Ultimate Guide to Using Curves in Photo Editing - Luminar NEO

Get NEO here: bit.ly/Luminar-NEO use discount code "ATNEO"
Curves really are the ultimate power tool for controlling your images. In this tutorial I'll explain how they work and how to use them.
We'll cover the basics of controlling contrast right through to full edits including colour grading and stylised looks, ALL with the curves tool.
Got any photo editing hints and tips that I missed, please help the community and leave them in the comments!
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲
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These are affiliate links to the equipment I use - they are not sponsored by the manufacturer in any way. If you use these links it costs you no more than normal, but I may get a small commission which helps me to keep providing free content for you and my viewers. Thank you for supporting the channel and free education. I really appreciate it. ​​🙏​

[@AnthonyTurnham]

BIG NEWS! Skylum has just launched a summer sale where you can save a massive 81% off Luminar Neo here bit.ly/NeoSale But the cool thing is in addition to that they've given me a coupon code to share with you so you get to save ANOTHER 20% (use code AFF-T5C1C0 ) I really hope that helps you out! It should work for both the perpetual licence and the subscription too. Enjoy😄 Best wishes, Anthony

[@mankyspanky543]

brightness - 1:03 talking about histogram - 1:31 increase contrast - 2:36 less contrast - 4:13 pure black and pure white - 5:25 faded - 7:50 color grade - 9:48, 10:48 masking - 15:37, 16:25 overview - 18:08

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks

[@Greg_Ashley]

Best curve video I've seen. Great work. Thanks.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks Greg. Great to hear 👍

[@AuntieRachelsChaoticKitchen]

This was really helpful, thank you Anthony! I've saved it so I can keep coming back

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Great to hear!

[@JoeB_BSc]

Very helpful Anthony. What a relief to actually understand this, up to before your video, mysterious item. Thanks and Regards JB

[@rebeccamoore4177]

Another terrific video, Anthony. I especially liked how you demonstrated the black and white options. Sweet!

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks Rebecca! 😃

[@michaelhale416]

GREAT tutorial!!! I had no idea the power contained within the curves tool. It appears far more useful, and easier, than some of the methods I have used. Thank you so much. Cheers.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

You're welcome. Yeah, it's a beast of a tool. Really powerful and not too difficult once you understand how it works.

[@alangrist9259]

Superb, Thanks Anthony! I too am less scared of this tool 👌

[@NJM1948]

Excellent stuff Anthony - The curves tool has always been a no go area for me as I wasn't too sure how to get anything out of it other than the S curve. You've opened so many doors and I will definitely be trying this out

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Awesome Nigel 👌

[@ebouwens]

Excellent teaching methods.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Many thanks!

[@garyh2008]

Appreciated Anthony - thank you

[@AnthonyTurnham]

You're welcome!

[@djodds]

Great Video Anthony! Thanks!

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thanks 😀

[@michaelbidegain1455]

Great info on the curve tool very powerful Thank You for sharing

[@johnlee1103]

Thanks a lot, I learned a lot in this lesson.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Great to hear. You're welcome 😊

[@drwride]

Excellent bit of teaching. This tool has puzzled me for a while but your tutorial filled in some gaps. Thanks.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Glad it's helped Daren. This is such a powerful and useful tool. Probably my favourite!

[@swehba]

Masterclass! TY AT

[@AnthonyTurnham]

😏👍👍👍👍👍😀

[@nigelchase2407]

Well done, thanks for sharing.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

No worries 🙂. Cheers Nigel.

[@geeforceone]

You are my Luminar God 🙏 So useful, thanks!!

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Too kind 🙏

[@Gaskellorama]

Another great video, going to use that last tip with some colour pics to try and see if I can get the foreground to stand out a bit more!! thanks

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Glad you liked it 👍😊

[@mikemanjo2458]

Thanks for explaining this in such an understandable way! (Jane in SC)

[@AnthonyTurnham]

You're weclone Jane. Really glad it made sense.

[@tlg6339]

Tremendous tutorial! Valuable info, well presented and easy to follow. Thank you!! Happy New Year to you and your family.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Glad it was helpful! Happy New Year!

[@fredbenjamin7072]

Hello Anthony, Thank you for this brilliant educational video. This was well conceived and executed. Your careful explanation and demonstrations taught me many things that finally “snapped together for me. Please keep up the great work. You are a gifted educator and photographer. Thanks for all you do.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Thank you Fred! 🙏😀

[@AnthonyTurnham]

The current best deal for Luminar Neo can be found here bit.ly/Luminar-NEO. You can try code ATNEO10 for an additional discount.

[@felixthecat1882]

Regarding my last post on using Magic LightAI, It's okay Anthony, I've figured it out myself. 😺 Regards from Felix the Cat. 🐱

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Ah, good to here :) 😀👍

[@felixthecat1882]

Hi Anthony! Great video, as always! 😺I still have problems using the Curves tool, so this was a great help. Can you explain how the Matt tool works, as I previously requested - thanks! Regards from Felix the Cat. 🐱

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Hi FTC. Thanks. Yes the matt tool is used to create a similar look to the "vintage/faded" technique I've demonstrated here with the curves tool. It lifts the deep shadows and black point up and drops down the highlights emulating a faded look.

[@rickhughesprints]

Can you use this with masking so just the masked area is changed?

[@rickhughesprints]

Especially interested with combining the changes of histogram with object AI.

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Yes, totally! Because the curves are in the develop tool and that tool has a mask feature, you can selectively apply the curve effect where you want

[@360-drone4]

Hi Another great video! After watching your videos for a while now I’ve finally purchased Luminar Neo and of course subscribed to you I’ve got a question I’m hoping you can help me with when I do sky replacement I have areas where it needs the sky filling in it basically gets a bit confused and has the original sky in small parts How can I fix this Look forward to hearing from you Kind regards Mark

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Hi Mark. I'm away overseas for a while but I'll try to cover sky replacement again on my return.

[@360-drone4]

@@AnthonyTurnham you are a legend Enjoy your trip, I’ve just returned from filming in Thailand

[@jallen418]

My mind is blown. I have always avoided this part of the software. Does this replace the sliders for contrast, brightness, etc; or do you adjust those first and thenwork on your curves?

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Exposure, highlights and shadows first. Then add curves for contrast and specific looks.

[@felixthecat1882]

Hi again Anthony! Luminar Neo has just introduced a new extension called 'Magic LightAI', but how do you use it? Perhaps you could explain please. 😼 Regards from Felix the Cat. 🐱

[@AnthonyTurnham]

Hi again, I'm currently away overseas in the UK visiting my unwell father. The last two videos and a couple coming out were prerecorded to release while I'm away. I'd love to cover Magic Light AI but I currently don't have the ability to record new videos until I'm back in NZ towards the end of Jan.

[@limboigah]

*matte, not “matt” 18:47

[@AnthonyTurnham]

🤣 Thanks.