Important new features have been added to Skylum’s award-winning photo editing software, delivering better-looking images with the minimum of fuss
Sponsored. Skylum has given its award winning Luminar Neo image editor a makeover, revolutionising photo editing by delivering even more cutting-edge AI features.
Aimed at all levels of photographer and allowing for cross-device editing between desktop computers and mobile devices, the program is now cleverer than ever at bringing out the best in your portraits and more.
The improvements focus on smarter AI tools and more creative control – from improved skin retouching to enhanced Bokeh AI. Even the inexperienced can quickly get up and running with the software. You can ask its AI assistant how to enhance photos, and which tools to use to bring out the wow factor.
Change your mind or can’t decide? No problem. Skylum Luminar Neo offers non-destructive editing, the ability to continue with projects at any time – and even integrated web galleries via ‘Spaces’.
Fixing old photos
To take just one example of how the software can support photographers, most of us have old, tarnished photos we’d love to repair, restore and perhaps even colorize. Luminar Neo’s AI enhancement tools now allow users to do just that at the click of a button, with no prior retouching experience required.
You can now also boost depth and drama with the Light Depth tool and see the effects of any adjustments in real time. Skylum Luminar Neo has won numerous awards and last year Skylum announced that more than 150 million photos worldwide had been edited with the software.
As of the start of 2026 – only the program’s fourth year in existence – its global user base has now grown to more than five million!
Smarter ways to improve your shots
Improvements for this year include enhancements across both the smartphone app and desktop program. In the mobile app, users now have access to Bokeh AI, alongside new Face AI features including Face Light and Face Slim. Within the Skin AI feature, Blemish Removal has also been significantly improved.
On the desktop program, the same Bokeh AI feature has now evolved beyond portraits to be able to also work its magic effectively on objects. Within Face AI, photographers have access to Dark Circles Removal, an improved tool that raises the benchmark in comparison with rival programs, thanks to the simple way in which strong results can be achieved.
The capabilities of Skin AI have also been expanded. They now include four new slider tools. These are: Face Skin Smoothing, Body Smoothing and Shine Removal, the latter also now being fully automated. Helping portraits to look their very best, users additionally get a brand-new Blemish Removal tool in the latest update.
Further expanding on the must-have new features is Mask Feather, which softens mask edges for smoother blending. At every stage, a clear and intuitive user interface is provided, with the ability to see the potential of any changes made in real time. In practice this allows for wide variety of approaches and different creative choices to be made; all with a view to achieving the best possible result.
All good, and here’s some even better news: AP readers can get 10% off the freshly enhanced edition of Luminar Neo by using the code AP10 – click here to add it.
