Best software/panel for blending multiple exposures with luminosity masks: Lumi 32 vs Lumenzia

Hi guys,


I have been looking for a technique for landscape photography to blend multiple photo's with different exposures (at least 1 underexposed for the sky, 1 normal exposed and 1 overexposed for the foreground) into 1 photo, by using luminosity masks.


Until now, I have been doing this with 32bit HDR from lightroom to photoshop and back, to avoid the real HDR-look, that I don't like. But it gives me not enough contral to adjust the photos locally. So that's why I became enthousiastic about Luminosity masks, but I've havent started using them.


I want to try to achieve the best quality as possible and start learning on a specific panel or software. I found many types of software, like TK7, Raya Pro/Instamask, Lumi32, Lumenzia.
Without having tested those, I am leaning towards Lumenzia, which seems to be a favourite choice, or Lumi32, because it seems to offer the highest quality, with a special software and an algorithm designed to do just that: create the best luminosity masks.
What are your opinions about the best (in highest quality) luminosity masking software or panel, especially about Lumenzia and Lumi 32? A tool with good free tutorials would also be a pro.

(I also kinda wonder why Jimmy McIntyre now offers Raya Pro, Instamask and Lumi 32 which can all be used for luminosity masks in another way. I know Raya Pro offers other tools as well, but which one of those 3 is the best for luminosity masking and what is the difference?)


Thanks in advance!

I use both HDR and Luminosity Masking (LM).

HDR is easier than LM so with multiple exposures I almost always start with HDR and see what I can do with it. If I am not happy with the HDR image after edits then I see what I can do with LM.

Sometimes I use LM on the HDR image, even using some of the individual exposures for layers.

With single exposures I do what I can in Lightroom/Adobe Camera Raw (LR or ACR). If I feel the LR/ACR output isn't what I want I may then use LM to get to what my inner artist wants.

Sometimes there are images that simply demand using LM to create the layers needed for post processing.

I tried Luminzia and Rya-Pro before settling on Luminzia, and it wasn't an easy decision, that came down to me preferring the Luminzia user interface. Greg Benz's Exposure Blending Master Course is great and is constantly being updated.

Sailor Blue said:

I use both HDR and Luminosity Masking (LM).

HDR is easier than LM so with multiple exposures I almost always start with HDR and see what I can do with it. If I am not happy with the HDR image after edits then I see what I can do with LM.

Sometimes I use LM on the HDR image, even using some of the individual exposures for layers.

With single exposures I do what I can in Lightroom/Adobe Camera Raw (LR or ACR). If I feel the LR/ACR output isn't what I want I may then use LM to get to what my inner artist wants.

Sometimes there are images that simply demand using LM to create the layers needed for post processing.

I tried Luminzia and Rya-Pro before settling on Luminzia, and it wasn't an easy decision, that came down to me preferring the Luminzia user interface. Greg Benz's Exposure Blending Master Course is great and is constantly being updated.

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Sailor, one correction, it's Lumenzia.

https://gregbenzphotography.com/lumenzia/

I opted for the Raya Pro bundle since it was on sale (50% off) and way cheaper then Greg Benz's offering. Both are really good and yield really good results. It comes down to preference.

The new lumi32 is easier to use but does only one thing, it does it very well though.

Raya pro is on sale, 25% off right now.

https://www.shutterevolve.com/raya-...l-blending-workflow-panel-for-photoshop/#What

If you can, try both and see wich one you like best.

Thanks to both of you for sharing your experiences with this software. So maybe it comes down more to preference in which panel you find the easiest to work with. One isn't offering better quality masks or exposure blending than the other, is that right?


I do wonder if that is also the case with Lumi32, because I've read this is not a PS panel, but a dedicated program, with a dedicated algorithm and also 32-bit masks. Can these aspects of Lumi32 offer more quality in terms of the masks and the exposure blending?

Toermalijn said:

Sailor Blue said:

I use both HDR and Luminosity Masking (LM).

HDR is easier than LM so with multiple exposures I almost always start with HDR and see what I can do with it. If I am not happy with the HDR image after edits then I see what I can do with LM.

Sometimes I use LM on the HDR image, even using some of the individual exposures for layers.

With single exposures I do what I can in Lightroom/Adobe Camera Raw (LR or ACR). If I feel the LR/ACR output isn't what I want I may then use LM to get to what my inner artist wants.

Sometimes there are images that simply demand using LM to create the layers needed for post processing.

I tried Luminzia and Rya-Pro before settling on Luminzia, and it wasn't an easy decision, that came down to me preferring the Luminzia user interface. Greg Benz's Exposure Blending Master Course is great and is constantly being updated.

Click to expand...

Sailor, one correction, it's Lumenzia.

https://gregbenzphotography.com/lumenzia/

Click to expand...

Thanks for the correction. As I get older my fingers seem to be hitting the wrong keys more and more but this was just a simple spelling mistake on my part.

Toermalijn said:

I opted for the Raya Pro bundle since it was on sale (50% off) and way cheaper then Greg Benz's offering. Both are really good and yield really good results. It comes down to preference.

The new lumi32 is easier to use but does only one thing, it does it very well though.

Raya pro is on sale, 25% off right now.

https://www.shutterevolve.com/raya-...l-blending-workflow-panel-for-photoshop/#What

If you can, try both and see wich one you like best.

Click to expand...

Lumenzia is currently $39.99, which shouldn't break the bank for anyone who can afford to buy a camera and lens. Lumenzia can also create either 16-bit or 34-bit masks.

Greg Benz - Lumenzia: Luminosity Masking Panel for Photoshop

Both programs are good. How much you get out of either program depends on how much you learn about their capabilities and how much you use them.

Thank you, Sailor Blue. Have you tried Lumi32 as well?

Theovv said:

Thank you, Sailor Blue. Have you tried Lumi32 as well?

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No. I'm very happy with Lumenzia, who's capabilities exceed mine, so I haven't tried anything else since buying it.

Alright. Do you also recommend buying the master courses of Greg Benz about luminosty masks and dodging/burning with Lumenzia?

Theovv said:

Alright. Do you also recommend buying the master courses of Greg Benz about luminosty masks and dodging/burning with Lumenzia?

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For the record: I am a user of Lumenzia since v1. Apart from that I have no connection with the author.

I concur with Sailor Blue's assessment, and Lumenzia does things for me more quickly and more efficiently than I could possibly do myself without extensive practice.

Three months ago I purchased the tutorial Master Course and the Dodging and Burning Tutorial as a discounted package. I was somewhat ambivalent at the time, but felt I was not getting full value without more advanced instructions.

The two tutorials have exceeded my expectation and have taken my post processing to another level. To me they represent good value.

They are not just "view and forget" video tutorials, but in depth participatory courses with much ancillary information, and great attention to detail. Greg Benz has obviously put a lot of thought and effort into their content. As the saying goes, "The devil is in the details".

My recollection is that he offers a money back guarantee. He also answers course related questions

Disclaimer: Just my opinion and YMMV.

-Roy Sletcher-

Thank you very much for sharing your opinion about the software and master courses, they really sound like a superb way to learn blending exposures. The only downside for me right now is price, 200 dollars for the software and both master courses.

Theovv said:

Thank you very much for sharing your opinion about the software and master courses, they really sound like a superb way to learn blending exposures. The only downside for me right now is price, 200 dollars for the software and both master courses.

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Understand your point. $200 is not insignificant.

However, there a several free tutorials on the internet showing the luminosity masking technique using the features included in Photoshop CC.

The proprietary for pay applications merely speed up and simplify the process. You could try this first to make sure the technique meets your needs. Then Lumenzia by itself is relatively modest in price, and does include adequate tutorials and videos to ensure a competent level of usage.

Without the two for pay tutorials it is a relatively modest amount, and of course there are alternatives to lumenzia with different features and at different price points.

-rs-

Thanks for sharing everyone!

Chad Ludwig said:

Thanks for sharing everyone!

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P.S. I think if you use the code 'MASTER25' you can get another $25 off the Master Bundle from Greg Benz at the moment!

You do know that Greg has a free YouTube channel which has some 150 videos using Lumenzia. It's added to every week or so.

Greg Benz

FYI-

Greg has just developed/added a playlist to his YouTube channel to allow easy finding luminosity information.

Greg Benz Playlist Link

If you just want to blend exposures then Lumi32 will work fine. I use it and it is easy to use and does a great job. Once the exposures are blended then you can move on to your preferred processing workflow. There is also a new video course on using Lumi32 which is inexpensive and great.

--
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Frank
Frank's Photos

Thanks everyone.

I've watched a few of Greg's YouTube videos, they're great! Will be trying Lumenzia over the next few months, pretty excited about it! Gonna be a bit of a challenge adopting to a slightly more complicated workflow but I'm sure it will be well worth it!

See here - the top review is my shortlisted image, created with instamask (part of raya pro) https://www.shutterevolve.com/raya-pro-the-ultimate-digital-blending-workflow-panel-for-photoshop/

I would highly recommend starting with raya pro and some of Jimmy's courses. I now use lumi32, and it is top of the line, but raya pro is a package that includes an exposure blending plugin - the excellent instamask. Lumi 32 however can make extremely precise selections and in 32 bit. It really depends on your needs. The reason I like jimmy is his method is more logical in places to me than the other offerings which teach overly complex work arounds that aren't required (in places). Jimmy is very approachable and replies to emails too, if you get stuck. You will tear your hair out when you begin learning LM (at least I did) but it was worth it. I think if you are really good at photoshop to begin with, you'll get it easier but still be prepared to throw things at your monitor.

primeshooter said:

I would highly recommend starting with raya pro and some of Jimmy's courses.

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I've read this thread BUT have a really dumb question...

I confess to not having Raya yet and to using Lightroom Classic on my iMac to process large numbers of images. While I see that Raya Pro operates out of Photoshop and not from Lightroom, do I still use the same procedure I normally do (select the images while in Lightroom's Develop tab >Edit as layers in Photoshop 2020> [DO YOUR THING in PHOTOSHOP] > simply "Save" in Photoshop...and Voi La ! -- there is the finished image, back in Lightroom.

Will that still work exactly the same way?

Thanks!

PhilSouth said:

primeshooter said:

I would highly recommend starting with raya pro and some of Jimmy's courses.

Click to expand...

I've read this thread BUT have a really dumb question...

I confess to not having Raya yet and to using Lightroom Classic on my iMac to process large numbers of images. While I see that Raya Pro operates out of Photoshop and not from Lightroom, do I still use the same procedure I normally do (select the images in Develop>Edit as layers in Photoshop 2020> [DO YOUR THING in PHOTOSHOP] > simply "Save" in Photoshop...and Voi La ! -- there is the finished image, back in Lightroom.

Will that still work exactly the same way?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Of course yeh. Sometime's you'll want to take them into PS from LR as smart objects though, so that you can access camera raw to "match" exposures in order to blend them better. Best to pick up a course along side raya pro on Jimmy's website.