Luminar Neo 1.23 Released - Now has Layer Merge - Release Notes

[Night Pixel]

• Layer merging made easier. Simply select the layers you want to merge, and choose "Merge Layers" to combine them into one layer that will appear on top.
• Improved Vignette Tool. Choose pre-crop or post-crop options to apply a vignette automatically before or after cropping on all new edits.
• Camera star ratings. You can now view the star ratings you’ve assigned in your camera directly in Luminar Neo, making it easier to organize your images.
• Camera support for Fujifilm X-M5, Nikon Z50 II, Panasonic DC-G100D, Panasonic DC-G95D, Panasonic DC-GX880, Panasonic DC-ZS80D, DC-TZ95D, DC-TZ96D, Sony A1 II.
• Updated lens collection profiles for improved lens support.
• Enhanced scrolling logic on the filmstrip for a smoother browsing experience.

You’ll also find a lot of improvements for Presets:

• Better Preset collection management and sorting
• Counters for Presets and Collections
• New “Recently Added” category
• X-Membership collections now feature a distinct icon for easy identification.
• Rearrange Presets by drag and drop in the My Presets and Favorites categories
• And more interface improvements.

 

[Maine-iac]

I just (tried) to do the upgrade. part way through after it asked if I wanted to copy the old catalog, I got a Microsoft c++ error, the upgrade installer crashed and when i brought Luminar Neo (1.23.0) back up my catalog AND backup were trashed.

I'm currently using creative and decorative words and trying to find a solution to a year+ worth of edits. I just have the original raw files now

 

[Night Pixel]

I just (tried) to do the upgrade. part way through after it asked if I wanted to copy the old catalog, I got a Microsoft c++ error, the upgrade installer crashed and when i brought Luminar Neo (1.23.0) back up my catalog AND backup were trashed.

I'm currently using creative and decorative words and trying to find a solution to a year+ worth of edits. I just have the original raw files now

Sorry to hear you have issues. I updated on a Mac Sudio M2 Max and had no issues. Maybe contact their support for help.

 

[Lettermanian]

Just updated with no issues on my M2 Mac Mini. I will especially appreciate the improvement of the vignette tool, which I use fairly regularly (but subtly) in my landscape/nature shots. I have yet to discover the world of using layers though

--
The grass isn't always greener, unless you shoot Velvia.

 

[Saint 112]

Hi

I have 1.22 and never used it so far. I treat my RAWs with DxO PhotoLab and I expect a soft that can do what I call garbage collection: remove cables, signs, posts, etc.

Is Luminar the right choice? and does the 1.23 bring more?

TIA

Nick

 

[Ernie Misner]

So Luminar is still going strong - good to hear. Is Neo a newer version of their original editing software?

 

[charlyw64]

I have 1.22 and never used it so far. I treat my RAWs with DxO PhotoLab and I expect a soft that can do what I call garbage collection: remove cables, signs, posts, etc.

Is Luminar the right choice?

Nope. It has the worst cleanup functions of any current software that claims to have these.If the AI fails then you are up a creek without a paddle - and the AI is a dumb as f...

 

[charlyw64]

I just (tried) to do the upgrade. part way through after it asked if I wanted to copy the old catalog, I got a Microsoft c++ error, the upgrade installer crashed and when i brought Luminar Neo (1.23.0) back up my catalog AND backup were trashed.

If you are lucky your system has a copy of the files still available - but only valid until you change anything. Try your luck with your choice of undelete software if it finds a recently deleted version of your files. Oh and a backup that is always in reach of anything (be it malware or the original program) is as valuable as a glass of spoiled milk...

But if you want longevity of your edits then Luminar is the wrong software anyways - they never cared to keep their previous algorithms available to preserve previous edits... So edits in Luminar (even if you are able to recover your database) should always be considered temporary...

 

[mapline]

Here we go again with only bad comments on Neo. Is there nothing good to say?

I find it different from the main stream applications and can produce very good results without having to have a degree in retouching. IMHO :-D

 

[charlyw64]

Here we go again with only bad comments on Neo. Is there nothing good to say?

Not really...

I find it different from the main stream applications and can produce very good results without having to have a degree in retouching. IMHO :-D

There you stand quite alone with your opinion...

edit: Whenever I watch a video from a photographer critiquing user photos he will point out the gruesome Luminar edits without fail, they are always so over the top that they stand out like a sore thumb.

 

[mapline]

I use Capture One, Luminar Neo, And Affinity Photo all have different uses for me.



If a picture is gruesome and over the top could that be more down to the editor than the programme.

 

[Coasting]

I can only imagine you have very little experience or none in fact with this app and therefore perhaps with nothing positive to say would be best advised to say zero.It happens to be a great piece of software that many pros including myself use effectively

 

[number_5]

There's Facebook Luminar Neo ad, "Special loyalty offer: get Luminar Neo for life with a one-time payment of just $79.99! No subscriptions, just creativity!"

 

[charlyw64]

There's Facebook Luminar Neo ad, "Special loyalty offer: get Luminar Neo for life with a one-time payment of just $79.99!

Hahaha... Another scam avenue...

No subscriptions, just creativity!"

Pure lies. Functions that previous versions offered outright are now behind a subscription paywalll...

 

[Night Pixel]

There's Facebook Luminar Neo ad, "Special loyalty offer: get Luminar Neo for life with a one-time payment of just $79.99! No subscriptions, just creativity!"

This is their current offer as of 2/26/2025:

Lifetime plan: By purchasing the lifetime Luminar Neo plan, you will get a license that gives you the right to own Luminar Neo forever. With a lifetime plan you can:

• Get access to updates, bug fixes, improvements, and some new features. But big upgrades may require extra upgrade payments.
• Use all the tools, including AI photo editing tools, as well as Pro Tools.
• Use the Generative tools (GenErase, GenExpand and GenSwap) during 1 years calculated from the purchase date.
• Activate Luminar Neo on 2 computers.

Their lifetime license is structured so that you will how bad a deal it is...

--
"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know." - Diane Arbus

 

[charlyw64]

There's Facebook Luminar Neo ad, "Special loyalty offer: get Luminar Neo for life with a one-time payment of just $79.99! No subscriptions, just creativity!"

This is their current offer as of 2/26/2025:

Lifetime plan: By purchasing the lifetime Luminar Neo plan, you will get a license that gives you the right to own Luminar Neo forever. With a lifetime plan you can:

• Get access to updates, bug fixes, improvements, and some new features. But big upgrades may require extra upgrade payments.
• Use all the tools, including AI photo editing tools, as well as Pro Tools.
• Use the Generative tools (GenErase, GenExpand and GenSwap) during 1 years calculated from the purchase date.
• Activate Luminar Neo on 2 computers.

Their lifetime license is structured so that you will how bad a deal it is...

ROTFLSC - Video Course (some hapless Youtube compilation I'd guess) and the software manual without which you can not sell any software anywhere... The audacity to call that a gift, that's a grift!

 

[mapline]

What's so wrong about the offer?

You get a program the is yours to use without a subscription.

It gets performance upgrades but new features may require a payment.

Buy a camera and it's yours for lifetime but new features usually only come with a new camera.

Gen ai features are free for year and then if you want them it will require a payment but the main program continues.

I like Neo as I don't need a degree to use it and it keeps being better. IMHO.

Try Neo 1.23.1 version and then make a comment.

 

[charlyw64]

What's so wrong about the offer?

You get a program the is yours to use without a subscription.

Nope, it's on borrowed time - Skylum has time and again proven that this "lifetime" is a rather short measure. It may be long from the standpoint of a mayfly but in relation to computer or human lifetime it's the mayfly...

It gets performance upgrades but new features may require a payment.

They haven't brought any performance upgrades in the past that were worthwhile and didn't have major caveats where previously functional areas were broken beyond repair.

Buy a camera and it's yours for lifetime but new features usually only come with a new camera.

That's hardware vs. software.

Gen ai features are free for year and then if you want them it will require a payment but the main program continues.

Gen AI as they do it isn't worth a dime.

 

[mapline]

Let's just agree to differ in opinion? :-|

 

[MikeInOr]

I just (tried) to do the upgrade. part way through after it asked if I wanted to copy the old catalog, I got a Microsoft c++ error, the upgrade installer crashed and when i brought Luminar Neo (1.23.0) back up my catalog AND backup were trashed.

I'm currently using creative and decorative words and trying to find a solution to a year+ worth of edits. I just have the original raw files now

I had the same problem. I rebooted then reinstalled the update and all worked properly the second time.