Luminar Neo: Using Layers and Blending Modes

Miklós Mayer - I will be your photo guide·Apr 2025

Demo summary

The creator shows how to add a new layer (light leak) over a photo, adjust its opacity, change blending modes, and apply a Gaussian blur to the specific layer.

Step-by-step

Click the Layers icon and select the plus button
Select a light leak, spark, or bokeh shot from the presets or load your own image
Position and scale the layer within the frame
Adjust the Opacity slider in the Layer Properties panel
Select a Blending Mode from the dropdown menu
Ensure the layer is selected (indicated by a yellow outline)
Navigate to Creative, select Blur, and choose Gaussian Blur to adjust the layer's softness

Options

Load your own custom images as layers
Use blending modes such as Darken, Multiply, Color Burn, Lighten, Screen, or Overlay
Apply masks to specific layers
Add multiple layers to a single photo

Watch out for

Ensure the specific layer has a yellow outline before applying effects like Gaussian Blur to avoid affecting the base image

Tips

Pull back the opacity so the effect isn't too overpowering
Use Gaussian Blur on light leak layers to make the effect blend more naturally

Highlights

“this is a really creative mode to elevate your photos and you don't need Photoshop for this”

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