Tag Archives: luminar

News, Software and Post-Processing

Luminar 2018 Updated

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Luminar 2018 Jupiter Released by Skylum

Luminar 2018 Jupiter
Luminar 2018 “Jupiter” is a free update to Luminar 2018 users, and boasts significant performance enhancements.

Skylum Software (formerly Macphun) have announced the immediate release of Luminar 2018 “Jupiter.”  I’ve updated to this version and it is much faster and more responsive, especially when I’m working with large files from my Nikon D850. I strongly recommend that current users upgrade to Luminar 2018 Jupiter.

Luminar Jupiter is a free update for existing Luminar 2018 users.

Read my review of Luminar and download my free Luminar Workspaces   Continue reading Luminar 2018 Updated →

Images

POTD: Arches Long Exposure

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Arches National Park long exposure
Arches National Park, Moab, UT

I captured this image in Arches National Park last spring. I used a 38-second exposure via a 10-stop solid ND filter. I processed the image in Lightroom Classic CC and converted it to monochrome using Skylum (formerly Macphun) Luminar, and finished it off after returning to Lightroom.

Tech Specs
  • Nikon D810 with 16-35mm f/4 VR Zoom Nikkor
  • 38s f/11 ISO 64 using 10-stop solid ND filter
Reader Discounts

10% off Singh-Ray Filters with code: JASON10
$10 off Luminar with code: JODELL 

Images

POTD: Monochrome with Luminar

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Luminar monochrome
Old Ford captured in infrared and processed in Lightroom and Luminar.

Replacing Silver Efex Pro 2 with Luminar

I’ve recently been adopting Skylum Software’s Luminar as a Photoshop plug-in to replace my aging Nik Collection. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Nik, but it’s outdated and I’m not sure where it’s going to end up (yes, I realize it’s been purchased by DXO). With a little practice, I’ve gotten to the point where Luminar is effectively replacing Silver Efex Pro 2 for monochrome conversion work.

With Luminar I’m able to replicate most of my go-to Nik filters, all in a single plug-in application. Luminar also supports Smart Filters, so you can create non-destructive edits if you use Smart Object layers in Photoshop. Instead of having to run multiple plug-ins (usually Silver Efex and Color Efex), I can do everything in a single interface

This image is a digital infrared capture (590nm) that I processed to emulate deep black (830nm) infrared using Luminar.

Save $10 off Luminar with code: JODELL

Software and Post-Processing, Tips and Tricks

Moving to Macphun: Tips for Nik Users

Luminar from Macphun can be used to create dramatic effects and is an effective replacement for many Nik Collection plug-ins.

With the recent announcement that Google will no longer support the Nik Collection, I’ve started using Macphun’s suite of editing tools more and more frequently. Most specifically, I’ve jumped feet-first into their newest editor, Luminar. I’ve found it to be an excellent choice for photographers who are familiar with the Nik Collection suite. You can read my initial thoughts on Luminar here.

Here’s why I’m moving to Macphun:

  • Macphun Software applications use the latest technologies for image adjustments and special effects
  • Macphun products are compatible with Lightroom and Photoshop, plus you can use Luminar as a stand-alone editor (it even opens most RAW files)
  • Luminar offers a full complement of tools and effects filters that in many cases replace multiple Nik plug-ins, including Color Efex Pro 4 and Silver Efex Pro 2.
  • Built-in layer support for selective editing and effects partitioning.
  • Smart “erase” and noise-reduction tools, along with clone stamp
  • Smart Filter support in Adobe Photoshop
  • Luminar for Windows will be released this fall
  • It’s a full-featured image editor with lots of effects filters for under $60

Get Luminar for Mac Here
Get Luminar Public Beta for Windows Here

Learning to Love Luminar

While there are several Macphun software plug-ins available for Mac users (and they are excellent), Luminar is so incredibly flexible that it can take the place of most of the other filters, provided you know where to look. Because Luminar is coming to Windows, too, it’s the one Macphun product I think you should be familiar with. Here are some tips for getting the most out of Luminar. Continue reading Moving to Macphun: Tips for Nik Users →

News

Luminar: The Nik Software Replacement?

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Luminar from Macphun: A full-featured plug-in with lots of Nik DNA.

As most of you know, the future of the Nik Collection is in jeopardy as Google is no longer planning to support the software. While that doesn’t mean it will stop working immediately, it does mean that updates to your OS or to Photoshop/Lightroom may cause issues in the future.

I really do love my Nik plug-ins, and I don’t plan to stop using them in the short term. But I do accept the future, and in looking for an alternative, I’ve found that the Macphun software plug-ins are very good, especially their newest all-around editor, Luminar. My only hesitation for recommending these products is that they have been MacOS only. However, that’s changing as of today! Continue reading Luminar: The Nik Software Replacement? →