Goodbye Adobe: My Full Switch to Luminar Neo?

[@michaelekwulugo8659]

My Adobe subscription runs out in February next year and I won’t be renewing it thanks to the wonderful combination of Affinity photo and Luminar Neo. Your videos inspire the confidence to take that leap of faith. So, thank you 😊🙏🏾🔥

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks Michael. I'm glad to hear my videos are inspiring you 😀

[@hawkeye98]

Same here brother. I have tried for years to master PS and LR. Coupled with the fact that Adobe is not the easiest company to deal with I just let my subscriptions lapse. I’ve had Luminar ever since they were Skylum and Macphun. I I think it is by far more user friendly

[@callesandlund1204]

Many thanks for all your friendly and educational videos about Neo 😊

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Glad you like them 🙂

[@andrehundley6049]

I was totally unaware of the perspective correction tool and had been using different software to correct images. Thank you Anthony for pointing it out, and please keep your very informative videos coming.

[@librarycollection3795]

Anthony, you and your channel are a gift to the world!

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks so much!

[@dwightbroemanphotosandart]

Great video Anthony. Thank you! I am currently learning Photoshop. I have been a supporter of the Luminar products over the years as well. It is really nice to see how you are passionate about this option. I am with you on this 100%. Nice work.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks! 😀

[@majormegapix]

I love Neo. Going on about 2 years now, it's just a game changer. I found some tips from your presentation that I hadn't used yet, thanks.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks! Love the name by the way. "MajorMegaPix" - it just sounds bloody cool!

[@Speak_Out_and_Remove_All_Doubt]

For me, it still has some way to go to replace LR for a full wedding shoot, culling 5000-8000 images, then editing 1000-1500 images quickly, moving photo to photo in the edit/develop mode doesn't exist yet. It's certainly getting there though.

[@Centauri27]

Yes, they have a ways to go to match LR's power and fluidity with batch editing. Even copying edits from one image to another takes a while, and sometimes the image doesn't even show all the copied edits.

[@BlueJayBonsai]

I'm all in on Luminar Neo - thanks to your videos! 🙏

[@gregorychard]

G'day Anthony I ditched Photoshop years ago. NO MORE PAYING FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS!. Now I'm using Luminar Neo and Affinity Photo instead. Loved your approach to this snapshot. Greg

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks Greg! Good on ya for ditching the subscriptions! 😀

[@whooptydj]

I love your style for teaching. For me it's helpful to see the effect overdone then dial back. Thanks Anthony

[@kym-bid-bidstrup3623]

Love your channel, Anthony. Thank you. So much information, delivered thoughtfully. Just one point; I think DXO PL8's various noise reduction settings (and sharpening) are far superior to Topaz. Absolute standouts. Obviously, ymmv

[@rufffinoo]

Loving Luminar Neo. Your vids are super clear and have helped me to learn how to use much quicker.

[@skipenguins]

I did the same over a year ago now, I find it easier to use and better supported.

[@jaumeolle3127]

Thank you for your advice and tips. Great learning curve.

[@ArminHirmer]

interesting edit. I now recently started even editing my IR photos with Neo instead of Darktable. Works fine and fast

[@jimroberts6336]

Thanks Anthony, I rarely write comments but I REALLY appreciate your Luminar Neo classes. I started with Luminar 4, AI, and Neo. I use Neo as my first choice. YOU MAKE IT VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND. Thanks so much. Jim from the Oregon Coast

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Great to hear! Thanks for breaking your comment silence 😀 I appreciate your kind words

[@Centauri27]

Great tips as always Anthony! I like how you use layers and blend modes for the finishing touches. I'm like you, except I actually cancelled my Adobe Subscription. Now I'm back on another subscription with Neo. But it's worth it--Neo really does bring back the fun in editing. The masking is so intuitive; I wrestled with PS's masking for years and never got fluent with it. I'm glad to see the improvements to the Catalog in the October release, even though it still doesn't quite match LR yet.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks Carl. Thanks for watching and your support 🙏

[@davidmcc6666]

I use Neo exclusively, and always learning with your tutorials, mate.

[@fallingrockmoto-cp5xh]

Another really helpful video, thank you. I can’t quite get the same outcomes in Luminar Neo as I can with Lightroom, but I’m getting there thanks to this channel.

[@hughellins1422]

This just gets better and better

[@johnscratchley3288]

Good vid. Anthony. Yesterday, I did away with both Lightroom and Photoshop (and Adobe billed me a nice little $38 for cancelling). I use Luminar Neo as my go to. It does just about everything I need for my photos. It is much simpler to use, it's quick and it's enjoyable. I found I was using PS and Lr less and less. I importantly back up my fav's on an external HD so they also serve as a form of catalogue which I can refer to as needed. Cheers!

[@brettyg76]

The only main thing I need from Neo right now is…. LENS CORRECTION!!… yes there’s the Optics tab… but it would be a lot easier to just have a drop down box with various cameras (in particular GoPro lens!.. or DJI Action.. etc) enabling automatic lens correction, instead of manually having to correct the lens. PLEASE Luminar, include automatic lens correction tab!

[@DamianSheesh]

I purchased Neo awhile back and I've just got round to really using it after a big safari trip. While I like the workflow, the performance is abysmal, and I've got one hell of a PC. Simply moving from one image to the next and waiting for the edits to take effect takes way too long. LR has this sorted out and they both use sidecars. The other big miss is the catalog is so lacking. I'm glad they are finally adding a star rating system as well as virtual copies. My general workflow is to run through and rate/reject photos, then start with the 5 star images and work my way through. I'm hoping the update improves performance - I'll also find out if I'm entitled to the update or not, which will certainly be part of the decision as to whether I go back to Adobe.

[@Centauri27]

I agree! While Neo is great for editing a few images, trying to batch edit many edits is like dragging a ball and chain around, and you always get the feeling the Neo will keel over and crash any second.

[@robcallighan3455]

Great edit . Luminar Neo's the best

[@richbottarini86]

In many respects you are correct that Neo brings back the excitement. However, these are the limitations: the catalog function is poor, the masking needs development to be more accurate, make it simpler and refine the plugins or allow Topaz plugins. It would be great to be able to export an image to Topaz AI, correct the noise and import a Raw file - Lightroom almost does this. Lightroom writes sidecar files, which go with the original file and are very useful. For now, I have both and wait for these changes to drop Lightroom. Remember, this is a competitive market and coping the best from the competition is not awful.

[@Centauri27]

Yeah, I wonder why they're waiting so long to add plugin support? In the meanwhile, I've resorted to using Neo's denoising and sharpening, even though Topaz's is better (fiddling with exported TIFFs is too much hassle).

[@mikkosuhonenphotography]

My Adobe photography plan ends in November. I bought Luminar Neo perpetual license and I use other software too.

[@wolfeeh8327]

Great quality audio btw mate.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Hey, thanks. I've worked hard to improve it over the years.

[@grahamtowers5513]

Hi Anthony, why don't you give darktable a go? Or have you tried it already?

[@romiemiller7876]

My favorite editor is Capture One. I use Affinity for making composites because it cuts out unruly hair better than anything else. Neo makes sky replacements a snap, if you’ll excuse the pun. And, some of the other tools are very useful for special situations. I quit Adobe for unethical business practices.

[@Charlietuna49]

I mostly use LR for the catalog aspect including geocoding. I don't think Neo is up to the task of cataloging.

[@JerGoes]

I sacked Adobe a while ago, I find Affinity Photo + Luminar Neo covers most of what I need, the only thing I really miss from LR is the photo organizer so hopefully Luminar Neo will cover that with the next update

[@rackhousemediaco]

Not ideal. LR is still a vital tool for ai to fix eyes where people blinked (and more). PS does more heavy lifting than NEO & I find the erasing isn’t the easiest in NEO. Both are still needed.

[@alfredschrott5817]

Hello Anthony, Thank you for your tutorial. I've only just subscribed to your channel and so haven't seen that many videos yet. What fascinates me so much about you is the diverse use of layers. I've never seen it in this form before. When I had to choose which software to buy in addition to Affinity Photo, I quickly decided on Luminar Neo. I didn't like Adobe's business practices. I also think the hype around Adobe is far too big. Best wishes from Purkersdorf near Vienna, Alfred.

[@chiangmaicharlies]

I like Neo, but I think your tutorial today was a bit laboured and in the end I think I could have achieved the same result much quicker in a number of apps. The simplicity of Neo is its strong point and now perhaps they are throwing in an increasing number of additional changes that aren't really necessary.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks for the feedback. Curious as to which apps you'd recommend to speed the task and create the same result. Cheers 👍

[@thejaebeing]

Love this channel

[@Mark-ks9jj]

I've used PS for decades, once Adobe added their subscription model I said F%^#$@ them! so I purchased Luminar Neo & basically didn't use it a whole lot. Being into the macro world I started using the Topaz suite of products (sharpen, denoise, enlarge & now Photo AI) they were a whole lot easier to use & more "fun". Well Luminar Neo now does all of these things as well, maybe not quite as well as Topaz but certainly to a level that's worth getting more education to discover how to use it properly. Andrew your channel is an excellent resource in expanding that knowledge, thanks mate.. well done!

[@geoff270172]

I would go full switch aswell if luminar neo could do object erasing or removal like lightroom and ACR AI removal. Everything else in luminar is fantastic bur the results I get erasing are way to hit and miss at the moment

[@wolfeeh8327]

Question: Are the AI features running locally on the machine or are they applied in the cloud, i.e. do all features work without an internet connection?

[@AnthonyTurnham]

It depends on the feature but the vast majority run locally. It's only the generative tools that need external processing.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

It depends on the feature but the vast majority run locally. It's only the generative tools that need external processing.

[@stanleyjacobson2617]

Thank you for this helpful video. I use Luminar Neo as a plug-in for Photoshop and generally use only a few select tools. Your video(s) expand my horizon on the many tools I should try. I have a somewhat separate question. When I use Luminar Neo from PS and make some adjustments. The next time I use Luminar Neo on a new image, those adjustments are also applied to this new image. I then have to go to Actions>Revert to Original. Looking for a way to prevents this. Am rather a newbie in LN.......

[@markconkling4223]

Like you, I have been an Adobe PS/LR but mostly LR user for YEARS, myself since the mid-1990's (I am old). I love Luninar Neo and use it for everything after I download my images into LR. I like to use my Xrite ColorChecker Passport to help me with color balance. I take an image at the beginning of the photo-set with the Passport screen, then adjust everything to that, through the interface between LightRoom and Xrite. I have asked Skylum repeatedly about this, but I am not important enough. You are moving over to Luminar Neo because of the Catalog. I do not take enough images that my tiny mind cannot sort. Can you use your influence with Skylum to push this one similar update into Luminar Neo? You are MY Luminar GURU. Your videos are always right on, and appropriately targeted to my level of expertise. I would LOVE to cancel my subscription to Adobe (after which I had purchased full programs, just to continue). I expect the improvement of the Catalog making it more LightRoom like, an advancement, but for it did not fill the void...... I realize that asking you for help is two or three steps below asking Skylum, but I have seen nothing to make me cancel my

[@kryptes]

The best feeling I've had in a long time was finally cancelling my adobe subscription, luminar isn't perfect but it's come a long way in a short time

[@kristijanignjatovski4415]

I have made the same way but luminar is always crushing.

[@felixthecat1882]

Hi Anthony, I have used the "Magic Light" tool when simulating night look from old daytime pictures. 😺 Okay, I agree it has its limitations, but you can really make those street lights glow! Regards from, Felix the Cat. 😺

[@fenraven]

I continue to use PS for a couple of reasons: layers and masking, and compositing. To be honest, I'd like to pitch it, but I continue to use CS6, the last "ownable" version before they went to subscription. When I recently bought a new computer, I had to beg Adobe to make my serial numbers valid again; they didn't want to do it. (And that's one reason why I'd like to get rid of their program; they were trying to force a senior on SS to go to an expensive subscription plan.) If Neo keeps moving in the direction they seem to be going, I should be able to get rid of PS one of these days.

[@henkhenk4357]

Which program do you use for printing your images ?

[@AnthonyTurnham]

I outsource my professional printing, but for my basic "at home" printing I just use the program from Canon for my printer 🖨

[@thomasocheltree4170]

Thanks!

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thank you 😊🙏

[@lloydstuartm.d.5625]

I use Luminar Neo in conjunction with Affinity photo. My only gripe is that I love to do travel photo workshops and they ALWAYS do their post processing classes in LR so I just sit there and get bored. Unfortunately the photography world has not wrapped their arms around this program so it's frustrating. It's kind of like owning an android phone when everyone else is on their Apple. I refuse to pay subscriptions so I guess I'll just carry on. Thanks as always for your awesome videos.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

I feel ya. And I get it too with the Apple vs Android. People are often surprised when I pull out my Samsung Galaxy - oh, I thought you'd be on Apple they say. Personally I love my s24 Ultra.

[@felixthecat1882]

Hi Anthony, thanks for your feedback! 😸 Regards from, Felix the Cat. 😸

[@josephmcgrath6814]

Thank you Anthony for all the NEO tutorials. I love what it can do with RAW photos etc. My question relates to scanning paper photos from the past. When scanning three or four photos at once and opening the single file in Photoshop (Very old version 5) I can, under File, go to automate and choose Straighten and crop photos and Photoshop selects each photo in said file, crops and straightens each individual photo and I end up quickly with four individual images. I have used this often in the process of saving time with old family photos which I want to scan and save. Does NEO or any other image processor that you know of do the same thing. In order for me to do this I still am using a iMac from 2010 with the Old.Photoshop 5. Photoshop Elements does not have that feature in the Automate portion. HELP... Thank you...Joseph McGrath

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Hi Joseph. There's not a function that will do it as described I'm afraid. You could crop the scan of 4 and export the four photos individually to create 4 new files but that's about it.

[@colinmelhuish1254]

I love Luminar Neo except keeps crashing.

[@808rocker808]

So alpha and fine! 😍

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Me or the software 🤔😆

[@jonnisaari5497]

Nikon compressed RAV, supported or not? I Have 70.000 Nikon compressed Rav/Nef files.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

In the current version I can open Nikon compressed raw on my PC in Neo

[@acneubauer]

Do you know why the Skylum website is down ?

[@AnthonyTurnham]

No. Didn't know it was?

[@acneubauer]

@@AnthonyTurnham Thank you for answering . Turned out it was a problem with my Mac

[@thewebstylist]

Curious is there any one click skin smoothing w Neo? I have a celeb actress who’s in her 70s who wants to look 30 (arms chest face) PS still doesn’t have an easy way to do and Neural Filter skin smoothing is weak

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Hmmm, TBH Neo is good for a lot of things but it's just okay for portrait editing - particularly if you want things like high end skin retouching. If I were you I'd check out bit.ly/ApertyPortrait which is dedicated to pro-level portrait editing with the simplicity of one-click and slider based solutions.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

But to be honest I don't think any software is really going to do a believable job of realistically rejuvenating someone from 70 to 30 in a believable way.

[@jaegerschtulmann]

neo is nice but the interface is not suitable for editing and culling large collections

[@keithbuck8252]

There is no facilty to print from Luminar using print profiles etc so i have to keep LR for that otherwise i would totally swap..or have i missed somthing

[@AnthonyTurnham]

You can print direct to your printer software via the Neo menu. But it's not got the kind of print layout support that lightroom does.

[@colinmelhuish1254]

All good , just prefer the before.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Cheers for the feedback :)

[@felixthecat1882]

Hi again Anthony! I have e-mailed you some photo examples of my use of Magic Light. 🐱Can you please give your opinions regarding them? Regards from. Felix the Cat. 😺

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Yes, I saw and emailed. They look really great. Very good transformations!

[@jonnisaari5497]

Hups, RAW is correct.

[@Zebrajellyfishphoto]

It would be nice if Skylum can fix the performance issues that plague this wonderful software. I have a powerful computer, of which ALL MY OTHER SOFTWARE RUNS AMAZINGLY FAST, except Neo. I still use Lumiar AI once I get frustrated with Neo, which happens often. Lumiar AI runs better, faster and obviously cleaner. I'm on a MacBook Pro M2 Max. Top specs and Neo still runs like crap.

[@PaulGibbings01]

That's really weird. I am on windows, and I use Neo as it runs the fastest on my underpowered laptop. Particularly the AI powered effects. For me when denoising in ON1 or Lightroom it can take 20 minutes for a particularly noisy image whereas in Neo it's a couple of minutes tops. However I will admit the final result doesn't look as good when viewed at 100%.

[@Zebrajellyfishphoto]

@@PaulGibbings01 Interesting Paul. I use PS, Lumiar AI (still!), Topaz Photo AI and Evoto. It's super frustrating that Neo lags so poorly for me.

[@SkYjAcKeR666]

They have to sort he sluggishness out, I have a huge spec pc, and the rendering is so slow its a joke, moving sliders to see what it's doing is just none existent, you can't see it in real time what you're editing. No idea why it does this.

[@paullanoue5228]

Well that’s it Adobe will be closing their doors tomorrow.

[@ritushinde]

Luminar does not support .nef from Nikon

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Mate, I use nef files all the time. Look on the shelf behind me... Nikon everywhere.

[@ritushinde]

@@AnthonyTurnham it freezes and locks whenever I try to edit in neo . Can you help

[@AnthonyTurnham]

@@ritushinde I think freezing issues is a job for the support desk. I'd reach out to skylum.com/support

[@r423sdex]

You would be better off going to dxo.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

I have DxO too. They have some really great software and I love their AI noise removal technology like DeepPrime. For an enjoyable editing experience though I keep finding myself coming back to Neo.

[@FrancoisdeMelogue]

For me, NEO is a bit too primitive and needs a lot of refinement before it will touch PS. When I am quickly editing pictures I care less about, NEO is fine. When I am making pictures I sell, I use PS. I find it funny that NEO released the powerline removal tool a few years ago when I was doing real estate work. The tool is very mediocre and they have never sought to improve it, In the BETA of PS, Adobe has a far better tool for removing powerlines that actually works. The focus stacking feature in NEO is the same - really mediocre. NEO could be great if it stopped trying to release new things and just refined what they already have - but that is not their business model. At the end of the day, I still pay for NEO because I like what they are trying to do. I just wish they would refine their tools.

[@tompatton2086]

Nailed it. Well said.