Luminar Neo Review: Digital Image Editing with the Magic of AI

By Jack Neubart
Photographer, photo-technical writer, musician/composer, software developer, birder.
Text and images ©2025 Jack Neubart. All rights reserved.
All photos processed in Luminar Neo.

Skylum’s Luminar Neo is fully immersed in AI, with a special shout out to Generative AI. One might say that artificial intelligence (AI) is the raison d’etre behind this software’s existence. Nothing wrong with that. AI and, particularly, Generative AI are merely additional tools in our photographic toolbox. AI is a means of expressing yourself, just like choosing which software you use for processing, which paper you use for printing or which brush, pigments or canvas an artist uses when painting. These are all individual choices.
 
With that tirade out of the way, let’s move on to ask what Luminar Neo can actually do for you. Can it take the mundane and make it extraordinary? Can AI imbue Luminar Neo with what’s needed to take you on a journey of exploration you’ve only dreamed of? More importantly, can Luminar Neo truly help you realize your creative vision? We shall see…
 
(Note. Skylum provided me with a one-year license, which includes all Generative AI features and updates.)

Martians Enjoying Fireworks. The fireworks (emanating from Chicago's Navy Pier) were cut off at the top. Initially, I lived with it but wanted more. Along came Skylum's Luminar Neo with its toolbox of Generative AI options. So I expanded the canvas upwards and directed the software to fill in the gap and add the UFO. Photo ©2025 Jack Neubart. All rights reserved.

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