Does Luminar AI or Photoshop Produce Better Fake Bokeh?

No doubt, a few years ago, any sort of bokeh added in post was noticeably fake. However, software has come a long way in the last few years, especially with the proliferation of things like artificial intelligence and neural network capabilities. Luminar AI and Photoshop are leading the pack at the moment, and this great video comparison takes a look at their bokeh-generating capabilities. 

Coming to you from Unmesh Dinda with PiXimperfect, this awesome video comparison takes a look at the bokeh capabilities of Luminar AI and Photoshop. While it is generally better to get things like depth of field right in camera, there may be occasional situations in which you want to make it thinner in post. For example, you may be on a trip and only carrying a travel lens with a relatively narrow maximum aperture, there may have been distractions in the frame that you missed or could not avoid during shooting, or you might simply decide you want a narrower depth of field than you initially used. In general, with effects like this, it is best to use a subtle touch to avoid it becoming too obvious and appearing fake. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Dinda. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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