDR photography

To celebrate this milestone, and help even more people access this great photography tool, Aurora HDR 2018 — both Mac & Windows — will be available for the rest of December at $20 OFF with a pack of special bonuses included. Read below for the detailed information about the offer.

Pricing:

• Current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade at a Special price of $39
• New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 for $79
• A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase.

Bonuses:

• Deep Dive video tutorial from Trey Ratcliff
• “How to create realistic HDR images” Ebook
• 2 Preset Packs - 40 presets! Preset pack 1 - Winter Vibes. Preset Pack 2 - Wonderland.

Download / Purchase: Aurora HDR 2018

Macphun/Skylum has released an update to Aurora HDR 2018. See below for details.

Changes include:

Aurora HDR 2018 version 1.1.1 for MAC:

• Added Luminar 2018 in plugin menu
• Added “Expand All” feature for filters
• Added support for Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018
• Added amount slider for image presets in Batch Processing
• Improved RAW, DNG support for several cameras including Nikon D850
• Improved Touch Bar support
• Improved Batch Processing UI
• Improved UI and performance
• Fixed localization issues
• Fixed several issues related to macOS 10.10
• Fixed colorspace mismatch issue with Adobe Photoshop plugin
• Fixed saving issues with Adobe Lightroom plugin
• Fixed DPI resolution issues on exporting files

Aurora HDR 2018 version 1.1.1 for Windows:

• Added Luminosity Mask feature
• Added Resize option to export dialog
• Added hotkeys for main application modes, brush, zoom
• Improved stability, particularly app crashes on exporting files
• Improved UI and performance
• Fixed issue with Adobe Photoshop plugin
• Fixed image orientation issue

Aurora HDR 2018 is designed to receive all free software updates automatically. However, if for some reason this doesn't occur, or you want to make sure you're using the latest version:

• For Mac choose "Check for updates" in the Aurora HDR 2018 menu in the upper left-hand corner (near the Apple logo).
• For Windows choose "Check for Updates" in the Help menu of the top bar menu.

While the UI for Aurora HDR 2018 is not necessarily my favorite, the results you can get with the program are great and well worth acclimatizing to its (somewhat quirky) interface. [Sean]

Macphun/Skylum Luminar 2018 v.1.0.1 has been released with the following changes:

Luminar 2018 version 1.0.1 for MAC:

• Fixed crash on saving to .PSD format
• Fixed bug when Adobe Photoshop Elements is unavailable.
• Fixed bug with Luminosity Mask preview on filter
• Fixed "Image Cannot be saved” issue with Adobe Lightroom
• Fixed RAW Develop\Develop issue when converting Panasonic files
• Added support for more Adobe Photoshop plugins, including Topaz Labs plugins
• Improved RAW processing on opening file
• Improved Windows preset preview
• Improved accuracy of the filter collapse/expand triangle control
• Improved application and Batch processing UI
• Fixed RAW Develop/Develop issue with DNG files
• Plus other performance improvements and fixes to the reported issues.

Luminar 2018 version 1.0.1 for Windows:

• Workspaces
• Luminosity Mask
• Image Resize & Sharpen on Export
• Improved Hotkeys support
• Improved RAW opening & processing
• RAW support for more cameras, including Nikon D850
• Fixed bug when launching Photoshop with a blank image
• PLUS; Improved performance and fixes for a number of reported bugs, including the fixed issue with LowRes image preview on layers with masks; Fixed progress bar for opening images.

Through November 29, use promo code THEDIGITALPICTURE at Macphun/Skylum to save $10.00 on the already discounted Black Friday pricing for new or upgrade purchases of Luminar 2018 and Aurora HDR 2018.

From Macphun/Skylum:

Luminar 2018 offers everything a modern photographer needs for photo editing, including new filters powered by artificial intelligence, major speed improvements, a dedicated RAW develop module and a forthcoming in 2018; digital asset management platform.

Users will also benefit from the new intelligent Sun Rays filter, LUT support, and real-time noise removal. With workspaces that match different styles of editing, Luminar adapts to deliver a complete experience that avoids clutter and complexity.

Luminar 2018 has been re-built from the ground up for dramatic performance boosts. Existing filters deliver richer colors and depth in less time. A brand new streamlined user interface speeds up working with presets, filters, and masks. With full support of pro options like layers, masks, and blending modes, complex repairs and photo composites can be easily accomplished.

Pre-Order Availability:

Luminar 2018 will be availabe for pre-order on November 1 and released on November 16.

Pre-Order Pricing:

• Current users of Luminar may upgrade at a special pre-order price of $39 ($49 MSRP)*
• New users can purchase Luminar 2018 at a special pre-order price of $59 ($69 MSRP)*

* A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase.

Pre-Order Bonuses:

• A Pack of signature presets and textures fro pro photography Nicolesy
• An Exclusive pack of LUTs
• 1-year Power plan from SmugMug ($72 value). For new accounts only

Preorder: Luminar 2018

From the Macphun (now SKYLUM) blog:

We started Macphun more than seven years ago as the team who built apps for iPhone. In the first three years, we released close to 60 different applications. Most of these apps were really far from photography.

But the biggest successes came from our photography applications. We topped more than 20,000,000 downloads with our most popular applications: FX Photo Studio, Silent Film Director, and Perfect photo.

Early in 2011, we launched our first photo software on the Mac App Store - FX Photo Studio Pro. A year later, we received our first recognition from Apple - Snapheal was named among the Best Apps on the App Store.

Since then, our products have been getting this (and similar awards) non-stop. I believe Macphun is the only photo software developer in the world to hold this recognition for five straight years in a row. We also have more “Apple Editor’s Choice” awards than most app developers on a Mac.

Throughout these years we grew and got bigger. We were driven by the idea of helping photographers on the Mac, to make stunning photos in less time.

We are still driven by this idea. But now on a much bigger scale!

We believe that photography is not about the platform or operating system you use. We believe that great photo editing and management tools should be available to you anywhere: be it on a desktop Windows machine, a Mac, in the cloud or your mobile device.

This year, for the first time ever, we have launched our products on the Windows platform. We also worked with our first enterprise clients to bring our imaging technologies to business customers around the world.

This year we have released the most advanced versions of Aurora HDR & Luminar for both PC and Mac photography communities. We’ve seen our audience grow this year to a level that is larger than the past three years combined.

The good news? We are just getting started…

We now have a vision of bringing photographers a truly worthy Adobe alternative. We feel we are among the few companies who can achieve this goal. Adobe is a fantastic company and a well-deserved industry leader. We admire them and our products work within their architecture as plug-ins. But we also have a great team, our own proprietary technology, and the community support to make a dent in that Universe.

We are changing our name to SKYLUM to reflect these changes, growth and plans.

We think that this name is a better fit, since we’re no longer a Mac-only developer. It’s also closer to where we want to go in the near future. The name change will be happening gradually. We will continue to use Macphun name this year, and early in 2018 we'll completely switch to SKYLUM.

But it’s not just about the new name…

The name is just a word if you don’t put an action behind it. We understand that!

Skylum is still small, and we will try much harder to continue our growth by putting our customers first. Luminar is not yet an Adobe alternative, and we will work hard to make it better.

We also know that photographers have high expectations and demands.We know the photo community has been confused by some of the latest changes and that some of you feel left behind. We promise that the team at Skylum will be different.

If you give us a chance, we’ll surprise you. We’ll make you happy with your new photo software. We’ll help you make incredible photos in less time. Let’s stay in touch as we grow together and welcome to Skylum Software.

Alex Tsepko, CEO of Skylum Software.