Seems like only a few weeks ago, I was reporting on an extension for Luminar Neo. It allowed the HDR combining of different exposures. Now, another extension is on the way, this one for AI-based noise reduction.
In fact, by the end of 2022, Skylum is going to release seven extensions in total, following the HDR Merge release in July and the upcoming Noiseless AI release in August, with an additional four in November and one in December. Skylum is also adding a more flexible payment solution, introducing a subscription for Luminar Neo and all the extensions that will be released during the subscription period. Early bird subscribers can benefit from a better price. All the extensions of 2022 are also available to Luminar Neo lifetime license owners as a package in a preorder deal.
Reviewers haven't been sent the noise plug-in yet, so I have no reports. There are already excellent options in Topaz DeNoise AI and On1 No Noise AI, to name the two most popular.
The flexibility of Luminar Neo’s new engine allows it to deliver a new extension: Noiseless AI, the second extension released for Luminar Neo. It is an AI-based pro-level tool that helps reduce the noise in an image. Built-in algorithms allow achieving higher-quality results, and new control options let users retain even more precision over results. Noiseless AI is designed for raw images, but works just as well with non-raw image formats. Thanks to the smart neural networks, Noiseless AI removes noise, but retains all the high-quality details in the photo. Based on deep photo analysis, Noiseless AI will determine the level of noise of the photo and will suggest one of three noise reduction options, Low, Middle, or High, that artists can apply in a click or adjust the noise reduction levels manually. Furthermore, the three Skylum sliders, Luminosity, Color, and Details, give even more control over the results.
Skylum hopes to provide a complete solution for photographers who want all their workflow solutions in the Neo program itself.
Noiseless AI will be released on August 30. It can be acquired with the Luminar Neo Pro monthly or yearly subscription or purchased as part of the 2022 Extensions pack. The Pro monthly or yearly subscription is available from August 16 and includes Luminar Neo and all the extensions that will be released during the subscription period. By subscribing during the yearly bird stage, Luminar Artists get the best price possible for the first subscription year, but sadly, no pricing has been released.
We'll review the new extension and let you know how it compares to other plug-ins.
I wish there were an updated noise reduction roundup to see which ones are the best given the move to more AI driven processes.
These guys really have the worst business model. Every release is a slap in the face to customers. Don’t get me wrong, there’s parts of their software I use and enjoy but the idea of paid extensions that are common features in photoshop, Lightroom and Capture One is just silly.
True. I have both Luminar AI and Neo. It is good for some finishing touches you want to spend less time. Then there are a few useful features that takes time on other products. But they gotta improve their graveyard products as opposed to releasing new ones.
Yeah there’s definitely 3 sliders I like a lot and only use as finishing touches. Everything else is gimmicky and most certainly not good enough for professional use.
What’s frustrating is every year they make a new version and push new updated features. You get the new version and it’s almost identical to the previous. The new features are rarely day one releases and you have to wait months for them in an update.
And even more frustrating is all the sponsored reviews. It’s hard to find an honest take on their products anywhere.
I don’t see this business model lasting long term. I use neo plugin in my editing workflow within photoshop, but neo is not good enough as a standalone product currently.
I won't spend any more money on Luminar extensions there. The whole Luminar 4, AI and now Neo are a clumsy attempt to take the users for fools. I also only use it as a Photoshop filter when I need to quickly deliver something pleasing. For serious photos, it's all too unpredictable for me and some settings even destroy the image quality tremendously. For noise reduction, DxO DeepPRIME still delivers by far the best results, even if their business model is similar to Skylum (big updates for trivial improvements). I also left Topaz a long time ago. There also the same game after I tested it for one version.