Luminar Neo UPDATE 1.10 - Improvements but is Upscale AI Better?

The video discusses the latest update for Luminar Neo, version 1.10, focusing on the improvements made to the software's upscale AI feature. The host, excited by the potential to enhance old, low-resolution photos, compares the results from the previous version (1.09) with the new one. While acknowledging the significant improvements in user interface, speed, and stability, the host also highlights the limitations of the face enhancer feature, which can distort faces. The video concludes that, despite the enhancements, there is still room for improvement in the upscale AI, suggesting viewers check out alternative software for better results.

Takeaways

• 📸 **Update 1.10 for Luminar Neo**: The latest update brings improvements to the software, including a revamped upscale AI algorithm.
• 🔍 **Upscale AI Enhancement**: The upscale AI extension aims to improve the quality of low-resolution images, a feature that has been updated in version 1.10.
• 📈 **User Interface Improvements**: Luminar Neo now allows users to collapse extension modules for a cleaner interface and easier navigation as more extensions are added.
• 🎨 **Creative Assets Access**: An 'Extras' tab has been added for easy access to creative assets, presets, new skies, LUTs, and overlays.
• 📚 **Tool Information**: A new info icon provides users with more information about the tools within the editing section, enhancing the user experience.
• 📷 **New Camera Support**: The update includes support for the Sony zve E1 and the Sony fx30, expanding compatibility with newer camera models.
• ⏱️ **Performance Improvements**: Masking in Mask AI and enhancements in Sky AI have seen improvements in speed and accuracy.
• 🔍 **Upscale AI Testing**: The video demonstrates the before and after effects of the upscale AI on old, low-resolution photos, showing noticeable improvements with the new algorithm.
• 🖼️ **Face Enhancer Caution**: The face enhancer feature within the upscale AI still requires refinement, as it can alter faces in unnatural ways.
• 🚀 **Competitive Comparison**: The video includes a teaser of what is possible with rival software, indicating that while Luminar Neo's upscale AI has improved, there is still room for further development.
• 📝 **Recommendation**: For users with a large collection of low-resolution photos, the video suggests looking into alternative software for superior upscaling results, with a follow-up video promised for detailed instructions.

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 improvements in the Upscale AI extension, which aims to enhance the quality and resolution of low-resolution images.

What was the user's initial dissatisfaction with the previous version of Luminar Neo's Upscale AI?

The user was initially dissatisfied with the previous version of Luminar Neo's Upscale AI because it did not significantly improve the quality of upscaled images and barely made any noticeable difference.

How does the user interface improvement in Luminar Neo 1.10 enhance the user experience?

The user interface improvement in Luminar Neo 1.10 allows users to collapse extension modules, making it easier to navigate and access new extensions as they are released without having to scroll through a long list.

What new feature has been added to Luminar Neo to support creative expansion?

Luminar Neo has added an 'Extras' tab, which provides easy access to the marketplace for users to add creative assets such as presets, new skies, look-up tables, and overlays.

How has the updated version of Luminar Neo improved the masking in Mask AI?

The developers have worked on both the speed and accuracy of the masking in the updated version of Luminar Neo, enhancing the overall performance of the Mask AI.

What cameras does Luminar Neo 1.10 now support?

Luminar Neo 1.10 has added support for the new Sony cameras, the ZV-E1 and the FX30.

What is the user's overall impression of the improvements in Luminar Neo 1.10?

The user appreciates the continuous improvements and admires the hard work of the developers in Ukraine. They notice that with each update, the software becomes faster, smoother, and more enjoyable to use.

What issue does the user find with the Face Enhancer feature in the Upscale AI?

The user finds that the Face Enhancer feature tends to alter the appearance of faces in an unnatural way, changing the geometry of the face and making it look unlike the original subject.

How does the user describe the performance of the Upscale AI in Luminar Neo 1.10 compared to its previous version?

The user describes the performance of the Upscale AI in Luminar Neo 1.10 as a definite improvement over the previous version, although they note it was not very good initially, so it wasn't difficult to make progress.

What does the user suggest for those with a large catalog of low-resolution, compressed photos?

The user suggests checking out a rival software that they will discuss in a follow-up video and provide a link to in the video description, as it can help breathe life back into low-resolution, compressed photos more effectively than the current Upscale AI in Luminar Neo.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Luminar Neo Update 1.10 Overview

The video discusses the latest update for Luminar Neo, version 1.10, which has excited the speaker due to its potential to improve old photos. The speaker reminisces about their Nikon D70, a 6-megapixel DSLR camera from nearly 20 years ago, and the limitations of its image quality by today's standards. They highlight the Luminar Neo's upscale AI extension, designed to enhance low-resolution images, which previously did not meet their expectations. The update promises an improved algorithm for upscaling, and the video aims to explore the enhancements. The process of updating to Luminar Neo 1.10 is shown, followed by a tour of new features, including a revamped user interface with collapsible extension modules, an 'Extras' tab for creative assets, and marketplace access. The video also covers updates to the editing section with an info icon for tool explanations, support for new Sony cameras, and improvements to Mask AI and Sky AI. The speaker emphasizes the continuous hard work by the developers in Ukraine to enhance the user experience.

05:01

🔍 Upscaling Improvements in Luminar Neo 1.10

The video presents a detailed comparison between Luminar Neo's upscale AI in version 1.09 and the updated version 1.10. The speaker uses a series of old photos to demonstrate the improvements, noting that while the older version barely made a difference, the new version shows a marked enhancement in image quality, particularly in handling JPEG compression and pixelation. However, the video cautions against using the 'face enhancer' feature, as it can lead to unnatural and undesirable alterations in facial features. The speaker also teases the potential of AI upscaling with a glimpse of a rival software's superior results, promising a future video detailing how to achieve such results. The video concludes with a look at how the new upscale AI handles animals in photos, showing a significant improvement over the previous version, although still noting that there is considerable room for further enhancement.

10:02

🦌 Animal Image Upscaling and Final Thoughts

The speaker evaluates Luminar Neo's updated upscale AI on animal images, comparing the results from version 1.09 to 1.10. They note that the new version provides a clearer and better upscale than its predecessor, despite the images becoming slightly soft. The video also revisits a personal photo of the speaker's wife from over 20 years ago, comparing the upscaling results from the older and newer versions of Luminar Neo. While the update shows improvement, the speaker expresses a preference for the original upscaling method in this particular case. They highlight the face enhancer AI's positive impact but also show its potential to cause distortions. The video concludes with a recommendation for viewers with a large collection of low-resolution photos to explore alternative software for better upscaling results. The speaker promises to provide a link to this software and to deliver a follow-up video demonstrating how to use it for improved image upscaling.

Keywords

Luminar Neo

Luminar Neo is a photo editing software that has been updated to version 1.10. The software is designed to enhance photography through various extensions and features, including an upscale AI extension that improves the quality of low-resolution images. In the video, the presenter discusses the improvements made in the latest update and how they affect the user experience.

Update 1.10

This refers to the latest version of the Luminar Neo software, which includes several enhancements and new features. The update is the focus of the video as the presenter explores the changes and improvements it brings to the software's capabilities, particularly in the area of image upscaling.

Upscale AI

The Upscale AI is an extension within Luminar Neo that is designed to increase the size of low-resolution files and improve their quality. The presenter expresses initial dissatisfaction with the results from previous versions but shows enthusiasm for the improvements made in Update 1.10.

User Interface Improvement

This refers to the changes made to the software's interface to improve user experience. In the context of the video, the presenter highlights the ability to collapse extension modules for easier navigation as a significant user interface improvement in the new update.

Creative Assets

Creative assets are additional elements such as presets, new skies, look-up tables, and overlays that users can add to Luminar Neo to expand their creative possibilities. The video mentions an 'Extras' tab that provides easy access to these assets.

Masking in Mask AI

This feature within Luminar Neo involves the use of AI to create masks around subjects in photos, allowing for more precise and efficient editing. The video discusses improvements to the speed and accuracy of this process in the new update.

Sky AI

Sky AI is a tool within Luminar Neo that helps users change the sky in their photos with more realism and ease. Enhancements to this tool are mentioned as part of the update, with the presenter demonstrating its capabilities.

JPEG Compression

JPEG compression is a method of reducing the size of image files by selectively reducing some of the image data. However, it can lead to a loss in quality, visible as pixelation or artifacts. The video discusses how Luminar Neo's Upscale AI aims to improve the quality of images with heavy JPEG compression.

Face Enhancer AI

This is a feature within Luminar Neo's Upscale AI that is intended to improve the quality and appearance of faces in photos. The presenter demonstrates both the positive and negative aspects of this feature, showing how it can sometimes lead to unnatural results.

Sony Cameras

The video mentions that the new update of Luminar Neo includes support for new Sony camera models, specifically the zve E1 and the Sony fx30. This indicates that the software is being updated to be compatible with the latest photography equipment.

AI Upscaling

AI Upscaling is the process of using artificial intelligence to increase the resolution of images while maintaining or enhancing their quality. The video compares the results of Luminar Neo's Upscale AI with other software, showing the potential and limitations of AI-driven image enhancement.

Highlights

Luminar Neo has released an update to version 1.10 with improvements to the upscale AI extension.

The update aims to enhance the quality of low-resolution images, such as those from an old Nikon d70 DSLR camera.

The upscale AI process has been revamped with an improved algorithm in the latest update.

Users can now update Luminar Neo to the newest version through the application's menu.

The user interface has been improved with the ability to collapse extension modules for better organization.

The Extras tab provides easy access to creative assets, presets, new Skies, and other editing tools.

Additional tool information is now available through an info icon for users seeking guidance on tool usage.

Support for new Sony cameras, the zve E1 and the Sony fx30, has been added.

There have been improvements to the masking in Mask AI, enhancing both speed and accuracy.

Sky AI has also seen enhancements, with better sky replacement in low-resolution photos.

Incremental improvements have been made to the overall editing experience, making it faster and smoother.

The upscale AI has been improved from a previous state of dissatisfaction to a more satisfactory result.

The face enhancer feature within the upscale AI needs further refinement as it can alter faces unnaturally.

A teaser is given for a future video that will explore even more advanced AI upscaling possibilities.

The updated upscale AI handles animal photos better, reducing JPEG compression artifacts.

Despite improvements, the upscale AI still has limitations and may not fully replace the need for other upscaling software.

A recommendation is made to check out alternative software for users with a large catalog of low-resolution photos.

A follow-up video will be released to provide more details on how to achieve better upscaled images.