If ever there was a reason to leave Adobe (and their monthly fees) behind, Luminar 3 and its $59 pre-order price is it.
Now on pre-order, Luminar 3 adds a library function that makes it a better option for editing and organizing your photos than Lightroom.
Don't believe me? Just check out the long list of incredible features in the review of Luminar 3 below by Massimo's Fotografie.
Naturally, the big hype around Luminar 3 is in the new library function.
But as you'll find out in the video (and below), the library is just one of many awesome tools you can use in Luminar.
Let's do a quick overview of some of the best features you can expect in Luminar 3.
The Luminar 3 Library is a Game-Changer
Previous versions of Luminar got excellent reviews from users, but something was missing - a library.
But with Luminar 3, that all changes with the addition of a library feature that super-charges Luminar's capabilities.
As you can see in the screenshot above, you can access existing catalogs or create new ones via File > Catalog. If you want to open one or more images to edit rather than opening an entire folder, you can do so by clicking File > Open Images for QuickEdit.
Quick Tip: There is no need to re-import images into Luminar. Just select the folder of images you wish to work with, and it's automatically added to Luminar!
Speaking of opening images, Lightroom allows you to import massive numbers of images in relatively short order.
As Massimo demonstrates in the video, he was able to upload hundreds of RAW images in just seconds (all the while doing a 4K screencast for the video).
If you're sick of sluggish imports in Lightroom, you might find that the luminar experience is superior!
Other features of the Luminar library will look familiar if you've used other programs that have a library function.
For example, you can rate individual images from 1-5 stars, and then sort the library based on the star ratings of images.
Something Luminar has that other programs don't is the Library Sync feature, which automatically updates your Luminar library when you add or remove images from its source folders on your computer.
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Are Luminar's Looks Really That Good?
One of the best features of Luminar has always been its powerful collection of presets that enable you to make quick, impactful edits to your images (in Luminar 3, those presets are now called "Looks").
Luminar 3 continues that tradition with looks for virtually any kind of photo.
As you can see when comparing the images above and below, using one look - in this case "Blockbuster" - the image takes on a completely different appearance.
Of course, you can make further edits to the image, even if you use a look.
That includes adding any number of filters to the image.
But Luminar's filters aren't the same as what you find on the likes of Instagram or even Lightroom.
Instead, what you find is an extensive array of filters that you can use to tailor the look of your shot with fine precision.
Shown above is just a sampling of the filters that are available in Luminar 3's filter catalog. I especially like the functionality of Luminar explaining the effect each filter has on the image. The fact that you can search the filter catalog for the specific effect you want is a nice touch as well.
The variety of filters is astounding, too.
For example, you can add realistic sun rays to any image, as Massimo has done in the screenshot above.
The great thing about this filter is that you can adjust everything from the number of the rays to the intensity of the rays to the color of the rays.
Even better, Luminar intelligently determines how the rays would interact with the scene in real life, so if you place them behind a tree, no rays will penetrate the tree. It's a super realistic look!
Luminar's Workspaces Help Streamline Its Functionality
I typically shoot landscapes. You might shoot more portraits. Maybe you're a jack-of-all-trades.
Whatever the case, as Massimo shows in the video, Luminar has workspaces for various types of photography so that you get the tools precise tools you need.
That includes workspaces for street photography, landscapes, black and white, portraiture, and aerial photography.
Better still, Luminar has created additional workspaces that include a streamlined (yet still amazingly powerful) Quick and Awesome Workspace, a Professional Workspace that's loaded for bear with tools, and an Essentials Workspace as well. You can even create a custom workspace that perfectly fits your editing workflow.
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The Inclusion of Artificial Intelligence Takes Luminar to the Next Level
Of course, all the functionalities explored above are great, but sometimes you just need to make a couple of tweaks to your image.
In that case, Luminar makes it easy with AI-powered features that literally allow you to edit an image in seconds by manipulating just a couple of sliders.
The Accent AI Filter, for example, applies about a dozen effects to the image at once. As you can see in two screenshots above, the effect is quite dramatic from the before to the after shot.
This is really the coolest filter in Luminar because it's the smartest slider in the world.
With just one adjustment, you can improve the color, details, tone, and depth of a photo in seconds thanks to Accent AI's ability to analyze your photos and apply enhancements automatically.
Additionally, you can use the AI Sky Enhancer filter to give the sky more detail.
Again, by just dragging the Sky Enhancer slider, you can add dramatic effects to your photos, as shown above.
Not only does this speed up your workflow, but every change you make is still under control.
It works perfectly with any type of sky from partly sunny to stormy to blue skies and virtually any other sky scene imaginable. Better still, the Sky Enhancer is able to detect and make adjustments to only the sky, leaving other elements of the image untouched.
All of this happens without having to use masks or layers, so it's ideal for new photographers because it's so easy to use to enhance skies and ideal for pros as well who need to streamline their workflow.
Luminar 3 Review: This Will Change How You Edit & Organize Photos
Just based on the few features that I've outlined above, Luminar 3 is clearly a game-changer for photographers.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg...
Be sure to check out Massimo's complete video so you can get the full tour of Luminar 3 and see all it has to offer.
If you're ready to take your photos to the next level and take advantage of the all-new library feature (and all the other goodies Luminar offers), you can pre-order Luminar 3 here.