Luminar Neo

by Skylum

AI-powered photo editor that makes complex edits simple

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infoOverview

Luminar Neo is the photo editor for people who want impressive results without learning Photoshop. Sky replacement, portrait retouching, relighting — things that would take 30 minutes in Photoshop happen in one click. The results can look artificial if you push them too far, but used with restraint, the AI tools are genuinely impressive. Works best as a plugin alongside Lightroom rather than a standalone editor. The pricing model has changed multiple times, which is annoying.

At a glance

Strengths

✓AI tools genuinely save time on complex edits
✓Sky replacement is among the best available
✓Accessible to beginners — low learning curve
✓Works as a Lightroom/Photoshop plugin

Worth knowing

•AI results can look artificial if pushed too far
•Performance can be slow on older hardware
•Pricing model has changed multiple times — confusing
•Not suitable as a primary DAM or cataloguing tool

Best Reviews

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Luminar Neo Review — AI Editing Gets Smarter

Photography Life · 2025-11-05

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Luminar Neo vs Lightroom — Which Should You Choose?

The Phoblographer · 2025-09-20

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Luminar Neo Real World Test — Is the AI Actually Good?

Thomas Heaton (YouTube) · 2025-10-10

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Tutorials & Learning

Free

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Luminar Neo Complete Beginner Guide

Skylum (Official)

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Luminar Neo Sky Replacement Masterclass

Signature Edits

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Using Luminar Neo as a Lightroom Plugin

Anthony Morganti

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In the news

6 Aug 2026 · Software News
Luminar Neo 1.28.0 Out Now, App Rebranding to Drop 'Neo'
via Fstoppers
Luminar Neo 1.28.0 is out now. Skylum says it's the first step in a larger redesign, with reworked navigation and workspace. The company is also dropping 'Neo' from the name — the app will return to being called simply Luminar.
18 June 2026 · Software News
Luminar Neo 1.27.1 Can Now Import Your Lightroom Library
via Fstoppers
Luminar Neo 1.27.1 is out, and the headline addition is direct import of Lightroom library collections. Skylum flags a caveat in how the import works, worth checking before you commit to a migration.