Macphun News

From Skylum:

Luminar 2018 1.1.1 version for Windows:

• Added support for the following languages:
• English
• German
• Spanish
• French
• Portugal
• Chinese
• Korean
• Russian
• Japanese
• Added shift + scroll hotkey for brush size adjustment
• Curves filter improved
• Merge layers feature released
• Saving cropped image to document issue fixed
• Fixed several issues with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom plugins usage
• Sidebar UX improvements

Luminar 2018 version 1.1.1 for MAC:

• Fixed issues with Photos Extension
• RAW Develop support improved, added Leica Monochrome .DNG , HEIC formats, fixed support for Hasselblad and several other cameras.
• Fixed several issues with Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom plugins usage
• Fixed issue with Dodge & Burn mask from documents created on Windows

The update is completely free to all Luminar 2018 users, and here is the instruction how to get it:

On Mac: Please, launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Menu Bar choose Luminar 2018 > Check for updates.
On Windows: Please, launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Toolbar choose Help > Check for updates.

Purchase Link: Luminar 2018

Both Luminar 2018 and Aurora HDR 2018 received updates recently that checked off some items on my personal wish lists, including native file saving (for Windows) and 16-bit TIFF exports. [Sean]

From Skylum/Macphun:

Luminar 2018 v.1.1.0

This free update brings the following new and improved features to improve your Luminar editing experience:

WINDOWS USERS

• Work faster. Luminar can now launch more quickly. Plus you’ll see a faster-editing performance and better RAM usage.
• Save Native files. Be sure to save your editing projects in the new native Luminar format. This makes it easy to come back and edit later.
• Clone & Stamp released. Remove objects and blemishes with ease!
• LUT Mapping. Any LUT you’ve chosen can now be stored to a preset with no need to link to the original .cube file.
• More export control. You can choose to export to the Adobe RGB wide color profile or the ProPhoto RGB color space on export. You can also sharpen an exported file which is great for printing.
• Better masking controls. Users can adjust both the feather and density controls on a mask to refine the blending of layers. When editing a mask, a user can also press the X hotkey to toggle between Paint/Erase brush mode.
• More editing control. Now even more raw formats can be edited natively with our RAW Develop filter. All filters also support advanced blending mode options as well.

MAC USERS

• Work faster. We’ve improved compatibility with OS X 10.10, 10.11 support. The Histogram also updates in real-time. Users will also enjoy Performance and RAM usage improvements. When editing press Cmd+L to quickly access the Filters list as well.
• RAW image improvements. Luminar does a better job of detecting noise in a raw file and automatically fixing it when you open to a photo. DNG file support is also improved for easier editing. Plus even more raw formats can be edited natively with our RAW Develop filter.
• Improved workflow with other applications. We’ve addressed several small bugs reported when working with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Lightroom, and Photos for Mac.
• Better batch processing. A streamlined user interface makes batch processing even easier to fix multiple photos at once. Additional improvements also made to address user-reported issues.
• Improved Native files. Save your editing projects in the native Luminar format which makes it easy to come back and edit in the future. Plus files can be shared between Mac and Windows users.
• LUT Mapping. Any LUT you’ve chosen can now be stored to a preset with no need to link to the original .cube file.
• More plugin support. Luminar can also use Topaz plugins within the Luminar editing workflow.
• Improved exports. Photos can now be exported to SmugMug for online sharing. The Sharpen on Export filter is also improved for crisper images.
• Better masking controls. Users can adjust the density controls on a mask to refine the blending of layers. When editing a mask, a user can also press the Backspace hotkey to reset gradient/radial mask drawing.

New Cameras Added

How to Update

• Mac – Please, launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Menu Bar choose Luminar 2018 > Check for updates.
• Windows – Please, launch Luminar 2018, on the Top Tool Bar choose Help > Check for updates.

This free update brings the following new and improved features to improve your Aurora HDR editing experience:

WINDOWS USERS

• RAW image improvements. Aurora HDR does a better job of detecting noise in a raw file and automatically fixing it when you open a photo. DNG file support is also improved for easier editing.
• Save Native files. Be sure to save your editing projects in the native Aurora HDR format. This makes it easy to come back and make edits. Plus files can be shared between Mac and Windows users.
• More export control. You can choose to export to the Adobe RGB wide color profile or the ProPhoto RGB color space on export. You can also sharpen an exported file which is great for printing. Plus even more file formats are supported including JPEG 2000, PSD, PDF. Creating TIFF files? You can control file compression, bit depth, and resolution on export too.
• Delete presets. You can now delete preset packs if you want to remove a set from your collection.

MAC USERS

• Improved Native files. Save your editing projects in the native Aurora HDR format which makes it easy to come back and edit in the future. Check the Windows compatibility option so files can be shared between Mac and Windows users.
• Improved workflow with other applications. We’ve addressed several small bugs reported when working with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.
• Work faster. We’ve improved compatibility with OS X 10.10, 10.11 support. The Histogram also updates in real-time. Users will also enjoy Performance and RAM usage improvements. When editing press Cmd+L to quickly access the Filters list as well.
• Import old Aurora HDR presets. You can now import presets from previous versions of Aurora HDR.

New Cameras Added

How to Update

The update is completely free to all Aurora HDR 2018 users, just launch the application to get it.

• Mac – Please choose Aurora HDR 2018 > Check for updates.
• Windows – Please choose Help > Check for updates.

Purchase Links:

• Luminar 2018
• Aurora HDR 2018

From Macphun/Skylum: Today, Apple named Aurora HDR 2018 as their Best Mac App of 2017. This is a big honor for all of the team and we’re very grateful to cap off a year of hard work this way. At the same time, we will continue to work hard to achieve our bigger goal of ensuring Aurora HDR is the industry standard for HDR photography

To celebrate this milestone, and help even more people access this great photography tool, Aurora HDR 2018 — both Mac & Windows — will be available for the rest of December at $20 OFF with a pack of special bonuses included. Read below for the detailed information about the offer.

Pricing:

• Current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade at a Special price of $39
• New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 for $79
• A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase.

Bonuses:

• Deep Dive video tutorial from Trey Ratcliff
• “How to create realistic HDR images” Ebook
• 2 Preset Packs - 40 presets! Preset pack 1 - Winter Vibes. Preset Pack 2 - Wonderland.

Download / Purchase: Aurora HDR 2018

Macphun/Skylum has released an update to Aurora HDR 2018. See below for details.

Changes include:

Aurora HDR 2018 version 1.1.1 for MAC:

• Added Luminar 2018 in plugin menu
• Added “Expand All” feature for filters
• Added support for Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018
• Added amount slider for image presets in Batch Processing
• Improved RAW, DNG support for several cameras including Nikon D850
• Improved Touch Bar support
• Improved Batch Processing UI
• Improved UI and performance
• Fixed localization issues
• Fixed several issues related to macOS 10.10
• Fixed colorspace mismatch issue with Adobe Photoshop plugin
• Fixed saving issues with Adobe Lightroom plugin
• Fixed DPI resolution issues on exporting files

Aurora HDR 2018 version 1.1.1 for Windows:

• Added Luminosity Mask feature
• Added Resize option to export dialog
• Added hotkeys for main application modes, brush, zoom
• Improved stability, particularly app crashes on exporting files
• Improved UI and performance
• Fixed issue with Adobe Photoshop plugin
• Fixed image orientation issue

Aurora HDR 2018 is designed to receive all free software updates automatically. However, if for some reason this doesn't occur, or you want to make sure you're using the latest version:

• For Mac choose "Check for updates" in the Aurora HDR 2018 menu in the upper left-hand corner (near the Apple logo).
• For Windows choose "Check for Updates" in the Help menu of the top bar menu.

While the UI for Aurora HDR 2018 is not necessarily my favorite, the results you can get with the program are great and well worth acclimatizing to its (somewhat quirky) interface. [Sean]

Macphun/Skylum Luminar 2018 v.1.0.1 has been released with the following changes:

Luminar 2018 version 1.0.1 for MAC:

• Fixed crash on saving to .PSD format
• Fixed bug when Adobe Photoshop Elements is unavailable.
• Fixed bug with Luminosity Mask preview on filter
• Fixed "Image Cannot be saved” issue with Adobe Lightroom
• Fixed RAW Develop\Develop issue when converting Panasonic files
• Added support for more Adobe Photoshop plugins, including Topaz Labs plugins
• Improved RAW processing on opening file
• Improved Windows preset preview
• Improved accuracy of the filter collapse/expand triangle control
• Improved application and Batch processing UI
• Fixed RAW Develop/Develop issue with DNG files
• Plus other performance improvements and fixes to the reported issues.

Luminar 2018 version 1.0.1 for Windows:

• Workspaces
• Luminosity Mask
• Image Resize & Sharpen on Export
• Improved Hotkeys support
• Improved RAW opening & processing
• RAW support for more cameras, including Nikon D850
• Fixed bug when launching Photoshop with a blank image
• PLUS; Improved performance and fixes for a number of reported bugs, including the fixed issue with LowRes image preview on layers with masks; Fixed progress bar for opening images.

Through November 29, use promo code THEDIGITALPICTURE at Macphun/Skylum to save $10.00 on the already discounted Black Friday pricing for new or upgrade purchases of Luminar 2018 and Aurora HDR 2018.

From Macphun/Skylum:

Luminar 2018 offers everything a modern photographer needs for photo editing, including new filters powered by artificial intelligence, major speed improvements, a dedicated RAW develop module and a forthcoming in 2018; digital asset management platform.

Users will also benefit from the new intelligent Sun Rays filter, LUT support, and real-time noise removal. With workspaces that match different styles of editing, Luminar adapts to deliver a complete experience that avoids clutter and complexity.

Luminar 2018 has been re-built from the ground up for dramatic performance boosts. Existing filters deliver richer colors and depth in less time. A brand new streamlined user interface speeds up working with presets, filters, and masks. With full support of pro options like layers, masks, and blending modes, complex repairs and photo composites can be easily accomplished.

Pre-Order Availability:

Luminar 2018 will be availabe for pre-order on November 1 and released on November 16.

Pre-Order Pricing:

• Current users of Luminar may upgrade at a special pre-order price of $39 ($49 MSRP)*
• New users can purchase Luminar 2018 at a special pre-order price of $59 ($69 MSRP)*

* A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase.

Pre-Order Bonuses:

• A Pack of signature presets and textures fro pro photography Nicolesy
• An Exclusive pack of LUTs
• 1-year Power plan from SmugMug ($72 value). For new accounts only

Preorder: Luminar 2018

From the Macphun (now SKYLUM) blog:

We started Macphun more than seven years ago as the team who built apps for iPhone. In the first three years, we released close to 60 different applications. Most of these apps were really far from photography.

But the biggest successes came from our photography applications. We topped more than 20,000,000 downloads with our most popular applications: FX Photo Studio, Silent Film Director, and Perfect photo.

Early in 2011, we launched our first photo software on the Mac App Store - FX Photo Studio Pro. A year later, we received our first recognition from Apple - Snapheal was named among the Best Apps on the App Store.

Since then, our products have been getting this (and similar awards) non-stop. I believe Macphun is the only photo software developer in the world to hold this recognition for five straight years in a row. We also have more “Apple Editor’s Choice” awards than most app developers on a Mac.

Throughout these years we grew and got bigger. We were driven by the idea of helping photographers on the Mac, to make stunning photos in less time.

We are still driven by this idea. But now on a much bigger scale!

We believe that photography is not about the platform or operating system you use. We believe that great photo editing and management tools should be available to you anywhere: be it on a desktop Windows machine, a Mac, in the cloud or your mobile device.

This year, for the first time ever, we have launched our products on the Windows platform. We also worked with our first enterprise clients to bring our imaging technologies to business customers around the world.

This year we have released the most advanced versions of Aurora HDR & Luminar for both PC and Mac photography communities. We’ve seen our audience grow this year to a level that is larger than the past three years combined.

The good news? We are just getting started…

We now have a vision of bringing photographers a truly worthy Adobe alternative. We feel we are among the few companies who can achieve this goal. Adobe is a fantastic company and a well-deserved industry leader. We admire them and our products work within their architecture as plug-ins. But we also have a great team, our own proprietary technology, and the community support to make a dent in that Universe.

We are changing our name to SKYLUM to reflect these changes, growth and plans.

We think that this name is a better fit, since we’re no longer a Mac-only developer. It’s also closer to where we want to go in the near future. The name change will be happening gradually. We will continue to use Macphun name this year, and early in 2018 we'll completely switch to SKYLUM.

But it’s not just about the new name…

The name is just a word if you don’t put an action behind it. We understand that!

Skylum is still small, and we will try much harder to continue our growth by putting our customers first. Luminar is not yet an Adobe alternative, and we will work hard to make it better.

We also know that photographers have high expectations and demands.We know the photo community has been confused by some of the latest changes and that some of you feel left behind. We promise that the team at Skylum will be different.

If you give us a chance, we’ll surprise you. We’ll make you happy with your new photo software. We’ll help you make incredible photos in less time. Let’s stay in touch as we grow together and welcome to Skylum Software.

Alex Tsepko, CEO of Skylum Software.

Macphun, makers of Aurora HDR 2018, are teasing a Digital Asset Management module that will eventually be included in Luminar 2018. For those who are uneasy about the direction Adobe is heading with cloud-focused software, Macphun's Luminar 2018 may prove to be a viable alternative.

Macphun has released its first update for Aurora HDR 2018 which includes a few bug fixes.

Aurora HDR 2018 version 1.0.1 for MAC:

• Presets tuned and reordered
• Fixed issue with .dng files.
• Added ability to move images between bracket groups in Batch processing.

Aurora HDR 2018 version 1.0.1 for Windows:

• Improved localizations.
• Improved Dodge & Burn filter
• Presets tuned and reordered
• Fixed crash on start
• Added Color Denoise option for RAW files(can be selected in options on HDR Open window).
• Added Lens Correction tool.
• Added Transform tool.
• Added info panel.
• Fixed issues with Drag & Drop on open window.
• Added collapse all filters option
• Fixed issue with absent metadata after using Aurora HDR 2018 as plugin for Adobe Lightroom.
• Fixed “yellow image" issues with .NEF brackets.

To get the update, simply open the standalone app and choose to install the update at the prompt.

Macphun carries Aurora HDR 2018.

Macphun, creators of Aurora HDR 2018, are offering preorder customers a discount ahead of the software's September 28 release date.

Pricing

• Current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade at a special pre-order price of $49 ($59 MSRP)
• New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 at a special pre-order price of $89 ($99 MSRP)
• A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase.

Preorder Bonuses

• Trey Ratcliff Deep Dive video (HDR Training by Trey Ratcliff)
• Travel Photography Tutorials by Matt Granger (2 hours of tips, tricks and techniques to capture the best travel photos)
• Source Brackets (5 sets of HDR brackets)
• 3-month Zenfolio Pro website, including a complementary design consultation. $60 value.

While the software will retail for $99.00 after Sept. 28, the total value of the software and bonuses when preordering is $249.00, making the $89.00 preorder price an especially good deal.

Preorder Aurora HDR 2018

Aurora HDR 2018 for Mac and Windows is now available for pre-orderThe ultimate HDR solution, Aurora HDR 2018, offers major updates to create the most realistic and natural images possible.

San Diego, CA - September 12, 2017 — Macphun, the California-based software developer known for making complex photo editing tasks simple and fun, today announced the start of their pre-order for Aurora HDR 2018 for Mac and Windows. New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 for $89 and current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade at a special price of $49 at aurorahdr.com .

Co-developed with renowned HDR photographer Trey Ratcliff, new Aurora HDR 2018 is available for the first time ever for both Mac and Windows users. It introduces a completely new user interface and exciting new tools , plus brings speed improvements.

“The original Aurora HDR quickly became the industry standard for HDR photo editing on Mac and the new version is even more innovative and powerful than its predecessors,” said Kevin La Rue, Vice President at Macphun. “With Aurora HDR 2018, we’ve introduced the next-generation of tone mapping for superior natural results, plus long-awaited lens correction and transform tools that allow users to create perfect HDR images,” La Rue concluded.

Aurora HDR 2018 has a completely new and smarter algorithm for tone mapping single or multiple exposures that results in the most realistic starting image possible. When merging brackets, the algorithm analyzes each image separately, automatically detecting dark and light zones and adjusting the level of detail which will produce a very natural looking HDR image.

With single image processing, the tone mapping algorithm brings out colours and enhances dark and light zones. Either way, this initial starting point is a great foundation for advanced image editing.

Another major improvement to Aurora HDR 2018 is the new HDR Enhance Filter . A single slider adds details and clarity to an image, adjusting colors, details and contrast without creating artificial halos or other problems. Moving the slider also adjusts the intensity of changes, making the picture look more natural or revealing a more dramatic look, depending on the desired effect.

FULL LIST OF NEW FEATURES OF AURORA HDR 2018:

• NEW: Next-generation Tone Mapping – A new smart Tone Mapping algorithm automatically reduces noise, and produces more realistic and natural initial results.
• NEW: Mac and Windows versions – Aurora HDR 2018 is available both for Mac and PC users, enabling mixed-computer households to share the same product key.
• NEW: Lens Correction Tool * – The new Lens Correction filter easily fixes all kinds of lens distortion, from barrel and pincushion to chromatic aberration and vignetting.
• NEW: Transform Tool* – Easily scale, rotate and shift your image to better fit your vision.
• NEW: Dodge & Burn Filter – Selectively lighten or darken specific areas of an image to artfully direct your viewer’s eye towards the key subject of your image, similar to a traditional darkroom technique.
• NEW: HDR Enhance Filter - Adds details and clarity to an image, adjusting colors, details and contrast without creating artificial halos or other problems.
• NEW: User Interface – A new, modern and responsive user interface brings a powerful, yet joyful experience to HDR photo editing.
• NEW: History Panel – An easy-to-reference list of edits made to your image, the History panel allows you to click on any editing step to revert the photo to an earlier stage of editing.
• NEW: Touch Bar support for Mac – Aurora HDR 2018 adds Touch Bar support to give new MacBook Pro users fast access to key editing features and speed up their workflow.
• NEW: Image Flip and Rotate* – Perfect for correcting photos with incorrect horizons or making creative compositions or other stylistic changes to an image.
• IMPROVED: New Structure Algorithm – The re-developed Structure tool allows you to adjust detail and clarity of an image to get a classic HDR effect with great detail or a smoother effect with less details.
• IMPROVED: RAW handling – An improved RAW conversion brings out more details in shadows/highlights, displays colors more accurately and reduces noise in RAW files.
• IMPROVED: Crop tool update – Now specify custom crop sizes for even more versatility.
• IMPROVED: Speed – Faster merging and masking performance, improvement in RAW image processing.

New Aurora HDR 2018 also brings more blend modes, improved color temperature, image radiance, and an improvement whereby custom textures can now include RAW files. Aurora HDR 2018 can work as a standalone app, as well as a plugin to Lightroom and Photoshop both on Mac and PC versions, and with Adobe Elements and Aperture on Macs.

* Lens Correction and Transform tools, as well as image flip and rotate will be available in the Mac version at launch, and arrive in the PC version with the first free update in the beginning of October. Other tools and features that are currently available for Mac only would be added to PC version by the end of the year.

Availability

Pre-order will run from September 12 until September 27 at aurorahdr.com/2018 . Pre-order customers will receive a bonus pack:

• BONUS: Trey Ratcliff Deep Dive video
• BONUS: Travel Photography Tutorial by Matt Granger
• BONUS: Source Brackets
• BONUS: 3-month Zenfolio Pro website, including a complementary design consultation. $60 value.

Pricing:

Mixed-computer households can share the same product key for Mac and PC which can be activated on 5 devices.

• Pre-order:
• Current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade at a special pre -order price of $49
• New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 at a special pre order price of $89
• Retail Price
• $59 for current Aurora HDR users
• $99 for new users

Preorder Aurora HDR 2018 for Mac and Windows.

San Diego, CA - August 15, 2017 — Macphun, the California-based developer known for making complex photo editing software simple and fun, today announced the release of Aurora HDR 2018, the one-stop solution for HDR photography. To sign up for pre-order announcements and more, please visit aurorahdr.com/2018.

Aurora HDR, co-developed with the renowned HDR photographer Trey Ratcliff, made the complex task of HDR editing effortless and unintimidating. Aurora HDR became the industry standard for HDR photo editing on Mac and reached 1.7 million downloads since its launch in November 2015.

In less than 2 years over 100 million photos have been edited in Aurora HDR and 72% of current users have made Aurora HDR their primary HDR photo editor?, switching from other software. Today, Aurora HDR is the go-to editing software for such well-known photographers as Trey Ratcliff, Serge Ramelli, Captain Kimo and many others.

“Since the launch of Aurora HDR, Macphun has released more than 10 updates containing tons of new features and improved performance,” commented Trey Ratcliff. “Today, I'm very excited to announce the launch of Aurora HDR 2018. It's completely new, significantly faster and has even more powerful tools. Plus the BIG news is that it's now available for Microsoft Windows as well. It's truly the best HDR software for both Mac and PCs”, concluded Ratcliff.

Aurora HDR is not just a tool for merging brackets: it brings countless options to create perfect HDR photos - from one-click presets and advanced tone-mapping, to layers, noise reduction and powerful luminosity masking controls.

• Lens Correction Tool - The new Lens Correction filter easily fixes all kinds of lens distortion, from barrel and pincushion to chromatic aberration and vignetting.
• New User Interface - Redesigned from scratch, the modern and responsive user interface brings a powerful, yet joyful experience to HDR photo editing.
• Speed improvements - Up to 4x improvement in RAW image processing, and up to 200% faster merging and masking performance means that Aurora HDR 2018 is dramatically faster than the last version.
• Cross-platform version - Aurora HDR 2018 will be available both for Mac and PC userswith interchangeable files, enabling mixed-computer households to share the same product key

A complete list of new features will be announced concurrent with the pre-order.

Availability
Aurora HDR 2018 will be available for pre-order on September 12, and released on September 28. To sign up for pre-order announcements and more, please visit aurorahdr.com/2018.

Pricing
Mixed-computer households can share the same product key for Mac and PC that can be activated on 5 devices.

• Pre-order
• Current users of Aurora HDR may upgrade at a special pre-order price of $49
• New users can purchase Aurora HDR 2018 at a special preorder price of $89
• A collection of bonuses will also be included with every purchase
• Retail Price
• $59 ?for current Aurora HDR users
• $99 ?for new users

Learn more about Aurora HDR 2018 here.

From Macphun:

Macphun debuts its first-ever software for the PC, heralding a new era of cross-platform solutions for photographers

San Diego, CA – July 13, 2017 — Macphun, the California-based developer known for delivering award-winning products for Mac, today launched the free public beta of its award-winning photo editor Luminar for Windows. To download the beta, please visit macphun.com/beta.

Luminar is a powerful photo editor designed to tackle anyone’s photography needs, from correcting challenging image problems to artful stylizing. Users can choose between levels of image processing complexity based on their experience, and adapt the workspace controls to their skill level, moving up to more advanced modes as they learn. Luminar works in non -destructive fashion and aims to take “ work” from photo editing “ workflow” for photographers worldwide.

In April, only 5 months after its launch, Luminar for Mac won the prestigious TIPA award for Best Imaging Software 2017. This all-in-one photo editor is a cutting-edge solution for creating fascinating images without extra hassle. Luminar includes over 300 robust tools that make fixing, editing and perfecting a photo as easy as moving a slider.

“We are thrilled to release our first PC product today and give photography enthusiasts around the world the first taste of our best-selling Mac product,” said Kevin La Rue, Vice-President at Macphun. “By test-driving Luminar for Windows, beta testers can help shape our software and make the final release a perfect fit for everyone,” concluded La Rue.

The public beta is free of charge and already matches some of the most important features of Luminar, such as the newest and most advanced tool developed by Macphun’s Research and Development Lab – the Accent AIFilter, powered by artificial intelligence technology. The filter allows anyone to create stunning images with a single slider, substituting for dozens of traditional controls like shadows, highlights, contrast, tone, saturation, exposure, details and many others.

Admittedly, several features from the Mac version of Luminar remain in development for the Windows platform, among them workspaces, plug-in integration, object removal, noise reduction, and more. As these are completed, the public beta will be updated regularly leading to a full cross-platform release late in 2017.

Key features of the Luminar for Windows public beta:

• Adaptive user interface– Exactly matching the Mac version, the software adapts to the skill level and preferences of the photographer.
• One-click presets– Over 50 pre-defined styles for every photography style.
• Photo Editing Filters– Over 40 custom filters, each with built-in visual tips and a unique set of easy-to-use controls for correcting, enhancing and stylizing images.
• RAW file conversion– Support for the latest RAW file libraries.
• Non-destructive workflow– Edit without fear.
• Recommended System Requirements– Windows 10, Core i5 2.2 or better, 8GB RAM, 1GB GPU RAM, SSD with 20+GB free space.

Download: Luminar for Windows

From Macphun:

The Accent AI Filter is part of new Luminar Neptune – a major update to Macphun’s best-selling photo software.

San Diego, CA – June 15, 2017 – Macphun, the California-based developer known for making complex photo editing simple and user-friendly, today launched the update to its award-winning photo editor Luminar.

The most significant innovation in Luminar Neptune is a new photo filter powered by the artificial intelligence technology developed in-house by Macphun’s Research and Development Lab. The new Accent AI Filter allows anyone to create stunning images with a single slider instead of using dozens of adjustments and controls. It takes just a second and one swoosh of a slider to remarkably improve a photo.

The Accent AI Filter in Luminar uses artificial intelligence to analyze different areas of an image based on its structure, objects, dark and light zones, colors and other parameters. As a user moves the slider, the filter intelligently and automatically “understands” what each area on the photo is lacking and improves it. Moving the slider can also adjust the intensity of changes, making the picture look more natural or revealing a more dramatic look, depending on the desired effect.

To put it simply: the Accent AI Filter in Luminar is a substitute for dozens of traditional controls like shadows, highlights, contrast, tone, saturation, exposure, details and many others. It eliminates tedious manual editing for hobbyists who want superb quick results and creates a fantastic foundation for further advanced image manipulation for pro photographers.

“Our mission to make complex photo editing tasks simple and fun led the team at our R&D Lab to explore Artificial Intelligence technology for image enhancement,” said Kevin La Rue, Vice-President at Macphun. “The Accent AI Filter emerged as a ground-breaking way to make perfect images instantly, incorporating the power of dozens of filters into one convenient tool.

This is something other photo software is missing; and what’s more important, it’s something that all photographers will greatly benefit from,” concluded La Rue.

Luminar Neptune also introduces a new workspace called Quick & Awesome?. As the name implies, the workspace consists of 3 essential filters which quickly create fantastic results: the aforementioned Accent AI Filter, Saturation & Vibrance and Clarity. Using the Accent AI Filter gives users amazing instant results, however if there is still fine-tuning to be done, the other two filters can quickly help improve the photo without any extra effort.

Luminar Neptune includes many other updates: plug-in integration with Aurora HDR 2017 and Creative Kit allows users to seamlessly access their favorite features from Macphun’s other products. Faster masking/brushing?, an improved Vignette filter and better memory management? are among other notable changes.

The latest update of Luminar is available for Mac only. In July however, Macphun will be launching a “public beta” of Luminar for PC to give Windows users the first taste of the powerful all-in-one photo editor for creating bold images in minutes.

To stay current with the latest news, and to sign up for access to beta test versions when available, visit https://macphun.com/pc.

New feature highlights in Luminar Neptune:

• Accent AI filter – Uses artificial intelligence to create stunning images with a single slider movement, tapping into the power of dozens of filters.
• Quick & Awesome workspace – A workspace consisting of the Accent AI Filter, Saturation & Vibrance and Clarity filters. Perfect for achieving great results in a fun and easy way within seconds.
• Plug-in integration with Creative Kit and Aurora HDR 2017 – Seamlessly access favorite features from Macphun’s other photo editing tools.
• Brush, Gradient and Radial Gradient tools – Dramatically faster performance yields smoother selective editing.
• Vignette filter – Addition of Vignette Styles, Place Center and Pre- and Post-Crop modes delivers even more flexibility to this popular photo finishing tool.
• Memory management – Increased overall performance for large files and 5+ simultaneous open images.
• User Interface changes – Extensive improvements to in-app animation and mode transitions make for a more pleasing editing experience.
• Crop tool update – Ability to specify custom crop sizes bring the ultimate usefulness to cropping.
• Local history – Provision for reviewing separate history while in Transform, Denoise, Clone & Stamp modes helps optimize editing.

Pricing (with coupon code "THEDIGITALPICTURE")

$49 / 49€ / £46 / AU$69 for anyone who already owns Macphun photo software
$59 / 59€ / £55 / AU$84 for all new users

Free trials are available at macphun.com/luminar.