Removing Backgrounds: Photoshop vs Luminar Neo

Cristi Kerekes
4 Feb 202411:54

TLDRIn a head-to-head comparison, the video evaluates the effectiveness of Adobe Photoshop and Luminar Neo in removing backgrounds from images using AI. The challenge is divided into two stages: a one-click stage and a refinement stage. Photoshop takes the lead in the first stage with more precise selections and better edge definition. However, Luminar Neo shows promise in handling simpler subjects and offers a quicker refinement process in certain cases. Despite some difficulties, particularly with more complex subjects, both softwares demonstrate their capabilities and potential. The video concludes that while Photoshop has an edge in selection tools and AI, Luminar Neo is a strong contender, particularly for other AI-based tasks, and could benefit from more precise manual selection tools in the future.

Takeaways

  • 🤖 AI-powered background removal in both Photoshop and Luminar Neo is convenient but not always perfect, requiring manual refinement.
  • 🏆 In the one-click stage without additional help, Photoshop was more precise, especially in edge definition.
  • 🎨 Photoshop's 'Select Subject' tool with the cloud option provided better results than the device option, despite missing some details.
  • 🖌 Luminar Neo's 'Refinements Brush' allows for real-time adjustments but can struggle with areas of similar colors.
  • ✂️ Photoshop's selection tools, such as the Polygonal Lasso, offer more precise control for refining edges.
  • 🚀 For the second photo, Luminar Neo performed better in the one-click stage, handling more complex areas and fingers more effectively.
  • 🛠️ Photoshop's refinement tools, like the Select and Mask panel, provide more control and precision for finalizing selections.
  • 🤔 Despite having more controls, Photoshop's refinement process can be more time-consuming compared to Luminar Neo's quicker adjustments.
  • ✈️ In the airplane photo, Photoshop's cloud-based 'Select Subject' outperformed Luminar Neo, which struggled with the clean and simple image.
  • 🏆 Overall, Photoshop won more points for its advanced selection tools and the effectiveness of its cloud AI for subject selection.
  • 🌟 Luminar Neo is praised for its AI capabilities in tasks beyond selection, such as sky replacements and object repairs.

Q & A

  • What are the two softwares being compared in the transcript for background removal?

    -The two softwares being compared are Adobe Photoshop and Luminar Neo.

  • What are the two stages of the cutout challenge described in the transcript?

    -The two stages are the one-click stage, where the software does the job without additional help, and the refine stage, where the user tries to improve the result using tools available in the programs.

  • What is the name of the feature in Luminar Neo used to remove the background?

    -The feature in Luminar Neo used to remove the background is called 'Background Removal'.

  • How does the 'Select Subject' tool in Photoshop work?

    -The 'Select Subject' tool in Photoshop works by analyzing the image to identify the main subject. It offers two options: 'Device' for faster results processed locally, and 'Cloud' for more detailed results processed in the cloud.

  • What tool in Photoshop did the user use to refine the edges of the selection?

    -The user used the 'Polygonal Lasso Tool' and the 'Select and Mask' panel to refine the edges of the selection in Photoshop.

  • Which software won the first stage of the cutout challenge for the Star Wars robot image?

    -Photoshop won the first stage of the cutout challenge for the Star Wars robot image as it was more precise and had better defined edges.

  • What is the name of the tool in Luminar Neo used for refining the selection after background removal?

    -The tool in Luminar Neo used for refining the selection after background removal is called 'Refinements Brush'.

  • How did the user feel about the initial selection result of the airplane image in Luminar Neo?

    -The user was disappointed with the initial selection result of the airplane image in Luminar Neo as it was very poor and did not accurately select the object.

  • What is the user's opinion on the overall performance of Photoshop for selection tools?

    -The user believes that Photoshop is better developed at the selection tools, offering better control over the edges and more precise manual controls in combination with AI.

  • What is the user's suggestion for improvement in Luminar Neo?

    -The user suggests that Luminar Neo could benefit from more precise selection tools beyond AI and brushes, and the ability to have more manual controls for the edges of the selections.

  • What is the user's final verdict on which software performed better in the cutout challenge?

    -The user concludes that Photoshop performed better in the cutout challenge, particularly in the second stage where manual refinement tools provided more precise control.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 AI Cutout Challenge: Photoshop vs Luminar Neo

The video script details a cutout challenge between two softwares, Photoshop and Luminar Neo, to determine which performs better in isolating subjects from their backgrounds. The comparison is structured into two stages: a one-click stage that relies solely on the software's AI, and a refine stage where manual tools are used to improve the selection. The video includes a scoring system based on the results of each stage, with the first paragraph focusing on a Star Wars robot image. The AI's initial performance, subsequent manual refinements, and the user's commentary on the ease of use and effectiveness of each software's tools are discussed in detail.

05:02

🏂 Ski Jumper & Airplane: Comparing AI Selection Refinements

The second paragraph of the script continues the cutout challenge with a ski jumper and an airplane image. It evaluates how each software performs with different types of subjects and backgrounds. The video demonstrates the initial AI selection results and the subsequent refinement process for both images using the respective software's tools. The user expresses disappointment with some of the results, particularly with Photoshop's device option and Luminar Neo's handling of the airplane image. The paragraph concludes with a score update, favoring Photoshop after the refinement stage, and a teaser for a future video on a professional trick for cutting out trees in Photoshop.

10:02

🛠️ Manual Controls and AI: The Future of Selection Tools

The final paragraph reflects on the overall challenge and the user's experience with both softwares. It discusses the strengths of Photoshop's selection tools and manual controls, as well as the advanced AI selection capabilities of Photoshop. The user acknowledges Luminar Neo's potential, especially for tasks beyond selection, such as sky replacements. The paragraph concludes with the user's opinion that while Photoshop currently excels due to its maturity in the market, Luminar Neo shows promise and could benefit from more precise selection tools beyond AI and brushes.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the context of the video, AI is used to automate the process of cutting out subjects from their backgrounds in photos, which is a key theme of the video as it compares the capabilities of Photoshop and Luminar Neo in this regard.

💡Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a widely used software for image editing and manipulation. It is mentioned in the video as one of the two software options being compared for their AI-driven background removal capabilities. The video discusses the different selection tools available in Photoshop, such as 'Select Subject' with 'Device' and 'Cloud' options, and how they perform in the challenge.

💡Luminar Neo

Luminar Neo is a photo editing software that utilizes AI technology for various editing tasks. The video compares its background removal features with those of Photoshop. It is highlighted for its 'Background Removal' and 'Refinements Brush' tools, which are used to select and refine the subjects in images.

💡Background Removal

Background removal is the process of separating a subject from its background in a photo. This is the main focus of the video, where the host tests and compares the efficiency and accuracy of background removal in both Photoshop and Luminar Neo using AI technology.

💡Object Selection

Object selection refers to the process of isolating a specific object within an image for editing purposes. In the video, object selection is a critical aspect of the background removal challenge, where the host uses tools like 'Select Subject' in Photoshop and 'Background Removal' in Luminar Neo to select the subjects.

💡Refinement Tools

Refinement tools are used to make adjustments and improvements to an initial selection or edit. The video showcases the 'Refinements Brush' in Luminar Neo and various selection tools like 'Polygonal Lasso' in Photoshop, which are used in the second stage of the challenge to refine the selections made by AI.

💡One-Click Stage

The one-click stage is the first part of the challenge where the software is allowed to make the selection without any manual intervention from the user. It is used to test the standalone effectiveness of the AI in both Photoshop and Luminar Neo.

💡Refine Stage

The refine stage is the second part of the challenge where the host uses the software's tools to manually improve the AI's initial selection. This stage tests the user's ability to correct and fine-tune the selection for better results.

💡Masking

Masking is a technique used in image editing to hide or reveal certain parts of an image. In the video, the host uses masking to refine the edges of the selections, particularly in Photoshop, to achieve a smoother and more precise result.

💡Edge Smoothness

Edge smoothness refers to the quality of the boundaries between the selected subject and the background. The video discusses how both Photoshop and Luminar Neo handle edge smoothness during the refine stage, with tools available to improve the transition between the subject and the background.

💡Cloud Processing

Cloud processing involves using remote servers to perform computational tasks. In the context of the video, the 'Cloud' option in Photoshop's 'Select Subject' tool is mentioned as a method that is supposed to provide more accurate results due to its advanced AI training in the cloud.

Highlights

AI is used to cut out subjects in images with varying degrees of success in both Photoshop and Luminar Neo.

Photoshop and Luminar Neo are compared in a cutout challenge using AI with no additional help from the user.

Luminar Neo's background removal feature can analyze and select the main subject with a single click.

Photoshop offers two options for subject selection: device-based for speed and cloud-based for better accuracy.

In the first test, Photoshop's cloud-based selection was more precise and had better defined edges.

Luminar Neo's refinements brush allows for manual adjustments to the AI's selection.

Photoshop's select and mask panel provides tools for refining selections with more precision.

In the second photo test, Luminar Neo performed better in the initial AI selection.

Photoshop's refined edge brush was effective for fixing issues in the second photo test.

Luminar Neo was quicker in the refining stage of the second photo test, but lacked sharpness in the edges.

In the third photo test, Photoshop's cloud-based select subject method outperformed Luminar Neo's initial selection.

Photoshop's manual tools, such as the lasso and polygonal lasso, provided better control for refining selections.

Photoshop's advanced AI and manual controls combined to achieve better results in the cutout challenge.

Luminar Neo is praised for its AI capabilities in tasks like sky replacements and object selection for simple scenes.

The video suggests that Luminar Neo could benefit from more precise selection tools beyond AI and brushes.

Photoshop's long-standing presence in the market may contribute to its superior selection tools and capabilities.

The video offers a trick for cutting out trees in Photoshop, a task that can be challenging due to complex edges and colors.

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