Experiment with your photos and create special effects by blending and masking two or more images.
Rated 4.7 out of 5 • Excellent
Add lots of photo layers
Your only limit is your creativity. Add as many layers as needed to fulfill any complex idea.
Apply layer masking, blend images together
Duplicate your image, select the needed area with a brush, and use any tool from the Luminar Neo range. Then, reveal the layer beneath with another brush.
Add editing effects only to selected areas
With a special Adjustment Layer, quickly choose the effect you want to apply. Define the mask with a brush for precise results.
Get a tool to fulfill your ideas: from simple
image blending to artistic collages.
Layer photos
Add raster graphics and edit each layer separately. You can make each layer look completely different using Luminar’s Presets and filters. With the photo layer editor in Luminar Neo, you can retouch a portrait image in one layer and blend it with the landscape in another.
Uncover textures
Try out seven new Texture collections and easily drag, move, place, rotate, and flip Textures around the image. Pair Textures with masks to create different areas of transparency and overlay Textures on the photo layer below. With the Luminar Neo plugin, you can simplify your workflow and create AI-powered layer masks in Photoshop and Lightroom.
Use different blending modes
Use blending and masking modes, make collages, add double exposure effects, and do more on each layer. While photo editing layers, you can work with the foreground and background of an image separately if you copy the image and apply masking.
If you’re looking for an intuitive photo editor with layers,
masks, and AI-powered tools, try Luminar Neo.
High performance in complex tasks
Lightning-fast engine is to your service. The new one is based on modules, so they are optimized separately for better results. Edit images on the go and seamlessly transfer them to a smartphone.
Simple and fun to explore
Enjoy flexible workflow of Luminar Neo. All edits are saved automatically, and you can jump to any step to change or cancel actions.
Technologies for best results
Artificial intelligence in the core of Luminar has developed rapidly. Now it can change the background behind objects and relight the scene by building a 3D map of an image. Remove unwanted objects as dust or lines in a click.
RelightAI
Make backlit photos shine again. Highlight or darken any part of your image.
Line RemovalAI
Get a clear sky without power lines. Transform your cityscapes, urban landscapes, or travel photos in a click.
Mobile sharing
Edit photos on the go and seamlessly share them to your smartphone.
Portrait Background RemovalAI
Turn a tedious background replacement into a quick and fun thing.
Dust RemovalAI
Automatically select and remove blemishes. As easy as that.
Lightning-fast engine
Designed as a module system its parts now can be optimized separately, for the best performance.
Learn how to make your pictures better with Luminar
Mixing It Up: Blending Images and
Looks Using Layers in Luminar
Get in touch with like-minded photographers and discuss more hacks on Luminar
Take a peek under the
hood of Luminar Neo.
What makes it so powerful?
Meet the team that creates
your favourite templates
How to craft great
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30-day money back guarantee from the release date
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Join community of Luminar Insiders with tips and support
What is a layer mask?
Layer masking is a reversible way to hide part of a layer. Masking gives you more editing flexibility than permanently erasing or deleting part of a layer. Layer masking is useful for making image composites, cutting out objects for use in other images, and limiting edits to part of a layer. A mask allows you to reveal parts of the layer below.
Think of a layer mask like a tool that can create eye holes in a mask to reveal the person wearing it. You can even use a mask on the base layer without adding more layers. This will allow you to simply reveal parts of the original image without edits applied.
How can I mask an image?
If you’re using Luminar as a plugin, you can find masks by clicking “Add a mask” in the plugin bar. This will automatically add a mask and reveal the layer below. Work on desired adjustments and move the transparency slider for precise results. The masking tool allows you to create masks with a brush.
What are the benefits of photo editing with layers?
Layers allow you to work out parts of the image separately with layer masks, create double exposures, and add textures.
Why is it better to create layers for photo editing?
Layers let you apply multiple effects to different areas of an image. They also let you save your progress and undo changes at any time without affecting the whole image.
What is Luminar Neo?
Luminar Neo is an AI-based photo editor with layers and more than 20 tools. With its simple and intuitive workflow, you won’t need any tutorials or to memorize complex patterns. One-click solutions will give you the images of your dreams.
Why should I install Luminar Neo if I already have a photo editing app with layers?
Luminar Neo can simplify and speed up routine tasks in your current editor as a plugin. With the help of AI, creating a layer mask is easy: just swipe with a brush to select the mask area.
What is the difference between Luminar Neo and other photo editing software with layers?
Luminar Neo is not only a photo app with layers. It offers you more than 20 AI-powered tools. You can replace the background and remove power lines in a click, change the sky, and retouch a portrait in less than five minutes. Learn more here.
How to download and activate LuminarAI?
Your download links will be waiting for you in your Skylum account.
NOTE: Your LuminarAI purchase is linked to the billing email address you provided. Use that email to log in to your Skylum Account or, if needed, create a new Skylum Account tied to that email address.
Visit the login page here.
If you already have an account, sign in with Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, or your email and password.
If you don’t have an account, you can create it here. Make sure to choose the same email used for the LuminarAI purchase.
If you have a Skylum account, but purchased LuminarAI using an email address not tied to it, you can merge your accounts into one in the My Software tab > Link my licenses section of your Skylum account. After that, please go to the inbox of your new email address and verify your email.
In your account, you will see a My Software tab with all of your Skylum software, including LuminarAI.
Find the tab with LuminarAI. Download LuminarAI by clicking the Download button.
With LuminarAI we made the activation process easier and faster for you. There’s no need to remember your license number in order to use LuminarAI. Now you may activate LuminarAI directly from your account.
By default, all our software launches in trial mode when you first open it. When you start LuminarAI, you’ll see a window that prompts you to log in to your Skylum Account.
To activate LuminarAI:
If you already have a Skylum account, sign in with a linked Google, Facebook, Microsoft, or Apple account, or sign in with your email and password.
If you don’t have a Skylum account, click Register and create a Skylum Account. You can sign up with a Facebook, Google, Microsoft, or Apple account, or you can sign up using your email and a password.
If you have a Skylum account, but purchased LuminarAI using an email address not tied to it, you can merge your accounts into one in the My Software tab > Link my licenses section of your Skylum account. After that, please go to the inbox of your new email address and verify your email.
Congratulations! You’ve activated LuminarAI.
Still don’t see LuminarAI in your account? Our support team will help you with that.
What is LuminarAI?
LuminarAI is an all-new application and plug-in and the first fully AI-powered image editing software in the world.
While Skylum is well-known for building software that taps into artificial intelligence for great results, LuminarAI is entirely different.
We built LuminarAI with artificial intelligence at its core. Artificial intelligence saves you time and effort. Before, traditional editing software was outdated. It was time-consuming and hard to learn. It required effort and skills to get satisfying results. With LuminarAI, you can create great-looking photos much faster. It’s perfect for anyone, of any skill level.
While other companies use artificial intelligence as a catchphrase, LuminarAI is packed full of truly smart technology. LuminarAI features many AI tools that allow you to get more done in less time. Innovations like SkyAI, FaceAI, BodyAI, IrisAI, AtmosphereAI and more give your images a memorable style and a competitive edge. Without sacrificing quality, speed or creative options.
What are the system requirements for LuminarAI?
LuminarAI should work on your computer as long as it meets the following minimum system requirements.
For Mac:
Starting from Update 3, LuminarAI runs natively on the M1 chip.
For Windows:
Are third-party plug-ins supported? (including Aurora HDR and Luminar 4)
In our other applications, third-party plug-ins are supported and send back the processed image as a new layer.
One of the changes in LuminarAI is the switch from layers to a Local Adjustments tool and smart segmentation of our AI-powered tools. This is why there will be no third-party plugin support in LuminarAI. If you need to merge bracketed photos, we suggest using Aurora HDR in its standalone mode.
Can I use LuminarAI as a plug-in?
LuminarAI is a universal solution that can function both as a standalone editor and a plug-in.
Using LuminarAI as a plug-in, you’ll be able to bring creative and timesaving workflow to your host application. LuminarAI allows you to revolutionize the way you enhance photos but conveniently fits into your current workflow.
LuminarAI can be used as a plug-in or extension for:
Does LuminarAI handle RAW files?
Of course! LuminarAI RAW processing is based on our own powerful RAW engine. We regularly update our library and make our own improvements to provide perfect support for new cameras. You can check the full list of supported cameras here.
Can I use other skies/textures/objects in LuminarAI?
Yes, you can use your own sky textures and objects in LuminarAI.
SkyAI will work with your own photos if they are in one of the following formats: JPEG, PNG and TIFF. Here are guidelines on preparing skies for best results. Augmented SkyAI will work with your own objects if they are in PNG format with the Alpha channel or JPG format with a fully black background.
Mac Model
MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Pro, Mac mini, early 2010 or newer
Processor
CPU Intel® Core™ i5 or better
OS version
macOS 10.14.6 or higher.
RAM
Memory 8 GB RAM or more (16+ GB RAM is recommended)
Disk space
Hard disk 10 GB free space; SSD for best performance
Display
1280x768 size or better
Hardware
Windows-based hardware PC with mouse or similar input device
Processor
CPU Intel® Core™ i5 or better, AMD Ryzen™ 5 or better
OS version
10 version 1909 or higher (only 64-bit OS)
RAM
Memory 8 GB RAM or more (16+ GB RAM is recommended)
Disk space
Hard disk 10 GB free space; SSD for best performance
Display
1280x768 size or better
Graphics
Open GL 3.3 or later compatible graphics card