Photo editing is no longer about hunting through dozens of sliders. Easy photo editing software like Luminar Neo surfaces the right tools at the right time — exposure, color, local adjustments, AI-driven cleanups, etc.
In this guide, we explain how to edit photos with Luminar Neo. We will move from quick global fixes to selective refinements, helping you develop a workflow that respects your style, scales to batches, and keeps quality high without adding unnecessary complexity.
Step 1: Establish a Baseline
Establish a clear baseline before any creative starts. Start by correcting exposure and white balance in the Edit tab. Aim for believable skin tones and a histogram without clipped highlights. Next, stabilize contrast with a gentle tone curve and tame color cast using HSL. If the lighting was tricky, use Relight AI to brighten the subject without washing out the background.
Step 2: Use Overlays
For quick mood building, audition subtle assets from photo overlays (light leaks, bokeh, weather) on a separate layer at low opacity. They are easy to dial back and won’t bake in unwanted artifacts.
Step 3: Work with Presets
Lock in your baseline as a custom preset. It will allow you to apply it later across similar shoots. Luminar Neo supports batch processing. Even if you don’t know how to edit pictures, you can easily use pre-made adjustments to vast volumes of files in a few clicks. If you work with built-in presets, they can also be customized according to your specific creative needs and vision as your skills grow. Finally, zoom to 100% and check edge detail and noise before moving on to targeted edits.
Step 4: Utilize Local Adjustments
Photo editing techniques in Luminar Neo start with selective tools that nudge attention to your subject without overprocessing. Every tool in Luminar Neo can be applied with a gradient (linear or radial) or a brush. You can control the brush’s size, softness, and strength. Prioritize lower opacities for more controlled edits.
Step 5: Relight
For dim faces or front-lit subjects that still feel flat, use Relight AI, then raise the foreground brightness, refine depth, and, if needed, add a bit of dehalo to keep edges clean.
Supercontrast will let you sculpt selective contrasts more precisely. Adjust highlights, midtones, and shadows separately, then mask them onto the subject so backgrounds stay calm.
Step 6: Apply the Vignette
What is vignetting in photography? It is the gentle darkening of a photo’s edges to draw attention toward the brighter center or main subject. You can find the vignette in the Effects tab. Then, click “choose subject” or “place center” to define the focal point. Control the effect’s amount so the center does not look dull, and tap the Before/After view for a sanity check.
Step 7: Enhance Textures
Use Structure AI for clothing, foliage, or architecture. Photo editing tips on sharpening insist on small radii and low opacities to prevent unrealistic looks and excessive grain. If there are people in your picture, mask the structure tool away from their faces so it doesn’t ruin the skin texture.
Step 8: Experiment with Genre-Specific Edits
If you are polishing portraits, tap Face AI for a subtle face light lift and gentle iris enhancement. Be cautious and avoid overprocessing. Perfect imperfections like freckles, moles, and fine lines should remain intact when retouching portraits. These features carry the character and make your picture realistic, relevant, and evocative.
For landscapes, open the Landscape tool, use a slight dehaze and foliage enhancement if it matches your intended mood. Tweak shadows and highlights to introduce extra depth, but avoid the sky because you might accidentally create unappealing halos. Relight the picture if your foreground is not vibrant enough. Apply a small golden hour warm-up and use Structure AI only on rocks/trees (mask away from clouds and water).
Step 9: Remove Unwanted Elements
Luminar Neo includes a manual Erase tool for a basic cleanup. The AI-based GenErase feature does much more than remove unwanted objects. It provides a content-aware fill, rebuilding the textures. It is perfect for inexperienced users who learn to apply cloning/healing tools and struggle to keep the edits unnoticed. For quick wins, hit Remove Powerlines or Remove Dust Spots to fix your cityscapes and sensor-packed skies easily.
Step 10: Change the Background
When you need a clean cutout for product or portrait composites, select the image layer and navigate to the Background Removal AI. The tool will automatically detect your subject and separate it from the cluttered backdrop. Refine the results manually to rescue flyaway hair and fine details at the edges. For composites, add a new layer beneath and apply Relight AI to eliminate lighting inconsistencies between the backdrop and the foreground. Soften hard shadows with a low-opacity brush to ensure your modifications are believable.
Conclusion
Luminar Neo revolutionizes photo editing by providing intuitive tools that streamline the process, allowing beginners and experienced users to enhance their images easily and precisely. By mastering its features — from foundational adjustments to genre-specific edits — you can elevate your photography while maintaining your unique artistic vision.
