Luminar Neo UPDATE 1.10 - Improvements but is Upscale AI Better?

Anthony Turnham
2 Jun 202313:45

TLDRIn this video, the presenter discusses the latest update for Luminar Neo, version 1.10, focusing on its new features and improvements, particularly the upscale AI extension. The update promises better image quality from low-resolution files, a feature that excited the presenter due to its potential for enhancing old photos. The video demonstrates the user interface improvements, such as collapsible extension modules and easier access to creative assets through the 'Extras' tab. It also covers the addition of support for new Sony cameras and enhancements to the masking and sky AI tools. The presenter conducts a detailed comparison between the upscale AI's performance in version 1.09 and 1.10, noting a significant improvement in the latter. However, they caution about the 'face enhancer' feature, which can alter faces in an undesirable way. The video concludes with a teaser of what's possible with rival software for AI upscaling and a promise of a future video detailing how to achieve better upscale results.

Takeaways

  • 📸 **Update 1.10 for Luminar Neo** introduces improvements, including a revamped upscale AI algorithm that excites the speaker.
  • 🔍 The upscale AI extension aims to enhance low-resolution images by increasing their size and improving quality.
  • 📈 The user interface has been improved with the ability to collapse extension modules for better organization as new extensions are added.
  • 🎨 An 'Extras' tab has been added for easy access to creative assets like presets, new Skies, LUTs, and overlays.
  • 📚 An 'info' icon has been included in the editing section for users to learn more about the tools and their usage.
  • 📷 Support for new Sony cameras, the ZV-E1 and the FX30, has been added in this update.
  • ⚙️ Improvements have been made to the Mask AI for better speed and accuracy, as well as enhancements to the Sky AI.
  • 🔍 The upscale AI has been improved, but the results are still somewhat soft, and the Face Enhancer feature needs more refinement.
  • 🐾 In handling animals, the new version 1.10 of upscale AI shows a noticeable improvement over the previous version.
  • 🌄 For landscape photos, the updated upscale AI in version 1.10 provides a cleaner result, particularly in areas with JPEG compression.
  • 👵 The Face Enhancer can sometimes produce unexpected results, altering facial features and hair in ways that are not always desirable.
  • 🔗 The speaker suggests an alternative software for upscaling low-resolution photos and promises a follow-up video with more details.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of the Luminar Neo update 1.10?

    -The main focus of the Luminar Neo update 1.10 is the revamp of the upscale AI algorithm, which aims to improve the quality and resolution of low-res images.

  • What was the user's previous experience with Luminar Neo's upscale AI?

    -The user was previously dissatisfied with Luminar Neo's upscale AI as it barely made any noticeable difference in image quality and was lagging behind compared to other software.

  • How does the user update Luminar Neo to the latest version?

    -To update Luminar Neo, the user goes to the Luminar Neo menu, selects 'Help', checks for updates, and clicks 'Install Updates' to download and install the latest version.

  • What new user interface improvement is introduced in Luminar Neo 1.10?

    -A new user interface improvement in Luminar Neo 1.10 is the ability to collapse and expand extension modules, making it easier to manage and view different extensions without scrolling.

  • What is the purpose of the 'Extras' tab in Luminar Neo?

    -The 'Extras' tab provides easy access to add creative assets such as extensions, presets, new Skies, look-up tables, and overlays as they are released.

  • Which new Sony cameras are supported in the Luminar Neo 1.10 update?

    -The Luminar Neo 1.10 update adds support for the Sony zve E1 and the Sony fx30 cameras.

  • What improvements have been made to the Mask AI and Sky AI tools?

    -The Mask AI has seen improvements in both speed and accuracy of the masking process. The Sky AI has also been enhanced, with better handling of sky replacements.

  • How does the upscale AI in Luminar Neo 1.10 perform compared to the previous version?

    -The upscale AI in Luminar Neo 1.10 shows a noticeable improvement over the previous version, providing better image quality and handling of JPEG compression artifacts, although it can still be a bit soft.

  • What is the user's opinion on the Face Enhancer feature in Luminar Neo 1.10?

    -The user finds the Face Enhancer feature in Luminar Neo 1.10 to be problematic, as it can alter facial features in unnatural ways and requires further improvement.

  • What alternative software does the user suggest for upscaling low-resolution photos?

    -The user suggests checking out an alternative software for upscaling low-resolution photos, which is linked in the description below the video transcript.

  • What does the user plan to do in a follow-up video?

    -The user plans to create a follow-up video that goes into more detail about how to create improved upscale images using the alternative software mentioned.

  • How does the user describe the overall update for Luminar Neo?

    -The user describes the overall update for Luminar Neo as a good one, with improvements in speed and stability, but notes that the Upscale AI, despite improvements, still has a long way to go to match rival software.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Introduction to Luminar Neo 1.10 Update

The paragraph introduces the latest version update of Luminar Neo, version 1.10, and expresses excitement about the improvements made, particularly to the upscale AI extension. The speaker reminisces about an old Nikon D70 camera and how Luminar Neo's AI can enhance the quality of old, low-resolution photos. The video aims to explore the new features and improvements in this update, including a revamped algorithm for the upscale AI process. The speaker also guides viewers on how to update to the latest version of Luminar Neo and highlights the new user interface improvements, such as the collapsible extension modules and the addition of the extras tab for creative assets. Other updates mentioned include support for new Sony cameras, improved masking in Mask AI, and enhancements to the sky AI.

05:01

🔍 Comparison of Upscale AI in Luminar Neo Versions

This paragraph focuses on the comparison of the Upscale AI feature in Luminar Neo's previous version (1.09) versus the updated version (1.10). The speaker is pleased with the noticeable improvement in image quality after upscaling in the new version, particularly in terms of reduced pixelation and compression artifacts. However, some issues remain, such as the face enhancer feature, which tends to alter facial features in undesirable ways. The speaker also provides a teaser of what is possible with AI upscaling using other software, hinting at a future video that will cover these advanced techniques in more detail.

10:02

🐾 Evaluating Upscale AI Performance on Animal and Portrait Photos

The speaker assesses the performance of the Upscale AI in Luminar Neo 1.10 on various types of photos, including animal and portrait images. While the new version shows significant improvement over the previous version, some softness is observed, and the speaker notes that there is still room for further enhancement. The face enhancer AI, while effective in some cases, can sometimes produce unnatural results, such as altering the subject's hair and facial structure. The speaker concludes that while Luminar Neo's update is a step in the right direction, there is still a gap between its capabilities and the potential of AI upscaling technology, as demonstrated by other software. The speaker plans to provide more information on achieving better upscaling results in a future video and recommends viewers check out the linked software for even better image enhancement.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Luminar Neo

Luminar Neo is a photo editing software that has been updated to version 1.10, as discussed in the video. It is designed to improve the quality and resolution of images, particularly older, low-resolution photos. The update is significant because it includes an improved upscale AI algorithm, which is the main focus of the video's review.

💡Upscale AI

The Upscale AI is an extension within Luminar Neo that is used to increase the size of low-resolution images and enhance their quality. The video discusses the improvements made to this feature in the 1.10 update, which were previously unsatisfactory to the speaker.

💡User Interface Improvement

The video mentions a user interface improvement in Luminar Neo 1.10, specifically the ability to collapse and expand extension modules. This feature allows users to have a cleaner and more organized workspace, especially as new extensions are added.

💡Creative Assets

Creative assets refer to additional content such as presets, new skies, look-up tables, and overlays that can be added to Luminar Neo to expand its capabilities and enhance the user's creative possibilities. The video highlights the ease of accessing these assets through the 'Extras' tab.

💡Masking in Mask AI

Mask AI is a feature within Luminar Neo that allows for the selection and masking of specific areas within an image. The video script notes that improvements have been made to the speed and accuracy of this feature in the 1.10 update.

💡Sky AI

Sky AI is a tool within Luminar Neo that helps users to change the sky in their images with more accuracy and ease. The video indicates that there have been enhancements to this tool in the latest update.

💡JPEG Compression

JPEG compression is a method of reducing the size of image files by selectively reducing the amount of data included in the file. The video discusses the negative effects of JPEG compression on image quality, particularly in older photos, and how Luminar Neo's Upscale AI aims to mitigate these effects.

💡Face Enhancer AI

The Face Enhancer AI is a feature within Luminar Neo's Upscale AI that is intended to improve the clarity and detail of faces in images. However, the video demonstrates that it can sometimes produce unnatural results, altering facial features in ways that are not desired.

💡Sony Cameras

The video mentions that Luminar Neo 1.10 has added support for new Sony cameras, specifically the ZV-E1 and the FX30. This indicates that the software is being updated to be compatible with the latest photography equipment.

💡X Membership

X Membership is a subscription service for Luminar that provides users with access to additional features, tools, and creative assets. The video notes that there is now easier access to this membership within the Luminar Neo interface.

💡Photo AI

Photo AI refers to the use of artificial intelligence in photo editing to enhance image quality, such as upscaling low-resolution images. The video contrasts the capabilities of Luminar Neo's Upscale AI with other, potentially more advanced, AI photo editing software.

Highlights

Luminar Neo has released an update to version 1.10 with improvements to the upscale AI extension.

The update aims to enhance the quality of low-resolution images, such as those from older cameras.

The user interface has been improved with the ability to collapse extension modules for better organization.

New creative assets can be easily added through the Extras tab.

The editing section now includes an info icon for more information about each tool.

Support has been added for new Sony cameras, the ZV-E1 and the FX30.

There have been improvements to the Mask AI in terms of speed and accuracy.

Sky AI has also seen enhancements in the update.

The upscale AI has been improved, but still has room for further development.

The face enhancer feature within the upscale AI needs significant work as it can alter faces unnaturally.

A comparison of the upscale AI's performance between versions 1.09 and 1.10 shows noticeable improvements in image quality.

The update has made the editing experience faster and smoother.

The upscale AI is simple to use, with options to enhance faces and choose upscaling algorithms.

The face enhancer AI can produce unexpected results, changing facial geometry and hair.

The reviewer suggests an alternative software for upscaling low-resolution photos for better results.

A teaser is given for a future video that will cover how to achieve better upscaled images using a different software.

The update is praised for its improvements in speed and stability.

The reviewer will provide a follow-up video detailing how to use the recommended software for upscaling.