Working with the Creative Tools

The Matte tool can give your photos an aged look with flat colors and high contrast. It works well for landscapes and portraits to change the emotion of your image.

Standard Settings

• Amount. This slider adjusts the overall strength of the matte effect.
• Fade. This slider controls the loss of detail in the darker areas of the image.
• Contrast. This slider adjusts the relationship between the brighter and darker area of the image.
• Vividness This slider can be used to affect the saturation of the matte effect.

Color Toning

• Range. This slider affects the portion of the image in which the color is shifted.
• Hue. This slider selects the color that the image takes on.
• Saturation. This slider can be used to affect the saturation of the color toning effect.

Neon & Glow

Neon and Glow are parts of creative tools that empower you to infuse your images with artistic brilliance. With these tools, you can easily add captivating radiance and vibrant colors, enhancing your photos' visual charm and creative richness.

Neon

Two distinct approaches are available within the Luminar software to add a neon effect to your image. You can manually draw a selection, offering precise control over the areas where the neon effect will be applied. Alternatively, you can utilize Luminar's automated object recognition feature, allowing the software to identify objects within the image and apply the neon effect. Both options allow you to refine and adjust your selection according to your creative preferences. 

Draw

When you click the "Draw" button, the mouse pointer will transform into a pencil icon, allowing you to freely draw your desired areas for the neon effect. Conversely, by selecting the "Erase" button, you can eliminate any areas you wish to remove from the effect. You can fine-tune the size of the erase tool using the provided erase sliders, allowing for precise adjustments. To adjust the intensity of the neon effect, simply use the "Amount" slider, granting you precise control over the strength or thickness of the effect applied to your image.

Automatically Select Object

For object recognition, select the "Object recognition" button. This feature enables the software to automatically detect objects in your image and apply the neon effect accordingly. To control the neon effect's intensity or thickness, adjust the "Amount" slider. To manage the neon effect's distance, adjust the Indent setting. Additionally, you can access additional refinement options by clicking the "Refine Object" button for more detailed adjustments to your object selection.

Refine Object

The "Refine Object" feature provides versatile options for fine-tuning your selection. Within this tool, you can draw to add, erase to remove, or restore areas to your selection. You can adjust the brush's size, softness, and strength for precise selection control, ensuring that your editing is accurate and detailed.

Style

The "Style" section plays a pivotal role in shaping the appearance of the neon effect. This section offers a range of options that directly influence the visual characteristics of the effect. You can fine-tune the spread, atmosphere, hue, and whiteness to achieve your desired aesthetic, providing the tools to customize the neon effect according to your creative vision.

Spread: The "Spread" setting allows you to control the extent of added glow to your selection. By adjusting the slider, you can determine the degree to which the neon effect enhances the luminosity of your selection, providing flexibility in achieving the desired level of radiance.

Atmosphere: The "Atmosphere" option generates a unique atmospheric effect that directly influences the background surrounding the glow. This feature enables you to create a distinct ambiance, altering how the glow interacts with the image's backdrop, thus enhancing the overall visual impact of your neon effect.

Hue: The "Hue" setting is a powerful tool for manipulating the color range of the glow in your neon effect. Using this control, you can finely adjust the hues, allowing you to customize and select the color palette that best complements your creative vision. This feature grants you precise control over the neon effect's color, enabling you to achieve the desired aesthetic quickly.

Whiteness: The "Whiteness" option regulates the strength of the white tones within the glow effect. By adjusting this setting, you can finely control the level of whiteness present in the glow, tailoring the effect to your preferences. This feature allows you to enhance or tone down the brilliance of white within the neon effect, providing the means to achieve the desired luminosity in your image.

Glow

The "Glow" feature provides you with two distinct options: "Inner" and "Outer." By selecting either button, you can apply a glow effect to either the inner or outer regions of the selected object. This versatility allows you to precisely enhance specific areas of your object with the desired glow effect, ensuring that your creative vision is faithfully realized.

Refine Object

The "Refine Object" feature provides versatile options for fine-tuning your selection. Within this tool, you can draw to add, erase to remove, or restore areas to your selection. You can adjust the brush's size, softness, and strength for precise selection control, ensuring that your editing is accurate and detailed.

Inner Glow

The "Inner Glow" option is designed to apply the glow effect to the interior of the selected object. Using this feature, you can create a radiant glow within the object. 

Amount: By adjusting the "Amount," you can control the thickness and intensity of the inner glow, enabling you to achieve the desired level of luminosity for your creative purposes.

Hue: The "Hue" setting is a powerful tool for manipulating the color range of the glow in your neon effect. Using this control, you can finely adjust the hues, allowing you to customize and select the color palette that best complements your creative vision. This feature grants you precise control over the neon effect's color, enabling you to achieve the desired aesthetic quickly.

Whiteness: The "Whiteness" option regulates the strength of the white tones within the glow effect. By adjusting this setting, you can finely control the level of whiteness present in the glow, tailoring the effect to your preferences. This feature allows you to enhance or tone down the brilliance of white within the neon effect, providing the means to achieve the desired luminosity in your image.

Brightness: The "Brightness" slider serves as the key control for managing the luminosity of the glow applied to the selected object. By utilizing this slider, you can precisely adjust the brightness level, allowing you to attain the perfect level of radiance that aligns with your creative preferences.

Contrast: The "Contrast" slider is a critical control that directly influences the degree of difference between an image's light and dark regions. Essentially, it determines how well-defined and distinct the variations in brightness appear throughout the image. Increasing the contrast creates more pronounced variations between the light and dark areas, resulting in a visually bold and dynamic effect. Conversely, reducing contrast lessens the distinctions between light and dark, yielding a softer, more subdued appearance. Thus, adjusting the contrast plays a pivotal role in shaping an image's visual appeal and clarity, making it a fundamental parameter in image editing and photography.

Background: The "Background" slider adjusts the brightness of the background surrounding the selected object. Using this slider, you can easily make the background appear lighter or darker as needed. This control allows you to fine-tune the background's luminosity, helping you to achieve the desired contrast between the object and its surroundings in your image.

Outer Glow

The "Outer Glow" option is tailored to apply a radiant effect to the outer surface of the selected object. This feature enables you to create a glowing border or halo around the object, enhancing its visual prominence and giving it a captivating and ethereal appearance.

Amount: By adjusting the "Amount," you can control the thickness and intensity of the inner glow, enabling you to achieve the desired level of luminosity for your creative purposes.

Size: The "Size" slider determines the reach of the glow surrounding the object. With this slider, you can precisely adjust the distance over which the glow extends from the object, offering you the flexibility to customize the spread in accordance with your creative intent and the particular needs of your image.

Hue: The "Hue" setting is a powerful tool for manipulating the color range of the glow in your neon effect. Using this control, you can finely adjust the hues, allowing you to customize and select the color palette that best complements your creative vision. This feature grants you precise control over the neon effect's color, enabling you to achieve the desired aesthetic quickly.

Whiteness: The "Whiteness" option regulates the strength of the white tones within the glow effect. By adjusting this setting, you can finely control the level of whiteness present in the glow, tailoring the effect to your preferences. This feature allows you to enhance or tone down the brilliance of white within the neon effect, providing the means to achieve the desired luminosity in your image.

Sparkles

Amount: By adjusting the "Amount," you can control the thickness and intensity of the sparkles, enabling you to achieve the desired level for your creative purposes.

Spread: The "Spread" setting allows you to control the extent of sparkles to your selection. By adjusting the slider, you can determine the degree to which the neon effect enhances the luminosity of your selection, providing flexibility in achieving the desired level of radiance.

Hue: The "Hue" setting is a powerful tool for manipulating the color range of the sparkles in your neon effect. Using this control, you can finely adjust the hues, allowing you to customize and select the color palette that best complements your creative vision. This feature grants you precise control over the sparkle effect's color, enabling you to achieve the desired aesthetic quickly.

Masking

Masks allow you to hide or obscure an effect in parts of an image. To fine-tune an effect in select areas, brush it in or out.

Luminar Neo offers four types of masks:

• Brush Mask. Using a Brush Mask is one of the easiest ways to mask an image. You can use brush strokes to add to or subtract from the mask.
• Linear Gradient Mask. The Linear Gradient Mask is useful for creating a gradual blend.
• Radial Gradient Mask. A Radial Gradient Mask offers a quick and easy way to mask an elliptical area of your photo.
• Mask AI. MaskAI detects up to nine separate elements in a photo: people, skies, buildings, vehicles, water, plants, mountains, and both natural and artificial ground for the perfect mask.

Hey! Check the full guide on how Neon and Glow can be used

The Mystical tool gives your image a dreamy look by softening the luminescence while increasing the contrast and saturation. It can create a fantasy look by increasing contrast and adding a creative glow prioritized in the lighter areas of the image.

Standard Settings

• Amount. This slider adjusts the overall strength of the tool. For a moderate effect and a more realistic image, keep the value of the Amount slider below 40. If the Amount value is 0, the tool is not applied. Move the slider to the right to increase the Amount.
• Shadows. This slider adjusts the black point for the darker areas of the image.
• Smoothness. This slider controls the smoothness of the Mystical effect. A higher value creates a gentler blend between the affected and unaffected areas of the image.

Colorize

• Saturation. This slider is a practical way to adjust the color saturation of the Mystical effect.
• Warmth. This slider adjusts the Mystical effect’s hue towards the spectrum’s warm end.

Note More options
At a low setting, the Mystical tool will give the image more contrast and can increase color.

The Glow tool is helpful in creating a lighting effect in photos. It’s especially useful for bright areas in your image, such as streetlights or the sky.

Standard Settings

• Type (Soft Focus). This drop-down menu allows you to choose from four glow effects: Soft Focus, Glow, Orton Effect, and Orton Effect Soft.
• Amount. This slider sets the overall strength of the tool. If the Amount value is 0, the tool is not applied. Move the slider to the right to apply the tool and increase the Amount.

Advanced Settings

• Softness. This slider controls the softness of the Glow effect. A higher value creates a gentler blend between the affected and unaffected areas of the image.
• Brightness. Use this slider to control the brightness of the effect.
• Contrast. Use this slider to set the contrast in the areas of the image to which the Glow tool is applied.
• Warmth. With this slider, you can make the hue of the Glow effect warmer or cooler.

Note: Where did the Orton Effect go?
The Orton Effect has been merged with the Glow tool. You can access it using the Type dropdown menu.

 

Blur

The Blur tool effortlessly incorporates three distinct blur styles into your photos: Gaussian, Motion, and Twisted. Additionally, you can fine-tune the blur effect's intensity, angle, and position while using masking to target your image's specific areas. Blur serves a dual purpose, enabling you to rectify issues within your image or apply a creative touch. Here's a quick exploration of the tool and its applications.

Gaussian Blur

Gaussian blur is a blurring technique that creates a soft and smooth effect by averaging pixel values within a specified radius. It's commonly used to reduce noise, enhance skin tones, or create a gentle, dreamy atmosphere in photos.

Here's a step-by-step guide for applying Gaussian Blur to your image to enhance focus on the subject while softening the background:

1. Access the Edit tab to reveal the editing tools within the window.
2. Next, navigate to the Creative Tools section and opt for the Blur tool.
3. Select the Gaussian Blur option and gently apply a small amount of blur until the background and surrounding areas achieve the desired softness.
4. Now, let's eliminate the blur effect from the main subject by employing a masking technique. Click on the Masking option, and then choose the Brush tool.
5. Confirm that your brush settings are configured with both softness and strength set at 100%, and fine-tune the brush size for precise targeting of the subject. To eliminate the blur effect, switch to the Erase mode.
6. As you paint over the subject with the brush, observe how the surrounding areas become beautifully soft while your main subject remains sharply in focus.

Twisted Blur

Twisted blur is a more artistic and unconventional blur effect. It distorts the image by twisting and distorting pixel data, resulting in a surreal, swirling, or vortex-like appearance. This effect can be used for creative and abstract purposes, turning ordinary photos into visually captivating works of art.

Here's a step-by-step guide to getting creative with your image:

1. Begin by duplicating the layer. Right-click on the layer and choose the "Duplicate" option.
2. Now, you'll be working on the new duplicated layer. Select the Blur Tool once more.
3. This time, opt for the "Twisted" blur type and apply it at a strength of 100%. You can adjust the angle and center of the blur if needed, but the default settings look good for this image.
4. Take note of the artistic effect created in the surrounding areas due to the Twisted blur.
5.  Just as before, mask out the subject to reveal the bottom layer. Make sure you're in "Erase Mode" when doing this.

Feel free to embark on further experimentation to enhance the artistic appeal of your image. Consider incorporating additional elements, such as a texture layer, which can introduce intriguing depth and tactile qualities to your composition. Additionally, don't forget to explore the possibilities of adding a vignette, a subtle shading, or a border effect, which can frame your image beautifully and draw attention to the focal point, adding a finishing touch to your artistic vision.

 

Motion Blur

Motion blur replicates the visual effect of objects in motion, such as a speeding car or a swiftly moving subject. It generates streaks or trails in the direction of motion, adding a dynamic and kinetic quality to the image, often employed in sports or action photography.

Here's a step-by-step guide to adding a creative motion effect to an image:

1. Begin by duplicating the layer. Right-click on the layer and select the "Duplicate" option.
2. Next, head to the Creative Tools section and choose the Blur tool.
3. Within the Blur tool options, select "Motion Blur" and set the amount to 100%. Keep the angle at its default value of 0.
4. To make the motion effect more prominent, close the Blur Tool by clicking the "Blur" title and reopen it.
5. Reapply the same settings with a 100% blur amount.
6. Now, stretch the duplicated layer. Open the Layer to reveal a bounding box around it. Click on the center point along one side and drag it outward to elongate the image. You can also move the image to the left to reveal the bottom layer.
7. Lower the opacity of the stretched layer to reveal the bottom layer more prominently. Adjust the position as needed.
8. Like the previous tutorial, mask the subject's face on the top layer to maintain clarity.

 

Consider adding light leaks and overlays to enhance the effect further for a creative finishing touch.

Tilt-Shift

Tilt-Shift is a specialized tool designed to replicate the appearance of miniature models or dioramas within your photos. With this feature, you can easily craft a shallow depth of field effect, selectively blurring chosen areas to give the impression of miniaturization. Tilt-Shift imparts a charming, toy-like quality to your images, effectively transforming real-world scenes into delightful miniature models offering a unique and creative dimension to your photography.

Final takeaway

The Blur tool provides a versatile and powerful set of tools for enhancing your photos. With the ability to seamlessly apply Tilt-Shift, Gaussian, Motion, and Twisted blur styles and precise control over intensity, angle, and positioning, this tool offers both practical and creative possibilities. The masking feature allows for selective application, ensuring your edits are tailored to your image's unique requirements. Whether you're looking to fix imperfections or infuse artistic flair, the Blur tool is a valuable asset in your photo editing toolkit. This quick exploration has merely scratched the surface of its potential, inviting you to explore further and unlock the boundless possibilities it offers for your image enhancement endeavors.

 

Film Grain Tool

 

The Film Grain tool emulates the structure of analog film stock by introducing random, stylized grain to your image. Keep in mind that grain and noise are different things. Use grain to give your color or black and white photos a simple analog feel.

Standard Settings

• Amount. This slider controls the degree of graininess in the image.

Size & Roughness

• Size. This slider adjusts the size of individual grains.
• Roughness. This slider allows you to select the coarseness of the grain.