demobook

Luminar Neo: Localized exposure adjustments using masking

Demo summary

The creator shows how to use a brush mask to apply a second instance of the Develop tool to specific areas of a waterfall and rocks.

Step-by-step

  1. Open a new instance of the Develop tool
  2. Adjust the Exposure slider to the desired brightness for the specific area
  3. Select the Masking tab and choose the Brush tool
  4. Adjust the Strength slider to a lower value (30-50%) to build the effect gradually
  5. Paint over the areas of the photo you want to brighten
  6. Use the Erase tool to remove the effect from areas where it was applied too heavily

Options

  • Adjust brush size using the on-screen slider
  • Adjust brush size using the left and right bracket keys on the keyboard
  • Clear the mask entirely via Mask actions to start over

Watch out for

  • The 'Raw' component is only available in the first instance of the Develop tool; subsequent instances work on the processed image data

Tips

  • Use an initial Develop Raw pass to get the photo to a foundational point before applying localized adjustments
  • Work with a brush strength around 30-50% rather than 100% to build the effect up in passes for more control
  • Use the red mask overlay to visualize exactly which areas are being affected by the tool

Highlights

I'm going to introduce you to a really powerful feature inside of Luminar. It's masking. Don't get scared. It's super easy.

All demos from “Luminar Neo for Beginners: A Complete First Landscape Edit

  1. 2:521:51Recovering highlights and shadows with Develop RAWThe creator demonstrates how to use the Develop RAW tool in Luminar Neo to recover sky detail and brighten dark shadows without washing out the image.Luminar NeoAI Image/Photo Enhancer
  2. 4:531:36Sharpening and noise reduction in Luminar NeoA demonstration of zooming into a photo to apply sharpening and luminosity-based noise reduction to clean up grain in flat areas like the sky.Luminar NeoAI Image/Photo Enhancer
  3. 6:491:00Enhancing photos with Accent AI and Sky EnhancerThe video shows the application of Enhance AI's 'Accent AI' and 'Sky Enhancer' sliders to automatically balance tones and boost blue sky saturation.Luminar NeoAI Image/Photo Enhancer
  4. 8:003:26Localized exposure adjustments using maskingCurrentThe creator shows how to use a brush mask to apply a second instance of the Develop tool to specific areas of a waterfall and rocks.Luminar NeoAI Photo Editor
  5. 12:423:32Adding and removing detail with Structure AIDemonstration of using Structure AI with positive values to sharpen rocks and negative values to soften distracting foliage via brush masking.Luminar NeoAI Photo Editor
  6. 16:351:48Adding mist with Atmosphere AIThe creator uses Atmosphere AI's 'Layered Fog' setting and a brush mask to simulate mist at the base of a waterfall.Luminar NeoAI Inpainting
  7. 20:482:31Changing water color with Water Enhancer AIA demonstration of the Water Enhancer AI tool to shift murky green water toward a turquoise hue while refining the mask to exclude the waterfall.Luminar NeoAI Photo Editor
  8. 23:352:12Directing focus with Light Depth AIThe video shows the Light Depth tool analyzing a 3D scene to place highlights specifically on the waterfall while darkening the foreground and background.Luminar NeoAI Relighting
  9. 25:551:26Fine-tuning colors with HSL slidersThe creator demonstrates using the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) panel to darken green leaves specifically so the waterfall stands out more.Luminar NeoAI Photo Editor
  10. 28:511:17Applying a Radial Gradient mask for color popA demonstration of using the Radial Gradient tool to apply a saturation boost in a localized, tapered circle around the main subject.Luminar NeoAI Photo Editor
  11. 31:132:05Blending edits using Layer OpacityThe creator shows how to add the original photo as a new layer and adjust its opacity to pull back an over-processed edit for a more natural look.Luminar NeoAI Photo Editor
  12. 33:242:04Object removal with Erase and GenErase AIA demonstration of removing distracting objects using the standard Erase tool and the generative AI 'GenErase' tool for more complex areas.Luminar NeoAI Object Remover/Eraser
  13. 36:201:44Color grading with LUTs and Dramatic filterThe video shows the application of the Dramatic filter and various Lookup Tables (LUTs) like 'Long Beach' to unify the photo's color palette.Luminar NeoAI Photo Filter
  14. Watch “Luminar Neo for Beginners: A Complete First Landscape Edit” →

AI Photo Editor

  1. 0:521:46Manage and sync folders in Luminar NeoThe creator demonstrates how Luminar Neo maps physical computer folders to its catalog, showing how renaming or moving folders on the hard drive is instantly mirrored in the software.Mark McGee Photos
  2. 16:560:36Edit photos using AI AssistantA demonstration of the AI Assistant where the user types natural language prompts like 'make this photo look like a vintage Fujifilm camera' to generate edit versions.Mark McGee Photos
  3. 3:270:05Dodge and burn with Luminar NeoThe video briefly demonstrates the ease of using the dodge and burn tool in Luminar Neo to increase visual contrast in landscape photos.Joseph Martin
  4. 4:220:46Sky replacement and landscape enhancementThe video shows the Sky AI tool in Luminar Neo replacing a sky and adjusting horizon position, reflection, and scene relighting, followed by the Golden Hour and Dehaze sliders.Kieran Hayes Photography
  5. 6:070:16Enhancing water color with Water Enhancer AIThe user demonstrates Water Enhancer AI in Luminar Neo, which automatically masks and changes the color of water bodies in a photo.Kieran Hayes Photography
  6. 7:460:24Drawing neon effects with Neon and GlowThe user demonstrates drawing custom neon light highlights over a subject using the Neon and Glow tool in Luminar Neo.Kieran Hayes Photography
  7. 9:400:22Adding depth of field with Portrait Bokeh AIThe video shows Portrait Bokeh AI in Luminar Neo creating a blurred background effect using 3D mapping on a portrait.Kieran Hayes Photography
  8. 15:110:15Focus stacking in Luminar NeoThe user demonstrates the Focus Stacking extension in Luminar Neo, merging multiple images with different focus points into one sharp photo.Kieran Hayes Photography
  9. 2:520:24Generative AI editing with GenSwap and GenEraseThe demo shows Luminar Neo's generative AI tools being used to swap elements in a photo and remove distracting objects from the frame.Kai W
  10. 3:250:18Color Masking with the Color PickerThe video shows how to use the Color Picker tool in Luminar Neo to select a specific color range and adjust its influence using a slider.Kai W
  11. 4:271:31Creating virtual copies and applying creative editsThe demo shows how to create virtual copies to test different edits, such as adding fog, vignetting, and converting a photo to black and white using the Structure and Enhance tools.Kai W
  12. 4:102:36Blending exposures with layers and linear gradientsThe video shows how to duplicate layers in Luminar Neo to process the sky and foreground separately, using a linear gradient mask for a smooth transition.Anthony Turnham