Skylum News (Page 2)

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.