Skylum is a creative software company known for developing cutting-edge AI photo editing tools that empower photographers of all skill levels. Its flagship product, Luminar Neo, leverages artificial intelligence to automate and enhance various aspects of photo editing—from background removal and sky replacement to portrait enhancement and noise reduction.
Designed for photographers, designers, content creators, and hobbyists, Skylum’s tools are built to simplify complex edits while maintaining creative control. Whether you’re a professional retoucher or a beginner with a passion for visual storytelling, Skylum offers user-friendly software that transforms ordinary photos into polished, visually compelling images.
With award-winning technology and a strong community of creatives, Skylum has positioned itself as a leader in next-generation photo editing software.
Features
Skylum’s flagship product, Luminar Neo, includes a rich set of AI-powered features:
Relight AI: Adjust lighting across foreground and background independently to fix harsh lighting conditions or enhance mood.
Sky AI: Automatically replaces skies in landscape or cityscape images with realistic lighting and reflections.
Erase AI: Removes unwanted objects, power lines, or distractions from images without manual cloning.
Portrait Background Removal AI: Instantly isolates subjects from backgrounds in portraits and allows for clean replacements.
Portrait Bokeh AI: Creates natural-looking background blur for portraits, simulating shallow depth-of-field effects.
Face and Skin AI: Enhances facial features, removes blemishes, and improves skin texture while retaining natural detail.
Noise Reduction AI: Reduces digital noise in low-light or high-ISO images without compromising image sharpness.
Mask AI and Layer Support: Automatically detects and masks subjects like people, skies, and objects for advanced compositing.
Presets and LUTs: Offers one-click visual styles and color grading options, with the ability to customize or import presets.
RAW Processing: Supports full RAW editing with non-destructive workflows for maximum image quality.
How It Works
Skylum’s Luminar Neo is designed to make professional-grade editing easy and accessible. After installing the software on macOS or Windows, users import photos into the interface and apply adjustments using AI tools or manual controls.
Each AI tool is built to perform specific enhancements. For example, Sky AI automatically identifies and masks the sky area in an image, allowing users to replace it with a more dynamic sky that adapts lighting and color across the scene. Similarly, Relight AI analyzes the depth and elements in a photo to intelligently adjust lighting in different zones.
Users can combine multiple tools, apply creative filters, and use layer-based workflows to build more complex edits. All changes are non-destructive, and the final images can be exported in high-resolution formats suitable for print or web.
Use Cases
Skylum’s tools serve a wide variety of users and editing needs:
Landscape Photography: Replace dull skies, enhance dynamic range, and remove distractions for eye-catching scenery.
Portrait Photography: Smooth skin, enhance eyes, and apply background blur for polished professional headshots.
Real Estate Photography: Improve lighting and replace skies to make property images more appealing to buyers.
E-commerce and Product Photography: Remove blemishes, enhance product colors, and ensure clean white backgrounds.
Social Media Creators: Apply artistic filters and enhancements to boost visual appeal on platforms like Instagram or TikTok.
Event and Wedding Photography: Speed up post-processing by batch editing and using AI enhancements for consistency.
Travel Bloggers: Create visually striking photos with cinematic color grading and one-click enhancements.
Pricing
Skylum offers flexible pricing plans for Luminar Neo:
1-Year Subscription – $59/year
Includes all core features, regular updates, and access to essential AI tools.
Lifetime License – One-Time Payment of $149
Permanent access to Luminar Neo with a single payment. Updates may be limited to the current version.
Extensions Pack – Add-on Bundle
For advanced users, Skylum offers paid extensions such as HDR Merge, Upscale AI, Focus Stacking, and Background Removal AI. These are available through the subscription or as one-time purchases.
Free trials are available, allowing users to test the software before purchasing. Visit the Skylum pricing page for the most up-to-date offers and bundle options.
Strengths
Skylum brings several strengths to the photo editing space:
AI-Powered Efficiency: Saves time with one-click enhancements and automated workflows.
User-Friendly Interface: Accessible to beginners, while offering powerful tools for professionals.
Creative Flexibility: Combines AI automation with manual controls for complete editing freedom.
Non-Destructive Editing: Preserves original image data, allowing changes to be reversed at any time.
Regular Feature Updates: Continually adds new AI tools and performance improvements.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works on both macOS and Windows, with plugin support for Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.
Community and Support: Offers tutorials, user forums, and an active creative community to help users grow.
Drawbacks
While Skylum offers many advantages, there are a few limitations to consider:
Performance on Older Systems: Some AI tools may run slowly on lower-spec devices.
No Mobile App (Yet): Luminar Neo is currently desktop-only, limiting editing on the go.
Limited Asset Library: While presets and extensions are available, stock photo or asset libraries are not built-in.
Subscription for Full Features: Some advanced tools and extensions require additional purchases or subscriptions.
Steeper Learning Curve for Advanced Features: Although user-friendly, mastering complex edits still requires practice.
Comparison with Other Tools
Compared to traditional tools like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, Skylum’s Luminar Neo stands out with its AI-first approach. Where Adobe tools often require manual masking and adjustment layers, Luminar Neo automates tasks like sky replacement and background removal.
Compared to Canva or Fotor, which are browser-based design tools for basic image editing, Skylum offers much deeper control and higher-quality output for photographers.
In contrast with Topaz Labs, which specializes in individual AI tools for tasks like upscaling or noise reduction, Skylum offers a more comprehensive all-in-one solution.
For users looking to balance automation and creative control in photo editing, Skylum provides a strong middle ground between ease of use and advanced functionality.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
Skylum has received strong reviews from photographers and creative professionals. Users consistently praise its time-saving features, photorealistic AI enhancements, and the ability to create stunning results with minimal manual editing.
Many users highlight tools like Sky AI and Face AI as game-changers, reducing hours of work into minutes. Professional photographers have also commended the software’s ability to speed up batch processing and simplify routine retouching.
Luminar Neo has earned awards and recognition from photo editing communities and tech reviewers, who often cite it as a more affordable and user-friendly alternative to Adobe products.
Conclusion
Skylum’s Luminar Neo is a forward-thinking photo editing tool that combines the power of artificial intelligence with intuitive design. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a beginner looking to enhance your images, Skylum helps you produce visually stunning results with less effort and more creative freedom.
With a growing suite of AI tools, flexible pricing, and a focus on user experience, Skylum is a strong choice for anyone looking to modernize their editing workflow.
