The amazing versatility of Luminar
I decided to take my own advice and spread my creative wings a little bit. Take a look at 10 different versions of a photo, all created in Luminar.
I talk a lot about how creative and versatile you can be when using Luminar by Macphun, and it’s true. However, I recently realized that I wasn’t always “walking the walk”. Sure, I have experimented and done some different things, but I often stay in my typical creative lane when editing my own photos (as opposed to when I am creating educational content to teach techniques). It was time to change it up and try something different.
I use Luminar on nearly every photo now, and for good reason - I think it is the best and most versatile editor out there. I absolutely love it, which is kind of becoming obvious if you take a look at all this. But you know, if you look at my photos, you may not immediately recognize just how versatile it really is. You see, I tend to have a style of post-processing that is somewhat bold and colorful. A lot of my photos are like that, because that is how I see things and how I like to present them. It’s my thing.
But it may not be your thing, and I realize that everyone has their own vision for a shot - which is great as well as necessary - so I thought it would be helpful to illustrate that you can create just about any look you want with Luminar. My traditional work may not demonstrate the full range of capability in Luminar, so I thought I would go through an exercise to let you see just how adaptable Luminar can be.
I did a similar thing a while back about Aurora HDR. I got a lot of feedback about that article and many indicated to me that it helped open their eyes not just to HDR, but specifically to getting the most out of Aurora HDR. You can find that article right here. That article included 5 different versions of the photo. This time, I went for 10!
So this time I thought it would help to do a similar article about Luminar, since I am always going on about how awesome it is. I think it’s the best out there, but without understanding how much flexibility it gives you, you may not agree (until reading this, that is!).
Here's my original edit of a stunning sunset in Venice, Italy...
For this exercise I have chosen this single long exposure photo that I captured during an amazing sunset in Venice, Italy. It was originally processed in Luminar using some of my standard preferences, enhancing some of the colors and tones. I think it looks beautiful, but then again this is Venice so that’s a given, right?
But then I went back into Luminar and took the photo in several different and unique directions, with the goal being to create something rather different each time, but still something that I like. Sure, I could create a million versions of it, but I wouldn’t like them all. The key for me in this exercise is creating a lot of diversity and still enjoying the result. I feel like I achieved that. I like these photos, and they are all rather different and distinct from the next.
Really though this isn’t about what I was able to do with my photo. This is about getting into Luminar and exploring new ways to edit a photo. Try a new technique, change the colors around, and just have fun with it. Go with a classic monochrome, or create a sepia look. Add a texture. Replace a sky. I trust you will find a lot you like about Luminar, and a whole lot you can do with it. (And if you need ideas or help, check out my Luminar Tips page.)
And don't forget to pick up some of my preset packs to get a little extra boost in your processing! I have several available for Luminar and you can find them all right here. I used various presets from my different packs - all with some adjustments - to get to the 10 final versions you will find below.
Have fun out there, go create something original, and let me know if you have any questions!
By the way, which one is your favorite?
In no particular order, here are 10 variations on this photo, all done with Luminar...
Venetian blues
Classic monochrome
Color pop
Foggy fade
Silver grain
High key
Monochrome texture
Dark and moody color
Orangina
Sepia
See, that's a lot of variety!
Hopefully you can now see just how versatile Luminar really is. This is just 10 different ideas (not including the original) which were all done in a few short minutes. It just takes a little experimentation to get something new. You could literally do a LOT of other things, too.
My point is just that if you are using Luminar (or even just thinking about), take some time and go through this exercise on one of your own images. You will find that there are so many options, which is always a good thing in my opinion.
By the way, if you haven't tried Luminar yet, what are you waiting for? Click the banner below to download a free trial on the Macphun site. Or, just click right here. And don't forget to use the coupon code JIMNIX to save $10!
