In the last few years, photo editing has gone from manual to being done by AI, and Luminar Neo is at the center of this change. It promises that even if you're not a pro, you can edit pictures quickly, add effects, and use tools that are easy to understand. This review will go into more detail about its best features, how it works in real life, and the different price options it offers.
What is Luminar Neo used for: A review
Skylum's Luminar Neo is a photo editor that works on Windows and macOS. You can use it as a standalone app or a plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom. It applies Sky AI, Relight AI, Structure AI, Face AI, and Atmosphere AI to automate sky replacement, lighting balance, detail enhancement, and more. You can use it for portrait retouching, landscape editing, object removal (power lines, dust), creative effects (sunrays, bokeh), and noise or sharpness fixes.
What features does Luminar Neo AI offer?
- 1
- AI tools: The Luminar photo editor has Enhance AI, Sky AI, Relight AI, and Atmosphere AI tools to adjust lighting, exposure, and even replace skies. It also includes Supersharp AI, Noiseless AI, GenErase, and GenSwap, which can restore details, get rid of noise, or swap out things you don't want. 2
- Multiform presets: Offers Essentials, Landscape, Creative, and Portrait presets, so you can instantly apply a style that fits your photo. 3
- Advanced editing tools: You can use AI masking, layers, and blend modes to fine-tune certain areas or mix different elements together. It also has Clone, Erase, Sunrays, LUTs, HDR merge, panorama stitching, and even a focus stacking option. 4
- RAW editing support: It can read RAW files from more than 1,000 camera models, such as CR2, CR3, NEF, ORF, RAF, and others. It applies changes without destroying the original RAW file, so you can change the edits later. 5
- Batch processing: You can apply one preset or adjustment to multiple images at once, which speeds up editing large sets of photos.
How much does Luminar Neo cost?
Luminar Neo offers three lifetime pricing options. The Perpetual Desktop License costs $79 as a one-time payment and works on Windows and macOS. The Cross-device Perpetual License, which is priced at $109, includes both the desktop version and the mobile app for iOS, Android, and ChromeOS. The most complete option is the Perpetual Max License, available for $129, which provides desktop access, mobile apps, and entry to the Creative Library. Luminar Neo also offers a 7-day free trial, and all plans are one-time purchases with lifetime access and include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros and cons of Luminar Neo AI photo editor
- Most people report that the tool offers faster editing, especially for common tasks like exposure, sky replacement, or contrast adjustment.
- Offers a lifetime or perpetual license instead of forcing a subscription.
- Luminar allows photo editing without altering original files, which means you can change or reset settings later.
- Large RAW files, batch edits, or demanding AI tools can slow down the software. On lower-spec machines, most users have reported lag, high CPU/RAM usage, or even crashes.
- Some automated adjustments look too strong or artificial unless you manually tweak them.
Pippit: The ideal online alternative to Luminar Neo AI
Pippit stands out as the ideal online alternative to Luminar Neo AI because it does more than basic editing. While Luminar focuses mainly on retouching photos with lighting, filters, and traditional adjustments, Pippit takes a single prompt and turns it into an imaginative visual experience. You can teleport yourself anywhere, turn a pet into a 3D model, revive and animate old family photos, or try on new hairstyles and makeup instantly. It's for everyone, from casual users who want fun edits to influencers creating standout content to brands designing eye-catching campaigns.
Powered by Nano Banana for lifelike detail and Seedream 4.0 for bold creativity, Pippit blends realism with imagination in a way no other tool does. It supports multiple inputs and outputs, which allow photo transformations, outfit swaps, or even the creation of custom sticker packs and memes.
Quick steps to edit images with Pippit
Pippit takes just a few clicks to edit your image and generate professional or playful results. Here's how you can use the tool:
- STEP 1
- Open "AI design"
Click the above link and sign up for a free account to open the home page. Click "Image studio" under "Creatives" in the left panel, look for "AI design" in the "Level up marketing images" and click to open it. A new window will pop up on your screen.
- STEP 2
- Edit images
Type in a detailed prompt in the "Describe your desired design" box to describe the edits you need, and make sure to use inverted commas to mention any text you want to add to the image. Click "Reference" and upload the image from your computer, phone, Dropbox, Assets, or product link. You can also click "Auto" to set the aspect ratio to 1:1, 3:2, 16:9, and others. Then, click "Generate" and Pippit will apply the edits to your picture.
- STEP 3
- Export to your device
If you need to further customize the photo, use "Inpaint" to add or change elements, "Outpaint" to expand the background, "Eraser" to erase objects, and "Upscale" to increase the resolution. You can also click "Convert to video" to animate the image. Go to "Download" to pick the format and set watermark preferences, and click the button again to export the image to your device.
Key features of Pippit's photo editor
Pippit offers the best AI tools with simple controls, so you can turn everyday photos into something far more imaginative. Here are the key features that stand out:
- 1
- Prompt-based editing: You can type a short description of what you want, and Pippit edits your images. For example, a plain selfie can become a cinematic portrait or a fantasy scene in seconds. The tool understands your text and generates results instantly.
- 2
- Transfer image style or create virtual try-ons: You can upload multiple images and apply the look of one photo to another. It is useful for both personal styling and brand content. You can also use it to try on different clothes, hairstyles, or accessories to preview looks before committing to them in real life.
- 3
- Convert images to 3D and character models: Pippit can turn your photos into 3D or even convert people and pets into character-style models. This adds depth and fun to simple pictures for gaming, storytelling, or branding projects.
- 4
- Inpaint, outpaint, or erase with ease: Pippit offers AI tools to let you inpaint the scene, stretch the background by aspect ratio or up to 3x its size, erase objects, and enhance image resolution with one click. It blends edits naturally so the new or removed elements merge seamlessly with the rest of the photo.
- 5
- Powerful image editing space: Pippit has an editing space where you can quickly retouch your photos, adjust their size, transfer image style, remove background and replace it, improve low-light, and even overlay stickers, frames, text, and shapes to make banners, menus, and more.
Conclusion
Luminar Neo has earned its place among photo editors with its AI tools, but it isn't the only option out there. Pippit is the best online alternative where prompts, style transfers, 3D models, and detailed edits come together in one space. You can generate, refine, and experiment in seconds. Start exploring Pippit today and reshape the way you edit and create images.
FAQs
- 1
- Does Luminar Neo have AI?
Yes, Luminar Neo uses AI for sky replacement, portrait retouching, background adjustments, and structure detection. The tool recognizes different elements in a photo and applies edits that usually take hours in traditional software. Pippit, on the other hand, takes AI editing to a different level. You can generate entirely new scenes, swap outfits in a virtual try-on, or convert a photo to a video. It even lets you turn selfies into Pixar posters, cyberpunk portraits, or 3D character figures.
- 2
- Is Luminar Neo like Photoshop?
Luminar Neo and Photoshop share common ground as image editors, but they work differently. Photoshop has a manual editing space with detailed control over every layer, brush, and effect, while Luminar uses AI tools to replace skies, adjust lighting, or sharpen details in a fraction of the time it takes in Photoshop. Pippit shifts the focus even further by blending editing with creation. You can merge two pictures into concepts, design your own sticker packs, or even create a custom Gacha game character card.
- 3
- Where can I download Luminar Neo?
You can download Luminar Neo directly from Skylum's official website for both Windows and macOS. It lets you choose between a subscription and a one-time license, depending on your preference. If you want a better online alternative, Pippit is the best option. You can jump straight into editing from your browser. It lets you try virtual makeup, instant hairstyle changes, or historical fashion try-ons. You can even generate professional headshots, produce custom promotional posters, or create themed portraits for social media with just a prompt.