Tired of spending hours editing photos? Then Luminar AI may be an alternative, because with this image processing program the focus is clearly on the automatic functions. The program directs users to their destination as quickly as possible and with just a few clicks. It is gentle and comfortable, but not without weaknesses, as shown by the COMPUTER BILD test.
For one computer or two computers?
very simple surface
When it comes to designing the program’s interface, Luminar AI takes a very different approach than most of its competitors: there’s no menu bar at the top, instead just four buttons: Catalog, Templates, Edit and Export. When you start Luminar for the first time, it shows the catalog (which is still empty); When you start the program, the interface appears as if the program was previously closed. This way, photographers can get to work immediately if they haven’t finished the photo yet. add to Catalog It’s a children’s game: just click on the plus sign to the left of the catalog and select the desired folder. Luminar AI includes subfolders automatically. Unfortunately, searching in folders without including images in the catalog is not possible. Luminar AI at least offers the option to directly edit individual photos without adding them to the catalog.
A black and white selfie instead of the usual color? With Luminar AI, it only takes two clicks.
Get beautiful photos faster
Luminar AI catalog displays images clearly arranged and adjusts the size of individual images. The images are in a slightly smaller portrait format. But Luminar AI uses most of the screen to display images and doesn’t have unsightly black bars between images. Editing photos is especially easy in mode templates. All you have to do is click on the desired image and then on the templates. Luminar AI then sorts its template catalog into templates suitable (if applicable) for the image. Two clicks are enough to edit (in the example image above on Monochrome Collection and Emotional). Anyone who uses certain templates can always save them to favorites and find them again more quickly. More templates can be purchased at Luminar Marketplace. You don’t like the result, do you? No problem, right click on the view and click on “Adjustments” and “Restore Original Image” to go back to the original image. Luminar AI saves the final images issue. Images can also be posted there on the Internet (via the SmugMug and 500px providers).
Heaven exchange? It’s not at all easy to take pictures with a lot of water because of the reflections – Luminar AI still manages them well.
Many functions for image optimization
While templates rely entirely on automatic functions, they work with files release mixed for. On the one hand, there are classic controls, for example to adjust the color temperature or exposure, and on the other hand there are many functions with AI support (AI stands for Artificial Intelligence), from which the name of the program is derived. Unlike Photoshop CC, Luminar AI’s AI functions always run on your home computer, so no fast cloud internet connection is required. AI functions attempt to optimally process images using complex target recognition. This works well in practice and, depending on the functionality, with varying degrees of photo editor involvement: At Improving artificial intelligence The controller should be set on a scale from 0 to 100, at AI image composition On the other hand, it is enough to click the individual buttons.
Tempo, Tempo ist das Motto
Precisely crop a photo for Facebook? No problem, Luminar AI has the appropriate formats in its collection.
No HDR or panoramic photos
Aurora HD
(Individually €99, with Luminar AI €142 for a PC). Luminar AI can’t aggregate panoramic photos from multiple photos either. To do this, photographers have to use other software, such as Photoshop CC (Luminar AI can also be installed on it as a plug-in). It is also nothing in the case of levels. It is doubtful whether these functions will be upgraded. Luminar AI aims to enhance individual images rather than being an all-in-one software for photographers and graphic designers.
Test result: Skylum Luminar AI
Not perfect, but promising: Skylum Luminar AI (test score 2.6) is a completely different image processing. You can see this when you start the program. When other programs come with huge toolbars or large selection menus for automatic functions, Luminar AI has a very neat and very clear interface, but still offers many functions – just arranged differently. Editing photos is particularly quick with the templates menu, and especially with the Edit menu. If you exceed the mark during editing, no problem – the modified photos can be reset to their original state, because Luminar AI does not save the changes in the photos, but in the catalog of the special program. The range of functions shows that Luminar AI is still a fairly new program: there is no built-in HDR or panorama functionality, for example, and when printing, the Windows Print dialog comes up simply – with a rather cumbersome process.
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