Luminar Neo UPDATE 1.10 - Improvements but is Upscale AI Better?
TLDRIn this video review, the presenter discusses the latest update for Luminar Neo, version 1.10. They express excitement about the potential to improve old, low-resolution photos using the software's upscale AI feature. The video provides a step-by-step guide on how to update Luminar Neo and highlights new features such as a user interface improvement for collapsing extension modules, easier access to creative assets through the extras tab, and additional tool information for users. The presenter also notes improvements in mask AI and sky AI. However, the main focus is on the upscale AI's performance, comparing results from version 1.09 with the updated 1.10. While acknowledging that the new version shows noticeable improvements, the presenter also points out issues with the face enhancer feature, which can distort faces. They conclude by suggesting that for users with a large collection of low-resolution photos, there are other software options that might yield better results and tease a future video detailing those alternatives.
Takeaways
- 📷 **Luminar Neo Update 1.10**: A new update has been released for Luminar Neo, bringing improvements to the software.
- 🔍 **Upscale AI Enhancement**: The update includes a revamped algorithm for the Upscale AI extension, which aims to improve the quality of low-resolution images.
- 📱 **User Interface Improvements**: The UI has been updated with the ability to collapse extension modules for better navigation as more extensions are added.
- 🎨 **Creative Assets Access**: Users can now easily add creative assets through the 'Extras' tab, which provides access to presets, new skies, LUTs, and overlays.
- 📚 **Tool Information**: An info icon has been added to tools for quick access to information about the tool and its usage.
- 📸 **Camera Support**: The update adds support for new Sony cameras, the ZV-E1 and the FX30.
- ✅ **Masking and Sky AI Enhancements**: Improvements have been made to the speed and accuracy of the Mask AI, as well as enhancements to the Sky AI.
- 🔍 **Upscale AI Testing**: The video includes a comparison of the Upscale AI's performance between version 1.09 and 1.10, showing noticeable improvements in image quality.
- 🖼️ **Face Enhancer Caution**: The Face Enhancer feature within the Upscale AI needs improvement, as it can alter faces in undesirable ways.
- 🚀 **Competitive Upscaling**: The video provides a teaser of what is possible with rival software for upscaling, suggesting that while Luminar Neo has improved, there's still progress to be made.
- 📈 **Overall Positive Update**: Despite some areas needing further refinement, the update to Luminar Neo is seen as a positive step forward in terms of speed, stability, and user experience.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the Luminar Neo update 1.10?
-The main focus of the Luminar Neo update 1.10 is the revamp of the upscale AI algorithm, which aims to improve the quality of low-resolution images.
What is the user interface improvement introduced in Luminar Neo 1.10?
-The user interface improvement in Luminar Neo 1.10 includes the ability to collapse and expand extension modules, making it easier to navigate through different extensions without scrolling.
How can users update to the latest version of Luminar Neo?
-Users can update to the latest version of Luminar Neo by going to the Luminar Neo menu, selecting 'Help', and then checking for updates. Once the update is downloaded, they can click 'Install Updates' and accept the terms to complete the process.
What new features are available in the 'Extras' tab of Luminar Neo?
-The 'Extras' tab in Luminar Neo provides easy access to add creative assets, including new extensions, presets, new Skies, LUTs (Look Up Tables), and overlays. It also provides access to the X membership for Luminar.
What is the purpose of the 'Info Icon' in the editing section of Luminar Neo?
-The 'Info Icon' in the editing section of Luminar Neo provides users with more information about a particular tool, including its purpose and how to use it effectively.
Which new Sony cameras are supported in Luminar Neo 1.10?
-Luminar Neo 1.10 adds support for the Sony zve E1 and the Sony fx30 cameras.
What improvements have been made to the Mask AI and Sky AI tools in Luminar Neo 1.10?
-The Mask AI tool has seen improvements in both speed and accuracy of the masking process. The Sky AI tool has also been enhanced, though specific details of the improvements are not provided in the transcript.
How does the upscale AI in Luminar Neo 1.10 handle face enhancement?
-The upscale AI in Luminar Neo 1.10 has a face enhancer option, but it can sometimes result in unnatural changes to the face, such as altering the hair and facial geometry, which may not be desirable.
What is the general improvement observed in the upscale AI after the update to version 1.10?
-The upscale AI in Luminar Neo 1.10 shows a general improvement in image quality over the previous version, with better handling of JPEG compression and pixelation, although it can still result in a softer image.
What advice does the speaker give for users with a large catalog of low-resolution photos?
-The speaker recommends checking out a different software for upscaling low-resolution photos, which they will link in the description, as it offers better results than Luminar Neo's upscale AI, despite its improvements.
Will there be a follow-up video discussing the rival software for better upscaling results?
-Yes, the speaker mentions that they will be doing a follow-up video that will provide more details on how to create improved upscale images using the rival software.
Outlines
📸 Luminar Neo Update 1.10 Overview
The video introduces an update for the Luminar Neo software, version 1.10, which the presenter is excited about due to its potential to improve old photos. The presenter reminisces about their Nikon D70, a 6-megapixel DSLR camera, and how the images it produced don't compare to today's standards. They discuss the Luminar Neo's upscale AI extension, which aims to enhance low-resolution files. Despite previous dissatisfaction with the results, the presenter is hopeful about the revamped algorithm in the new update. The video also covers how to update to the latest version of Luminar Neo, user interface improvements, the addition of an 'extras' tab for creative assets, and enhancements to the masking and sky AI tools. The presenter appreciates the continuous efforts of the developers at Skylum, based in Ukraine, to improve the user experience.
🔍 Upscale AI Improvements and Comparison
The presenter compares the performance of Luminar Neo's upscale AI in version 1.09 and 1.10 using old photos. They note that the previous version did little to improve the quality of low-resolution images, merely stretching existing pixels. However, the 1.10 version shows a marked improvement in quality, particularly in handling JPEG compression artifacts. The presenter also cautions against using the 'face enhancer' feature, as it can lead to unnatural results, such as altering facial features and hair. They tease the possibility of better upscaled results using a different, unspecified software and promise a future video detailing how to achieve those results.
🐾 Animal and Portrait Upscaling Test
The presenter evaluates the updated upscale AI's performance on a photo of an animal and a portrait of his wife from over 20 years ago. They note that while the new version of Luminar Neo's upscale AI shows improvement over the previous version, it still results in a softer image. The presenter also reiterates the issues with the face enhancer feature, which significantly alters the appearance of the subject in an undesirable way. Despite these shortcomings, they acknowledge the improvements made by the Skylum team and suggest an alternative software for better upscaling results, which they plan to discuss in more detail in a follow-up video.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Luminar Neo
💡Upscale AI
💡User Interface Improvement
💡Creative Assets
💡Masking in Mask AI
💡Sky AI
💡JPEG Compression
💡Face Enhancer AI
💡Sony Cameras
💡X Membership
💡AI Upscaling
Highlights
Luminar Neo has released an update to version 1.10, featuring improvements and new features.
The update includes a revamped algorithm for the Upscale AI extension, aiming to enhance low-resolution images.
A user interface improvement allows for collapsing extension modules for easier navigation.
The Extras tab provides easy access to add creative assets and extensions.
An info icon has been added for more details on each tool within the editing section.
Support for new Sony cameras, the ZV-E1 and FX30, has been added.
Improvements to Mask AI and Sky AI have been made, enhancing speed and accuracy.
The upscale AI's performance is put to the test with old photos to see the improvements.
A four times scale increase is demonstrated on a very small file to show the upscaling capabilities.
The updated upscale AI shows significant improvements over the previous version.
The Face Enhancer feature is shown to have mixed results and requires further refinement.
A teaser is given for a future video discussing a rival software's superior upscaling capabilities.
The update has made strides in the right direction, though there is still room for improvement.
The reviewer appreciates the developers' efforts and the improvements made in the update.
A recommendation is made to check out alternative software for upscaling low-res photos.
A future video will provide more details on how to achieve better upscaled images using different software.